Insects - Successful Models of Evolution

Werner Gnatzy 1961-1966 Studied biology, chemistry and sport for the higher teaching profession at grammar schools at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. First state examination in 1966, doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) in 1970, habilitation in 1975, also in Mainz, in zoology with functional morphological studies on insect species. From 1975 to 2006 professor at the Zoological Institute of the Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main. Since 2006 lectures at the U3L.Jürgen Tautz is one of Germany's leading bee researchers, a retired professor at the Biocentre of the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg and the author of numerous books, including the bestseller The Buzz about Bees and Communication Between Honeybees. His writing and popular lectures have twice been honoured by the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) who included him among the best scientists in Europe in communicating science to the public. Furthermore, he received the prestigious Communicator Award of the German Research Foundation. As gifted communicator and leading scientist, Juergen Tautz has much in common with Carl Sagan, Richard P Feynman, Konrad Lorenz, Vince Dethier and others famous for their work in popularizing science and making it accessible to all.

• From egg to finished insect.- Colouration and colour patterns.- Trichomes, lotus effects and adhesive structures.- Body care.- The super senses of insects.- Enemy defence and release strategies.- Insects in search of mates.- Food acquisition and prey capture.- Epilogue, almost an obituary.