Dance of the Dung Beetles (eBook)

Their role in our changing world

Marcus Byrne, Helen Lunn (Autoren)

eBook Download: EPUB

2019 | Main
Wits University Press (Verlag)
978-1-77614-236-1 (ISBN)

Infos

Scientific endeavour and social history meet in this fascinating account on the humble dung beetle. Covering a sweeping history of over 3 000 years and with more than 6 000 species found across the world, this magical and industrious creature has occupied pivotal roles in our society: from Egyptian gods to ecological warriors.

---

In this sweeping history of more than 3 000 years, beginning with Ancient Egypt, scientist Marcus Byrne and writer, Helen Lunn capture the diversity of dung beetles and their unique behaviour patterns. Dung beetles' fortunes have followed the shifts from a world dominated by a religion that symbolically incorporated them into some of its key concepts of rebirth, to a world in which science has largely separated itself from religion and alchemy. With over 6 000 species found throughout the world, these unassuming but remarkable creatures are fundamental to some of humanity's most cherished beliefs and have been ever present in religion, art, literature, science and the environment. They are at the centre of current gene research, play an important role in keeping our planet healthy, and some nocturnal dung beetles have been found to navigate by the starry skies. Outlining the development of science from the point of view of the humble dung beetle is what makes this charming story of immense interest to general readers and entomologists alike.

Inhalt

Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter One When the dung beetle wore golden shoes Chapter Two Crawling out of the darkness Chapter Three Joining the dots Chapter Four Colonising insects Chapter Five Of elephants and dung beetles Chapter Six Tribes with human attributes Chapter Seven Design construction first Conclusion: ‘What a wonderful world’ Appendices Select bibliography Index

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 1.3.2019
• Zusatzinfo: 30 black and white illustrations
• Verlagsort: Johannesburg
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Zoologie
• ISBN-10: 1-77614-236-5 / 1776142365
• ISBN-13: 978-1-77614-236-1 / 9781776142361