Mostly tiny, infinitely delicate, and short-lived, insects and their relatives--arthropods--nonetheless outnumber all their fellow creatures on earth. How lowly arthropods achieved this unlikely preeminence is a story deftly and colorfully told in this follow-up to the award-winning For Love of Insects. Part handbook, part field guide, part photo album, Secret Weaponschronicles the diverse and often astonishing defensive strategies that have allowed insects, spiders, scorpions, and other many-legged creatures not just to survive, but to thrive.

In sixty-nine chapters, each brilliantly illustrated with photographs culled from Thomas Eisner's legendary collection, we meet a largely North American cast of arthropods--as well as a few of their kin from Australia, Europe, and Asia--and observe at firsthand the nature and extent of the defenses that lie at the root of their evolutionary success. Here are the cockroaches and termites, the carpenter ants and honeybees, and all the miniature creatures in between, deploying their sprays and venom, froth and feces, camouflage and sticky coatings. And along with a marvelous bug's-eye view of how these secret weapons actually work, here is a close-up look at the science behind them, from taxonomy to chemical formulas, as well as an appendix with instructions for studying chemical defenses at home. Whether dipped into here and there or read cover to cover, Secret Weaponswill prove invaluable to hands-on researchers and amateur naturalists alike, and will captivate any reader for whom nature is a source of wonder.

Secret Weaponsis festooned with surprising information about the chemical ecology and defense mechanisms of a variety of terrestrial arthropods...Mythology may be replete with imaginative ideas but, as Thomas Eisner and his colleagues have shown in this rewarding book, truth is often much stranger than fiction.

The world of arthropod defenses is delightfully introduced in this new book coauthored by one of the experts in the field, Tom Eisner, and two colleagues, his wife, Maria Eisner, and Melody Siegler. This volume is a series of fascinating vignettes (69 in all) about the multitudinous defenses used by arthropods, ranging from a variety of defensive sprays and secretions, to barbed hairs, to stings and venoms, to cryptic coloration. While the concentration is certainly on chemical defenses, there are others included as well, such as the "spittle" of spittle bugs, the trash heaps that lacewing larvae pile on their backs, and the click of the click beetle. The authors write in an engaging and very readable style, making the sometimes complex anatomy and chemistry accessible to all those interested in behavior, ecology, chemistry, and evolution, whether from a professional or a personal perspective. The fascinating biology and chemistry of these animals provide examples that can be used to excite students about science at many levels...In sum, this was a thoroughly delightful introduction into the fascinating world of arthropod defenses...Secret Weaponsbrings together the fields of natural history, chemistry, behavior, ecology, and evolution and has appeal for professional scientists, students, and anyone fascinated with the natural world. This volume will be a wonderful resource for many years to come.

This is by far the most beautiful and instructive book on behavioral chemical ecology I have seen. It is a book to give to your students, to your fellow scientists, and to your non-scientist friends who want to know why you study insects and other arthropods.

Arranged as a series of case studies of arthropods, together with a few noninsectans, this extraordinary book lays bare the almost incredible array of chemical stratagems these otherwise vulnerable creatures have adapted for their survival. If the case studies are astonishing, the numerous color photographs are even more so...It's impossible to read this beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated book without feeling a heightened sense of wonder.

Arranged as a series of case studies of arthropods, together with afew noninsectans, this extraordinary book lays bare the almost incredible array ofchemical stratagems these otherwise vulnerable creatures have adapted for theirsurvival. If the case studies are astonishing, the numerous color photographs are evenmore so...It's impossible to read this beautifully written and gorgeously illustratedbook without feeling a heightened sense of wonder.

A glorious collection! The fruit of a lifetime's delectable curiosity, Secret Weaponsbrings the fascinating ways of insects into focus with a unique, sparkling vision. By turns smart, funny, and insightful, this book is the perfect guide to a magical, if little-known, realm.

The book is a collection of fascinating stories, a useful field guide, a rich textbook and will be appreciated by scientists as well as naturalists. It provides an insight into a small pan of the hidden and fascinating world of small creatures that few people know, but which is worthy of study.

Secret Weaponsis another triumph from the fabled Eisner laboratory — a report on wonderful science backed up with spectacular pictures. It will introduce you to a fascinatingworld that few people know but everyone should know.

