House Guests, House Pests

April 1, 2015

Jones (fellow, Royal Entomological Society and former president, British Entomological Society; Mosquito), explores our relationship with nonhuman housemates. In approachable, entertaining language and chapters divided by creatures' lifeways, the author explains what commensals eat, where they nest, how they developed a relationship to humans, and how an occasional nuisance becomes a pest. He relates how scientists look for nearest wild relatives and possible ancestral diets. There are plentiful references, an identification guide, and stipple illustrations that rival macros. Alas, Jones did not adapt his work for American readers. This means there is no coverage of fire ants and short shrift for crazy ants and naming differences, such as calling drugstore beetles biscuit beetles. Jones also omits Cooperative Extension's pest identification and advice. This title complements Amy Stewart's Wicked Bugs and Kelsi Nagy and Phillip David Johnson's Trash Animals. VERDICT Although not the intended audience, curious U.S. readers can still enjoy this gentle perspective on creatures that share our sacred space.--Eileen H. Kramer, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Clarkston

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