For Love of Insects

by Thomas Eisner, Edward O. Wilson

Imagine beetles ejecting defensive sprays as hot as boiling water; female moths holding their mates for ransom; caterpillars disguising themselves as flowers by fastening petals to their bodies; termites emitting a viscous glue to rally fellow soldiers--and you will have entered an insect world once beyond imagining, a world observed and described down to its tiniest astonishing detail by Thomas Eisner. The story of a lifetime of such minute explorations, For Love of Insects celebrates the small creatures that have emerged triumphant on the planet, the beneficiaries of extraordinary evolutionary inventiveness and unparalleled reproductive capacity. To understand the success of insects is to appreciate our own shortcomings, Eisner tells us, but never has a reckoning been such a pleasure. Recounting exploits and discoveries in his lab at Cornell and in the field in Uruguay, Australia, Panama, Europe, and North America, Eisner time and again demonstrates how inquiry into the survival strategies of an insect leads to clarifications beyond the expected; insects are revealed as masters of achievement, forms of life worthy of study and respect from even the most recalcitrant entomophobe. Filled with descriptions of his ingenious experiments and illustrated with photographs unmatched for their combination of scientific content and delicate beauty, Eisner's book makes readers participants in the grand adventure of discovery on a scale infinitesimally small, and infinitely surprising.

Genres: Science, Nature, Biology, Nonfiction, Natural History, Animals, Ecology

464 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Dr. Carl Ludwig Dorsch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thomas Eisner, whose March 27, 2011 Cornell Chronicle obituary described him as “a world-renowned authority on animal behavior, chemical ecology and evolution, and the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Chemical Ecology at Cornell,” died in Ithaca, New York, U.S.A., in 2011 at age 81.

This volume, published in 2003 is a scientific and experimental memoir of sorts, lucid, engaging and generous – at least to his human colleagues: his wife, research associates, and graduate students in particular.

Physiology is a bloody business, I suppose, and though I was at once attracted to For Love of Insects by its jacket blurbs (Diane Ackerman, Paul Ehrlich, Oliver Sacks) and its forward (by E.O. Wilson, a friend and contemporary of Eisner), I was just as quickly put off by what many reviewers have heralded as Eisner’s astounding photo and micrographs: isolated and half dissected body parts, animals attached to wires, animals poked and prodded, squeezed with forceps, etc. I thought of Damon Knight’s ironic title To Serve Man when I thought of Eisner’s (or his editors’) title For Love of Insects. I thought of how much human biology and psychology we might now have access to if only we were still entirely free to experiment with human subjects at will.

But such seems to be the history of Natural Science: our exclusions simultaneously work their way down from the great apes and the cetaceans and up from the ‘lower races’. We learn, as little boys do, by smashing things and pulling legs off. And perhaps, in some enlightened future, a future perhaps granted by this very violence, we will come to some redemptive balance, fully appreciating and intellectually appropriating but also fully repenting of our previous decimations: of chance individuals populations, of communities, cultures, languages, civilizations, species, ecosystems, landscapes, etc.

In the conclusion to his sixth chapter, Tales from the Website, a fascinating segment on spiders (not properly insects, as many leapt to note), Eisner writes “Quite aside from the issue of consciousness, we came to the conclusion that invertebrates perceive pain, and that their sensory basis for doing so may not be much different from our own. There is therefore good reason for treating invertebrates humanely.” This conclusion was derived from inducing – over and over and over again – via various venoms, what was, in the end, judged to be apparent substantial pain, substantial enough, in this instance, for the (many) spiders to “autotomize” (that is, to shed) their affected limbs. Two pages earlier Eisner wrote: “We were particularly eager to test the notion in an experimental situation that made sense in terms of the real world – a situation where an invertebrate was exposed, in a natural context, to experiences known to be painful to humans.” (I.e. the injection of a venom, as per bee, snake, or scorpion stings.)

Sadly, the volume is full of what might be, in those terms, inhumanity. Animals are tethered, starved, dissected, have their wings removed and replaced (with Elmer’s Glue) with wings of other species, etc., etc. Statements like “The Neopyrochroa males that came to the traps…were cantharidin-free… We determined this by chemical analysis…” are commonplace. (If I am not mistaken, this presumably entails grinding up a fair number of those trapped Neopyrochroa and chemically analyzing the slurry.)