Secret Weaponsis another triumph from the fabled Eisner laboratory — a report on wonderful science backed up with spectacular pictures. It will introduce you to a fascinating world that few people know but everyone should know.

Secret Weaponswill fascinate and occupy students and scientists indefinitely! Indeed anyone interested in how nature functions — the many special interactions that make ecosystems work — will thoroughly enjoy this fine volume.

A glorious collection! The fruit of a lifetime's delectable curiosity, Secret Weaponsbrings the fascinating ways of insects into focus with a unique, sparkling vision. By turnssmart, funny, and insightful, this book is the perfect guide to a magical, if little-known, realm."

A stunning example of the interdisciplinary nature of modern science. Secret Weaponsweaves together natural history, organic chemistry, chemical ecology, and behavior to sketch out an important field as enticing to the genomicist as to the naturalist.

The text is technically precise but...the prose is bright and engaging...Eisner and his colleagues have skillfully captured the staggering diversity of exudates and delivery systems that arthropods possess--sightsthat have simply not been readily available even to the scientists who avidly peruse the chemical ecology literature. The book offers an invaluable source of illustrations for all audiences.

This book is eloquent. It concludes with a short section on "How to study insects and their kin" and a useful index. Throughout, it is eminently readable, and replete with ideas for future work. It is also very well produced, and should be of wide interest to entomologists and more general readers alike.

The present volume is a beautifully illustrated guide to the defense systems of mainly North American arthropods, especially insects... The first of its kind, this primer will prove indispensable to a broad audience, from lay naturalists to students, teachers, specialists--even medical doctors.

The secret weapons of a collection of 69 insects and their kin are revealed in this fascinating collection of essays. Each essay focuses on a single species and is beautifully illustrated with clear and revealing photographs of the creature's defenses.

Part handbook, part field guide, part photo album, Secret Weapons, the follow-up to the award-winning For Love of Insects, chronicles the diverse and often astonishing defensive strategies that have allowed insects, spiders, scorpions, and other many-legged creatures not just to survive, but to thrive.

Thomas Eisneris Schurman Professor ofChemical Ecology at <>CornellUniversity. In 1994 he was awarded the National Medal of Science. His filmSecret Weaponswon the Grand Award at theNew York Film Festival and was named Best Science Film by the British Association for theAdvancement of Science.

Prologue

CLASS ARACHNIDA

Order uropygi

Family Theliphonidae

1.Mastigoproctus giganteus(the vinegaroon)

Orderopiliones

FamilyCosmetidae

2. Vononessayi(a harvestman)

FamilySclerosomatidae

3. Leiobunumnigripalpi(a daddylonglegs)

Order scorpiones

Family Vejovidae

4.Vejovis spinigerus(the striped tailscorpion)

Orderaraneida

FamilyOxyopidae

5. Peucetiaviridans(the green lynx spider)

CLASS CHILOPODA

Order scolopendrida

Family Scolopendridae

6. Scolopendra heros(the giant Sonorancentipede)

Ordergeophilida

FamilyOryidae

7. Orphnaeusbrasilianus(a geophilid centipede)

CLASSDIPLOPODA

Order spirobolida

Family Floridobolidae

8.Floridobolus penneri(the Florida scrubmillipede)

Orderpolydesmida

FamilyPolydesmidae

9. Apheloriakleinpeteri(a polydesmid millipede)

Order polyzoniida

Family Polyzoniidae

10. Polyzonium rosalbum(a polyzoniidmillipede)

Orderglomerida

FamilyGlomeridae

11. Glomerismarginata(a pill millipede)

Order polyxenida

Family Polyxenidae

12.Polyxenus fasciculatus(a bristle millipede)

CLASSINSECTA

Orderdyctioptera

FamilyBlattidae

13. Eurycotisfloridana(the Florida woods cockroach)

14. Periplaneta australasiae(theAustralian cockroach)

15.Deropeltis wahlbergi(a blattid cockroach)

Family Blaberidae

16. Diploptera punctata(the Pacific beetlecockroach)

Orderdermaptera

FamilyForficulidae

17. Dorutaeniatum(an earwig)

Order isoptera

Family Termitidae

18.Nasutitermes exitiosus(a termite)

