Insects such as cockroaches, mosquitoes and bed-bugs are usually not highly sought amongst travellers or recreationists, yet each year, collectors, butterfly enthusiasts, dragonfly-hunters and apiarists collect, visit, document and raise insects for recreational purposes. Illustrating a range of human-insect encounters from an interdisciplinary perspective, this book provides the first insight into the booming industry of insect recreation. Case studies and examples demonstrate the appeal of insects, ranging from the captivating beauty of butterflies to the curious fascination of locust swarms, and challenge the notion that animals lacking anthropomorphic features hold little or no interest for humans. Throughout the book, the emphasis is on the innovators, the educators, the dedicated researchers and activists who, through collaboration across fields ranging from entomology to sociology and anthropology, have brought insects from the recreational fringes to the forefront of many conservation and leisure initiatives.
• Demonstrates interdisciplinary efforts in insect conservation, expanding the study of insects beyond the usual realms of entomology • Provides insights into a rarely studied area of human-insect interactions • Examines the concepts of animal appeal and charisma, challenging anthropomorphism and entomophobia
Contents
List of contributors; 1. Introduction Raynald Harvey Lemelin; Part I. Human-Insect Encounters: 2. Minding insects: scale, value, world Adam Dodd; 3. The philosophical and psychological dimensions of insects: tourism, horror and the negative sublime Jeff Lockwood; 4. Tiger beetles: lessons in natural history, conservation, and the rise of amateur involvement David Pearson; 5. A is for agriculture, B is for bee, C is for colony-collapse disorder, P is for pollinator parks: an A to Z overview of what insect conservationists can learn from bees Edward M. Spevak; 6. The entomological and recreational aspects of interacting with Lepidoptera T. R. New; 7. Dragonflies: their lives, our lives, from ponds to reserves Michael J. Samways; Part II. Insects and Leisure: 8. Relating to aquatic insects: becoming English fly fishers Adrian Franklin; 9. An appreciation for the natural world through collecting, owning, and observing insects Akito Y. Kawahara and Robert M. Pyle; 10. Gardening and landscape modification: butterfly gardens Jaret Daniels; 11. The role of edible insects in human recreation and tourism Alan L. Yen, Yupa Hanboonsong and Arnold van Huis; Part III. Insects and Tourism: 12. Butterfly conservatories, butterfly ranches and insectariums: generating income while promoting social and environmental justice Ko Veltman; 13. Insect festivals: celebrating and fostering human-insect interactions Glen T. Hvenegaard, Thomas A. Delamere, Raynald Harvey Lemelin, Kathleen Brager and Alaine Auger; 14. Glow-worm tourism in Australia and New Zealand: commodifying and conserving charismatic micro-fauna C. Michael Hall; Part IV. Conservation Frontiers: 15. May you live in interesting times: technology and entomology Forrest Mitchell; 16. Citizen science and insect conservation Kelsey Johansen and Alaine Auger; 17. The institutionalization of insect welfare: the cultural aspects of establishing a new organization dedicated to conserving invertebrates Matt Shardlow; 18. Insects in education: creating tolerance for some of the world's smallest citizens C. Ernst, K. Vinke, D. Giberson and C. M. Buddle; 19. Discovering the wilderness in parks and protected areas Jessica J. Rykken and Brian D. Farrell; 20. Conclusion Raynald Harvey Lemelin; Index.
Review
Lemelin has successfully assembled experts in the area of insects, recreation and tourism in this highly informative book on human-insect dynamics. The wide array of carefully chosen case studies will appeal to readers wishing to understand the deep significance of our encounters with insects. The book is sure to change the mind of anyone who has not thought of incorporating insects into their leisure activities and to further inform the millions that already do participate in insect-related recreation. This is a fascinating, much needed interdisciplinary look at not only activities such as butterfly watching and dragonfly hunting, but also their connection to larger issues of biodiversity and conservation. Diane M. Rodgers, Northern Illinois University
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