I first came across this word while doing some research for my book Nature Within. I wanted some examples to showcase the delicate web of species that make up an ecosystem.

Awhato (a Māori word originating from New Zealand)
- The mummified body of a porina moth caterpillar killed by the fungus Ophiocordyceps robertsii.

And although a mummified caterpillar may not be to everyone's taste, this fungus-moth relationship only exists thanks to a sustainable equilibrium between the two species.

This is a sobering thought when one considers that the current rate of human activity would require 1.8 Earths to continue sustainably (https://overshoot.footprintnetwork.org).

For an excellent account of how we have fuelled our unsustainable ways (& how it can't continue), I recommend:

The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight: The Fate of the World and What We Can Do Before It's Too Late