Description
Book SynopsisThe clear skull markings on the thorax of the large and impressive Death's Head Hawk-moth are truly fascinating, often perceived as a threat or leading to superstitious and mythological beliefs. Here the author, an authority in mimicry, discusses why we are so intrigued by these markings but also explains how other animals may perceive its form and behaviour. This moth has evolved to deceive its main predators, especially birds and bats, and to rob bees of their honey without getting stung, again by deceiving them of its true nature, with acoustic, visual and chemical signals in play. It is able to do this because of the obvious, but usually overlooked, fact that other animals live in a different sensory world to us, i.e. their perceptions are different.
Trade ReviewA bizarre but revealing lens through which to view human life, death, our relationship to the natural world and its relationship to us. - Charles Foster, prize-winning author of Being a Beast.
Table of ContentsContents Foreword by Simon Barnes Introduction Chapter 1 Threat and superstition Chapter 2 The Sphinx that dines on potatoes and honey Chapter 3 The Art of Collectors Chapter 4 Skulls and art Chapter 5 Monsters Chapter 6 The honeybees' tale Chapter 7 The bat's tale: seeing sounds Chapter 8 The bird's tale Chapter 9 Mirrors to Reality