Orderphasmatodea

FamilyDiapheromeridae 19. Oreophoetes peruana(awalkingstick)

Family Pseudophasmatidae

20. Anisomorphabuprestoides(the two-striped walkingstick)

Orderorthoptera

FamilyRomaleidae

21. Romaleaguttata(the eastern lubber grasshopper)

Order hemiptera

Family Coreidae

22. Chelinidea vittiger(a leaf-footed bug)

Family Reduviidae

23. Apiomerus flaviventris(a reduviid bug)

Family Belostomatidae

24. Abedus herberti(a giant waterbug)

Family Aphididae

25. Aphis nerii(theoleander aphid)

26. Prociphilustessellatus(the woolly alder aphid)

Family Flatidae

27.Ormenaria rufifascia(a flatid planthopper)

Family Cercopidae

28. Prosapia bicincta(the two-linedspittlebug)

Family Dactylopiidae

29. Dactylopiusconfusus(a cochineal bug)

Family Aleyrodidae

30.Metaleurodicus griseus(a whitefly)

Orderneuroptera

FamilyChrysopidae

31. Ceraeochrysacubana(a green lacewing)

32.Ceraeochrysa smithi(a green lacewing)

33. Chrysopa slossonae(a green lacewing)

Ordercoleoptera

FamilyCarabidae

34. Galeritalecontei(a ground beetle)

35.Brachinus(many species) (bombardierbeetles)

Family Gyrinidae

36. Dineutus hornii(awhirligig beetle)

Family Dytiscidae

37. Thermonectusmarmoratus(a predaceous diving beetle)

Family Silphidae

38.Necrodes surinamensis(the red-lined carrionbeetle)

Family Staphylinidae

39. Creophilusmaxillosus(the hairy rove beetle)

Family Cantharidae

40.Chauliognathus lecontei(a soldier beetle)

Family Lampyridae

41. Photinus ignitusand Photurisversicolor(fireflies)

FamilyLycidae

42. Calopteronreticulatum(the banded net-winged beetle)

Family Elateridae

43. Alaus myops(the eyed elater)

Family Buprestidae

44. Acmaeodera pulchella(the flat-headed baldcypresssapwood borer)

Family Coccinellidae

45. Cycloneda sanguinea(a ladybird beetle)

46.Epilachna varivestis(the Mexican beanbeetle)

Family Meloidae

47. Epicauta(anunidentified species) (a blister beetle)

FamilyPyrochroidae

48. Neopyrochroaflabellata(a fire-colored beetle)

Family Tenebrionidae

49.Adelium percatum(a darkling beetle)

50. Bolitotheruscornutus(the forked fungus beetle)

51. Eleodes longicollis(a darklingbeetle)

Family Scarabaeidae

52. Trichiotinusrufobrunneus(a scarab beetle)

Family Chrysomelidae

53.Hemisphaerota cyanea(a tortoise beetle)

54. Gratiana pallidula(a tortoise beetle)

55.Plagiodera versicolora(the imported willow leafbeetle)

Orderlepidoptera

FamilyDalceridae

56. Dalceridesingenita(a dalcerid moth)

Family Noctuidae

57.Litoprosopus futilis(the palmetto borermoth)

Family Notodontidae

58. Schizura unicornis(the unicorn caterpillar moth)

FamilyThyrididae

59. Calindoeatrifascialis(a thyridid moth)

Family Yponomeutidae

60.Ypsolopha dentella(the European honeysuckle leafroller)

Family Geometridae

61. Nemoria outina(ageometrid moth)

Family Arctiidae

62. Utetheisa ornatrix(the rattlebox moth)

FamilySaturniidae

63. Automerisio(the io moth)

FamilyPapilionidae

64. Eurytidesmarcellus(the zebra swallowtail butterfly)

Family Pieridae

65. Pieris rapae(the cabbage butterfly)

Family Nymphalidae

66. Danaus plexippus(the monarchbutterfly)

Orderhymenoptera

FamilyPergidae

67. Pergaaffinis(a pergine sawfly)

Family Formicidae

68.Camponotus floridanus(a carpenter ant)

Family Apidae

69.Apis mellifera(the honey bee)

Epilogue

Howto Study Insects and Their Kin

Acknowledgments

Illustration Credits

Index