Bugs In The System (Helix Book)

“Bugs in the System: Insects and Their Impact on Human Affairs” by May R. Berenbaum; Basic Books; © 1995; 377 pages, softcover.While entomology departments served mainly graduate students, they often also offered an “Insects and People” course (sometimes called “Bugs and Boys” in early days). This book is a summary and perhaps broader coverage of that course, interweaving much accurate history into entomology at a level that could be understood by non-biologists. Thus there is some generalization but no pathway to error. Dr. Berenbaum’s story-filled narrative makes many parts a good supplement even to a major’s entomology class. Unfortunately, the number of entomology departments at U.S. universities is now one-fourth the number in the 1970s, as biology research funding has shifted to all things DNA. And far fewer students have a youth with field experience.Berenbaum clusters her stories into major chunks of biology (and sometimes social) concepts. She intersperses unique persons and personalities involved in the discovery of these concepts.Chapter 1 deals with classification and nomenclature at the most general level. But her overview of how arthropods (joint-legged critters) were arranged and rearranged over time is unique.Chapter 2 dives into insect physiology, including the limitations of size, and the uniqueness of metamorphosis, reproduction, and special insect genetics. –And again more relevant stories.Chapter 3 addresses behavior, with an attempt to help us (who are accustomed to thinking all critters see and smell, etc. like we do) to realize the uniquely different way insects hear, see, taste and smell.Chapter 4 gets social, but it is a different group living. The personalities involved here are among our best biologists. This leads to bees, pollination, and finally the “killer bee” episode. I am particularly aware of that episode insofar as Dr. Taylor and his students worked out the failure of hybridization to “stick” and thus “Africanized” is a misnomer. Berenbaum gets it right, using African honeybee unless having to cite the other in published title.We do not often think of insects as involved in plants except as pests we think we could do without. In Chapter 5, she explains the interactions with plants in evolution, on farms, in locust plagues, gall-making, silk and stored-grain. She clearly describes the Rocky Mountain locust but does not mention that it went extinct. Her hints at pesticides as a cause are one of the few weaknesses in her many strong stories.Chapter 6 moves to eating of insects by predators, parasitoids, in biological controls, use as medicine, and finally possible use as human food.Parasites and hosts are in Chapter 7, including history-changing louse typhus (World War I), plague fleas, and many pages on mosquitoes. If a reader becomes enchanted with mosquitoes, they can continue the stories in further depth in Desowitz’s “Malaria Capers.”Chapter 8 is a chapter I would not anticipate, dealing with coprophagy, carrion, and the specialization of soil and water insects.Chapter 9 centers on U.S. entomology history, our changes in pest control methods, the politics arising from fire ants, fear of insects and finally insects and the law.Chapter 10 is the last big chapter and deals with insects as symbols, art and movies. Collecting insects for fun and profit reflects 1995 more than today.But she also gives insects “equal time” in a short chapter 11, briefly discussing the insect perspective, including human habitat destruction.A lot has happened in the 25 years since her notes were expanded into this book, and her brief run through of major insect orders finds the termites she places in Isoptera have been relegated to a variety of cockroach, and homopterans have been made a major portion of the Order Hemiptera.The text is in smaller print and there are fewer illustrations than modern readers have come to expect. Consider that 1995 was barely into the computer and internet age. Today, readers have become addicted to large color pictures for every paragraph of text. This is therefore not her problem. I pride myself in being a very good veteran teacher of entomology; I suspect her classes were even better.

I bet you didn’t think an insect book could be very interesting. That was my opinion before I picked this up at the library (and later purchased it from Amazon). Combining humor and interesting stories, May R. Berenbaum brings entomology to the non-specialist in an understandable and enjoyable way. Some refer to this book as an insect trivia book, however, to me it’s more of an insect story/history book. I like the description in the subtitle: “Insects and Their Impact on Human Affairs”. That basically sums it up. Others have refer to this book as a textbook which seemed odd to me. I don’t recall any school textbook being this interesting.As the preface states, “the vast majority of people consider it a high priority to minimize the extent of their interaction with the insect world”. She goes on to say how improbable this is since there are (estimated) 10 quintillion individual insects alive on earth at any given moment, and they make up 80% of the world’s species. She further explains that insects live (1) in Antarctica (2) in hot springs in Yellowstone (3) in horse intestines (4) pools of petroleum (5) in jars of formaldehyde in morgues (6) in baptismal fonts in churches. However, about 1/3 of a typical human diet is only possible due to insect pollination. And, without insects there would be no cotton. We’re reminded that insects have determined the outcome of wars more than bullets or bombs. These facts and more are good reasons to read this book.

While this book isn’t for the squeamish, it is a great introduction to the world of bugs of all types. I probably won’t remember all the details but I have a much better grasp of the huge variety of bugs and how they interact with the world.

Who knew that you could pack in a book SO MUCH information- in nearly every paragraph there is a 'wow' fact- and still make it stimulating and readable throughout. This book is great for professional entomologist and curious, broadly-educated layperson alike. There's actually a surprising amount of history and politics involved in the telling of the role insects have had on earth. Of course, the world of insects is so varied and vast, it alone provides for fascinating exploration. Dr. Berenbaum is an able and entertaining guide. I heartily recommend!

A fairly good textbook, yet one thing almost vital to the subject: pictures. When describing some of the anatomical parts of insects, it becomes very easy to get jumbled up. A simple diagram could fix that. Overall, a good textbook.

Excellent overview of major topics in entomology; would be equally enjoyable, I think, for both a lay person or a trained entomologist. Generally a fun/light read with lots of interesting trivia thrown in.

We're using this in my insect class. It's fun and interesting. Well written. I learned a lot. It is not a typical textbook. It's a great book for a general introduction to insects for non majors. It contains many sections from basic anatomy and physiology to art and films about insects. I really liked the book.

An interesting and informative book but did not go into sufficient detail for me to get the depth that I wanted. What was lacking in depth was made up for in the breadth of the material explained.

Needed it for school, good information and it came in a timely manner.