Six-legged Sex: The Erotic Lives of Bugs by James Wangberg and illustrated by Marjorie Leggitt is a new at
the Castlegar and District Public Library. Wangberg, is a former entomology researcher and teacher at the
University of Wyoming. Marjorie Leggitt has created such glorious illustrations that I can't decide if the text
supports the art or vice versa.
In his introduction, Wangberg laments that it seems unfortunate that the exciting stories revealed by
scientists are only shared among scientists. Some aspects of scientific work are popularized, but there is so
much information that remains hidden in scientific literature, accessible only to relatively few. This book was
written to let others in on some of these secrets.
He says, "perhaps this book deserves an "R" rating, or at least a "PG-13." It contains adult language, sexual
content, nudity, and violence. But such is the nature of the animal world. At least I can assure you that the
sex and violence is not of the gratuitous kind. It is matter-of-fact, and meant to be educational as well as
entertaining."
Beyond sex, this book is about insects. We all know insects, their pervasiveness and their diversity. Try as
we might to ignore mosquitoes buzzing in our ears as we attempt to sleep, to avoid the worm in our cherries,
and to squish the green caterpillars eating our cabbages. Insects are the most successful group of animals
the earth has yet known. They annoyed dinosaurs and they will be swarming long after we are a remnant in
the fossil record.
There are twenty-five short, stand-alone, chapters. Each is edited to a razor's edge. You don't need a PhD
to read and to enjoy this book.
Here are a few flecks of insect trivia. Pheromones are chemicals that stimulate a strong sexual response.
Female moths emit pheromones in units of picograms or one trillionth of a gram. A male moth can detect the
scent of a receptive female for over a mile. Some male moths deposit an anti-aphrodisiac after mating that
masks the female's pheromone to other males.
Wangberg corrects a popular myth. Spanishfly is neither pheromone nor aphrodisiac, but an irritating and
toxic chemical secreted by blister beetles as a defense mechanism. It is unclear how spanishfly gained its
more seductive reputation.
Female fireflies attract mates, not with perfume, but with lanterns. With yearning males drawn to flashy
lights, it's not surprising to learn that one firefly species, Photurus, has evolved a nasty deception. Photurus
females mimic the flashing pattern of Photinus female fireflies. An unsuspecting Photinus male soars into
the arms of a Photurus female expecting to satisfy his primal urges. Instead he satisfies her hunger.
Photurus females switch signals when they're in the mood for love.
The males of certain fly species tempt prospective mates with gifts of food and displays of light-footed
dance. Eventually, the shy females begin to eat the gifts. But as they eat, the males mount.
There are three fly species in the Hilara genus that have evolved permutations to this ploy. The first
captures an insect to offer his bride. The second captures an insect and wraps it in silk as a gift for his bride.
The third little pig, captures nothing at all, but wraps it to appear as a gift. By the time his unwitting female
unwraps the empty box, well you can guess the ending.
The next time someone wishes to be a fly on the wall, you'll be able to set them straight.