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The Wasp That Brainwashed the Caterpillar

Evolution's Most Unbelievable Solutions to Life's Biggest Problems

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
From the man behind the popular Wired series "Absurd Creature of the Week," a fun, fascinating collection of unique animals and the unbelievable evolutionary traits they use to survive the most extreme scenarios From Wired columnist Matt Simon, The Wasp that Brainwashed the Caterpillar is an absurdist, comical romp through evolution's weirdest solutions to - appropriately enough - the hazards that evolution itself produces. Each original entry talks about a creature and its amazing adaptation, using Matt's signature blend of scientific accuracy and humor that has made his Wired column and accompanying web show so popular. The creatures themselves are absolutely mind-blowing, with zombie ants mind-controlled by a fungus; beautiful salamanders that can regenerate any part of their bodies including their brains; the mantis shrimp, which fires its club-like appendage so fast that the surrounding water becomes as hot as the surface of the sun; the Antechinus, whose runaway testosterone levels cause them to have so much sex during their three-week mating session that they bleed internally, go blind, and drop dead; and many more.
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  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 12, 2016
      Simon, a science writer at Wired magazine, lays out an entertaining look at evolution’s frightening billion-year arms race. All species must adapt to changing environments to survive; many do it in strange ways, and Simon delivers a well-written, if light, recitation of some of the weirdest. There are camouflage creatures: the spider-tailed horned viper, whose accurately named tail lures prey; the orb weaver spider, which spins a web to mimic “bird turds”; a “satanic” gecko that’s shaped like a leaf; and the cuttlefish, which is capable of imitating any background. Simon also profiles some mind controllers, including Glyptapanteles wasps, which inject their eggs into caterpillars so that the resulting larvae can puppet them into being their bodyguards, and the Ophiocordyceps fungus that “invades ants’ brains and mind-controls them up into trees.” Many animals live in odd places—such as the gonads of sea cucumbers or the tongues of fish—and others wield bizarre weapons (heated hammer hands, intoxicants, glue). This is not an in-depth look at evolutionary processes; each entry in the parade of creatures is brief. Simon’s wit, combined with the genuine eccentricity of his subjects, make this a fun and accessible book. Agent: David Fugate, LaunchBooks.

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  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

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