In fourteen glorious essays, Despicable Species ponders some of the most loathsome creatures on the planet. But for every nasty reputation, there is a silver lining, which Lembke brings to our attention with dazzling bits of history, science, and culture. Lembke describes the horse fly as a blood-sucking insect with a walloping sting whose maggots exude chemicals that aid in healing human tissue, and that famous infant abandoner the cow-bird. She also writes about the hornworm, the opossum, and the deadly microbe Pfiesteria piscicida. And finally, she reveals our very own despicable species: Homo sapiens.
- ISBN10 158574199X
- ISBN13 9781585741991
- Publish Date 1 October 2001 (first published 1 September 1999)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 19 December 2011
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Rowman & Littlefield
- Imprint The Lyons Press
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 232
- Language English