Man Who Loved Wasps

by Howard E. Evans, Edward O. Wilson (Foreword), Mary Alic Evans (Editor)

As the world's leading authority on wasps, Howard Ensign Evans' lifelong study of this creature was only one aspect of his life as an acclaimed scientist and author. For readers, he illuminated the otherworldly lives of humble creatures in such popular books as "Life on a Little-Known Planet", "Wasp Farm", and "Pioneer Naturalists". Evans was a master entomologist who seems only to have been truly comfortable in places where the bugs called; there he found his beauty, his magic and his poetry. In this collection, which he completed just before his death at 83, it appears Evans knew all 900,000 species of his gems that to others were only insects, along with the lowly magpie and the birds of Australia as well. Edward O. Wilson, one of the world's preeminent biologists, is the author of more than twenty-five books, including Sociobiology, the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Ants, and the best-selling novel Anthill. A professor emeritus at Harvard University, he lives in Lexington, Massachusetts.

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2004

Reviews

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Various short pieces by one of America's best writers on natural history. Howard Ensign Evans was an entomologist who specialised in wasps. The solitary wasps are an endlessly fascinating group. Hard not to love a guy who was so single-mindedly into a topic like this and who increased the sum total of our knowledge about these creatures. Edited by his widow, Mary Alice Evans.

[David Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty very well-written essays on natural history. These works, most of which previously appeared in other publications and were assembled posthumously into this volume by the author's life-long collaborator and partner, represent all of Howard Evans' interests. A few of the essays feel a little bit dated (the most recent is from 1993), but that's a minor distraction. Evans was a very good writer and told engaging stories; many of the best in this book deal with naturalists and their quirks. Evans was a real advocate for the natural world and a curmudgeon when it came to humans' impact on that world; kindred spirits will find this book a comfort .