The Butterfly Effect

<b>A fascinating entertaining dive into the long-standing relationship between humans and insects revealing the surprising ways we depend on these tiny six-legged creatures.</b><br><br>Insects might make us shudder in disgust but they are also responsible for many of the things we take for granted in our daily lives. When we bite into a shiny apple listen to the resonant notes of a violin get dressed receive a dental implant or get a manicure we are the beneficiaries of a vast army of insects. Try as we might to replicate their raw material (silk shellac and cochineal for instance) our artificial substitutes have proven subpar at best and at worst toxic ensuring our interdependence with the insect world for the foreseeable future. <br>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Drawing on research in laboratory science agriculture fashion and international cuisine Edward D. Melillo weaves a vibrant world history that illustrates the inextricable and fascinating bonds between humans and insects. Across time we have not only coexisted with these creatures but have relied on them for among other things the key discoveries of modern medical science and the future of the world's food supply. Without insects entire sectors of global industry would grind to a halt and essential features of modern life would disappear. Here is a beguiling appreciation of the ways in which these creatures have altered--and continue to shape--the very framework of our existence.