Thieves Deceivers and Killers: Tales of Chemistry in Nature

Prologue: The Protos and Their Slaves 3 Chapter 1: From Protos and Lepts to Nature's Special Chemicals 9 Chapter 2: Paying Ants for Transportation 25 Chapter 3: Getting Pollinated 39 Chapter 4: Files and the Misery They Bring 59 Chapter 5: Eavesdropping as a Way of Life 79 Chapter 6: Success through Mimicry and Theft 97 Chapter 7: Bacteria: Chemical Complexities in Simple Cells 117 Chapter 8: Delving into Nature's Chemicals 135 Chapter 9: Stocking the Medicine Chest 153 Chapter 10. Loose Ends and New Beginnings 173 Chapter 11. Complexity in the Real World 189 Chapter 12: Capitalizing on Ecology 211 Glossary 221 Further Reading 227 Index 233

William Agosta is Professor Emeritus at Rockefeller University and a Visiting Investigator at the University of Washington's Friday Harbor Laboratory. He is the author of Chemical Communication and Bombardier Beetles and Fever Trees.

"In a detailed yet highly readable examination, more akin to a collection of short stories than a dry, scholarly inquiry, Agosta... illuminates the role of chemicals in nature... [This is] good, enlightening reading on biology... [S]hould appeal to a broad audience..."--Publisher's Weekly "From the venom that spiders use to kill their prey to the alarm pheromes that earthworms release to warn other worms of danger, Agosta explores nature's surprisingly complex and potent pharmacopoeia."--Booklist "Without becoming highly technical, Agosta offers an in-depth look at the natural world of plants and animals in a clear, interesting style that makes a complicated subject very easy to understand. Highly recommended for anyone who wishes to better understand the natural world and the part played by the various organisms humans encounter in all corners of Earth."--Choice "Beautifully written, Thieves, Deceivers, and Killers has a cast full of plant and animal stars... Stunning."--Jonathan Beard, New Scientist "A collection of fascinating stories... Readers familiar with the author's work will find the same engaging style of writing that the nonscientist can easily understand."--Library Journal "The book is a delight to read. Each of the stories is told well and many are full of surprises."--Elizabeth A. Bernays, The Quarterly Review of Biology "This is a delightful book... [It] will fascinate the high school and college biology student and teacher."--Susan J. Karcher, American Biology Teacher