I assure you I am neither surprised nor shocked by this; I have read enough to know how Natural Science often proceeds. And indeed, I have had the requisite ‘realist’ discussions concerning how the carrot might view its harvest. And I also realize that there are substantial aspects of the life I enjoy that flow from the suffering of “others” – most of it, one could argue. But still I am saddened, and unapologetically so. This may be my comfort, my health and my wealth, but it is not love, in any sense I know, beyond, I would venture, fascination and obsession. It is, rather, a vision of some weird inverted karmic hell.

Nonetheless (as these reviews seem often to conclude) the volume offers a remarkable and coherent window on the actuality we regularly stride past (and upon): its still incomprehensible complexity, its alien beauty, its bug-eat-bug savagery, and, in this particular treatment of what still passes for our high science, our own special cruelty.

Rest in peace, Dr. Eisner.

[Audrey Maran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beware friends: the next time you tell me you don't like insects I'm going to put this book in your hands and monitor you until you at least read the first chapter. The fantastic thing about For Love of Insects is that it can work on multiple levels. I really think that those with very little biology background will take something from it, as well as those with a considerable background. Admittedly, Eisner sometimes tends to go deeper into the science than a lay person many care for; however, I think that the surrounding text remains interesting and easy to understand even if you skim over details about chemical composition of defensive sprays. Since Eisner is also a photographer, there are tons of pictures that go with his descriptions of observations and experiments. They are well done, and even by browsing through the pictures and reading their captions, a lot can be learned. I would recommend this book to beginning researchers as well. Eisner does an excellent job of describing the way in which he observes insects and his experimental designs. While this is probably interesting to anyone reading the book, I can say with 100% certainty that I have become a better observer of nature in general because of it. It is difficult to describe without just telling someone to read it, but the way that he sees things, the questions he asks, and the simple experiments he does in the field are remarkable. For example, I never would have thought to watch a spider in its web, make observations, and then throw an insect in to see what happens. Reading about little things like that have made me a more active observer and honestly, I always thought I was pretty observant until now. He also experiments in novel ways and I think that it will help me in forming my own experiments.
I would give this 4 1/2 stars if I could and really the only thing taking away from the rating for me is Eisner's tone. I know that he is a very accomplished, creative, and intelligent person, but so does he and it is apparent in the way he writes. I guess he earned the right to brag about it and if you are that awesome, it is probably difficult not to let everyone know how awesome you are, but enough is enough. He did praise the people he worked with too, but it was almost praise to the point of making me want to roll my eyes. That being said, I am extremely jealous of the people he worked with and it is disappointing to know that I will never have the opportunity to meet him. On a different note, Eisner specialized in chemical ecology and maybe this book should have been named "For Love of Insects with Chemical Defenses and some insects that don't have them, but have to deal with insects that do." I guess that is pretty lengthy, so maybe they did make the right title choice. Either way, it seems that most insects either have chemical defenses or need to deal with them, so it is still a pretty decent overview of insects in general.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an engaging and witty personal account of Eisner's development as an entomologist. Some great tidbits in here including his relationship with E. O. Wilson with whom he was a graduate student an dhow to go about entomological field and lab research. Recommended for those interested in entomology, biographies of scientists, science methods, and history.

[Florence Millo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not overly fond of bugs or spiders but Eisner's curiosity about the world of insects draws you into his enthusiasm. I learned ever so much about the interesting defenses at work in plants as well as insects and how insects use chemicals to protect themselves. Not difficult to read ( other than the unfamiliar genus species names of plants and insects) and full of interesting and often humorous information.

[Kevin Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book and one other (Silent Snow, Marla Cone) is the reason that I switched majors from early childhood ed. to biology. Ten years later and I am now a PhD student studying forest entomology and ecology. In every sense of the phrase, this book changed my life.

[Leslie Ann]

I've peaked into it but haven't dove in yet. But i suspect good things! It looks like a textbook but reads like that wierdo who crawled around in the dirt at recess all grown up and wearing fashionable (but not too much so) spectacles and really really excited to tell you how cool bugs are over a steaming cup of earl grey.

[Heidi Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving this book! It is about insects, which I think are cool, but it's more like the story of the scientest as a person and what really thrilled him. If you like books like A Moveable Feast, or Travel's With Charley, or other 'journey' books, try this one. (I just skim through the chemistry charts...)

[Jonas Gehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly an autobiographical text about how the author identified different chemical adaptations for insects with a bit on the side of behavioral adaptations. The book is interesting for people who want to know how behavior is studied scientifically and in the feelings of naturalists about their study objects.

[Cassandralynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another modern-day genius, like E.O. Wilson and long-time friends. Although I think he brags a little about himself in this book (who doesn't in their autobiography) I love it anyway. He has done some very interesting research!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

What passion, intrigue, and curiosity Eisner has for his science. Eisner takes entomology to new heights employing scientists from host of disciplines. The photography is amazing!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you are not fully impressed by insects by the end of this book, i probably don't want to know you anywayz

[Kimberlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended by a friend that is an Urban Biologist. Well worth the price!

[Justin E · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Love of Insects is an excellent read for those who are interested in organic chemistry and insects. This book reads like a story, but it is also informative like a textbook. Thomas Eisner, was the Director of the Cornell Institute for Research in Chemical Ecology and an expert entomologist, teams up with chemists and ecologists all over the US to uncover the unique defensive mechanisms of insects using a variety of lab experiments and study designs. One of my favorite sections of the book is when Eisner and his team discover the steroid, lucibufagin, that is synthesized by fireflies. Interestingly, it is only the males (Photinus) that produce this chemical however, the females have the ability to emit light as well. How do they do this you might ask? Females consume males and store the lucibufagins in their bodies! A true femme fatale! Equally as interesting is that the chemical composition of lucibufagin is similar to certain plant steroids called cardenolides which include compounds such as ouabain, otherwise known as the widely heart drug, digitalis. Could insects synthesize compounds useful to medicinal chemistry? Find out, read this book!

[Mark Isaak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eisner has had a long and distinguished career in entomology, and in this book he tells of many of his varied studies. Although is prose is not as elegant as E. O. Wilson's or Jean-Henri Fabre's, it is always very clear; no knowledge of entomological jargon is necessary to follow his explanations (although some knowledge of insect systematics could help provide context). Pictures complement the text perfectly; everything that is written about is also illustrated, and the photos and diagrams are of high quality. Eisner's main elegance comes in his design of experiments, all of which are conceptually simple, and several of which could be replicated by high school students. He also often describes the train of thought which led him to his discoveries. I was particularly impressed by how much a naturalist could be guided by paying attention to one's sense of smell. This book should be particularly valuable for budding naturalists, but I think anyone interested in the study of nature would enjoy it.

