Planet of the Bugs

June 23, 2014
Shaw, professor of entomology at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, takes an arthropodist stand against “human-centric bias that seeks to place our vertebrate ancestors in some kind of elevated position,” as he frames evolutionary history from the vantage point of insect development. The million distinct catalogued species that Shaw says “rule the planet” only constitute a subset of those that are documented in the fossil record or that have been discovered in the microniches of environments such as the tropical rainforest. Shaw looks at groups of species in terms of the structural features that developed to exploit emerging habitats and examines them in light of their parallel development with plant or animal species for which they might be prey, parasites, or pollinators. His assertion that the incredible success of insect forms makes them the most likely to reoccur in terrestrial-type environments leads him to playfully predict that the life we are most likely to find on other planets will be “buggy.” Shaw’s detailed investigation places the broad classifications of ancient and modern insects in the context of their development, and, by showing specifics of coevolution, he makes a strong case for valuing the interconnectedness of all life. 12 color plates, 31 halftones.

July 1, 2014

Shaw (entomology, Insect Museum Curator, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie) tackles evolution from the perspective of the insects, a refreshing and insightful change from the usual human-centered view, and argues convincingly that insects have diversified and thrived more successfully than any other animal on Earth. The author begins with the Cambrian period, which he calls the "age of the arthropods," and then highlights the emergence of arthropods as the first land animals in the Silurian period. The work continues through each geologic period to the incredible diversity of insects seen today. Shaw discusses two events of mass extinction at the end of the Permian (last period of the Paleozoic era) and Cretaceous (last period of the Mesozoic era) as the ultimate cold-case murder mysteries, and, in this discussion, he makes it very clear when he offers speculation vs. compelling evidence. Shaw's coherent, precise writing is complemented by pleasing illustrations of insects and fossils. VERDICT This book will appeal to readers interested in evolution, the history of the Earth, and those who find small, six-legged creatures fascinating. Compared to David Grimaldi and Michael S. Engel's Evolution of the Insects, this is a readable, compact introduction for the layperson.--Laurie Neuerburg, Victoria Coll.-Univ. of Houston Lib.

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