The jewel box : how moths illuminate natures hidden rules / Tim Blackburn.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Blackburn, Tim M., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Moths--Popular works.

Moths.

Ecology--Popular works.

Ecology.

Physical Description:

277 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : Island Press, [2023]

Summary:

"A plastic box with a lightbulb attached may seem like an odd birthday present. But for ecologist Tim Blackburn, a moth trap is a captivating window into the world beyond the roof terrace of his London flat. Whether gaudy or drab, rare or common, each moth ensnared by the trap is a treasure with a story to tell. In The Jewel Box, Blackburn introduces these mysterious visitors, revealing how the moths he catches reflect hidden patterns governing the world around us. With names like the Dingy Footman, Jersey Tiger, Pale Mottled Willow, and Uncertain, and at least 140,000 identified species, moths are fascinating in their own right. But no moth is an island--they are vital links in the web of life. Through the lives of these overlooked insects, Blackburn introduces a landscape of unseen ecological connections. The flapping of a moth's wing may not cause a hurricane, but it is closely tied to the wider world, from the park down the street to climatic shifts across the globe. Through his luminous prose and infectious sense of curiosity, Blackburn teaches us to see--and respect--the intricate web of nature in which we're all caught. The Jewel Box shows us how the contents of one small box can illuminate the workings of all nature" -- Publisher.

Contents:

Introduction: the moth trap

The gypsy moth: the power of reproduction

Footmen: the consequences of limited resources

The oak eggar: when consumers become the consumed

The codling and the goat: live fast and die young, or linger on?

The uncertain: living together in communities

The silver Y: the importance of migrants

The poplar hawk-moth: diversification and what drives it

The box-tree and the stout dart: how ecology is now humanity

The acer sober: conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 245-265) and index.

ISBN:

1642832731

9781642832730

OCLC:

1350186618

Publisher Number:

99994212558