[Yuanhua Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book, For Love of Insects, was written by Thomas Eisner. Thomas Eisner (1929—2011) was known as the “father of chemical ecology”. He was a professor of Chemical Ecology at Cornell University. Thomas Eisner had a lot of amazing travels in his life. He had been to many different countries beginning from his childhood. He was born in Berlin, and then he had been to Spain, France, Argentina, and Uruguay. Eisner always looked at the ground to find insects at all time, because he liked to collect different insects when he was to a new place. After he graduated from high school, he moved to United States. Thomas Eisner described himself a field biologist. He said in the book, “Exploration meant travel.” In 1952, he and his group mates undertook an exploratory venture across America to acquire different insects. They went north from Boston to Ontario, from there across the Great Plains to Montana and Idaho, then to California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico, and finally back east through the Gulf states and home.
The book is organized very well. There are totally 448 pages. And they are separated into Prologue, major coverage, Epilogue, Bibliography, Acknowledgments, Illustration Credits, and Index. The major coverage is made by ten chapters. They are Bombardier, Vinegaroons and Other Wizards, Wonders from Wonderland, Masters of Deception, Ambulatory Spray Guns, Tales from the Website, The Circumventers, The Opportunists, The Love potion, and The Sweet Smell of Success.
In these ten chapters, Thomas Eisner introduced the fantastic relationships between different arthropods and their body chemicals through a lot of researches and experiments. These body chemicals are very important to the insects and amazing. They can help the insects to prey, to protect themselves, and to reproduce. They are defensive sprays, protective sprays and secretions, warning coloration chemicals, protective use of feces, sexual smells to attract mates, and so on. In addition to insects, this book also features several other arthropod groups, such as whipscorpions, millipedes, and spiders.
The first chapter, “Bombardier”, is very interesting. It focuses on the benzoquinones sprays of Diploptera cockroaches and Bombardier beetles when they are attacked. Eisner listed many experiments and researches that he and his partners did to see whether Diploptera ejected its secretion response to provocation. The experimental result showed that cockroaches would eject benzoquinones when they were disturbed. What’s more, the spray could response to the exact disturbed body side. They found that roaches without glands or molted roaches were weaker to make a counter attack under disturbance. In order to see what a predator might experience, Eisner had even popped a bombarbier in his mouth, and he felt the heat. After this, they did lots of experiments to measure the insects sprays’ temperature, which was closed to 100˚C.
For Love of Insects is a very interesting and charming book. It would be very enjoyable reading this book and we can learn a lot at the same time. In For Love of Insects, Eisner described the experiments and results in detail and common ways, so that readers can easily understand the scientific theory and be attracted to finish the book. Throughout the book, the themes, such as the ability of arthropods to eject chemical sprays, mimicry, and warning coloration, appear in different chapters. Through emphasizing the themes, it could impressed the readers of insects’ behaviors.
For Love of Insects talks about some very common arthropods that we can easily see in the daily life, such as spiders, moths, and cockroaches, but it tells us some interesting things that a non-scientific person might never think about. For example, insects will eject hot as boiling water and poisonous sprays to protect themselves; caterpillars will disguise themselves as flowers by fastening petals to their bodies; beetles will bleed when attacked, and they tended to bleed only from the legs closest to where they had been bitten. Eisner drove readers into an interesting insect world, which was dangerous, tricky, intelligent, tactful, and brilliant.
Eisner became interested in insects from the moment he could walk. In this book, he showed a lot of curiosity, enthusiasm and passion for nature and science. Writing this book, he wanted to share his experience, knowledge and desire about the insects to readers. He let readers understand how excited working on insects. In addition to the splendid description of the insects’ activities and behaviors, experiments and results; the colorful photos in the book is another attracted point. For Love of Insects contains plenty of vivid pictures, including the insects under the experiments, and insects in the nature. The pictures can help readers to see the insects’ world and understand the operation of scientific experiments more clearly. What’s more, under or besides each picture, there is clear and fantastic illustration of the picture. Eisner had succeed admirably in his goals of research and photographs.
Throughout the book, Eisner’s passion for discovery of nature, and research of insects is easily seen. His writing style is absorbing and entertaining. No matter for a general reader, or for a professional scientific reader, if someone is interested in little insects or nature, For Love of Insects a highly recommended book.

[Chris Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A memoir of a long career studying insects, specially the chemical defenses of insects. Eisner writes in plain language to make his life work accessible to anyone with an interest in the subject. It reads similar to an informal talk at a local museum or field naturalist’s club. He also offers insight into how he turned observations in the field into testable questions. Overall a good read that left me with a much greater understanding of some of the insects I come across in my hobby photographing them.

[AGP · Rating 5 out of 5]

When asking for a bedtime story when I was little, instead of asking for, well, a story, I asked my parents to read to me about blister bugs and Hercules beetles. When I was old enough to read it myself, I would marvel at the vast array of insects catalogued and described with such care. This book inspired me to spend my summers volunteering in a local museum's insectarium, and I wrote my main college application essay about it. Thanks for playing such a big role in my childhood.

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. Was incredibly long though, which is ok, but was so long that I couldn't even read it all after renewing it at the library. Very informational, and I too have loved insects my whole life. I was holding cicadas when I was 3!

[Tate Geiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely excellent. Refreshingly technical without being dry. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in entomology.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well-written book makes the ethology of arthropods both fascinating and compelling. You will never look at nature the same way again.

[Judy Dobles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful writing and photos.

[Richard Arvedson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about insects that I have read. High praise!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the sweetest books I've read. It uses a very personal perspective to convey a lifetime's worth of knowledge. I found it impossible not to fall in love with insects, myself. My eternal thanks to Thomas Eisner.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost as awesome as the insects themselves, given the absolutely incredible pictures alongside so much to learn. Definitely an engaging read...if you like insects, and don't mind professorial voices.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really more of a 3.5 rating than 4, but it's a about arthropods which means it gets the extra 0.5 star. :) The pictures were great, but the writing was a bit long-winded, and this is coming from somebody who loves reading about insects.

[Namrirru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting. Unlike Rainer Foelix, he doesn't torture his subjects.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little more autobiographical than I realized, the books focuses on Eisener's research through the years. Full of fascinating stories of insect biology.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any walk in the woods and fields with an observant eye and a receptive mind will send you scampering to this source book on insect behavior.

[Rami · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like bugs and are a layperson in the world of entomology, this is a great book.

[Jhawn]

Interesting