Despicable Species: On Cowbirds, Kudzu, Hornworms, and Other Scourges

by Janet Lembke

Book Overview

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558216359
• ISBN13: 9781558216358
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Lyons Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Book Review- Despicable Species

Despicable Species by Janet Lembke is a book definitely worth reading. Lembke combines literary allusions, personal stories, and ecological facts throughout the 203 page book to create an enlightening reading experience. Despicable Species, published and copyrighted in 1999 by The Lyons Press, is made up of 14 essays in which Lembke discusses some of the plants, animals and viruses that people consider particularly vile. This book, while mostly intended toward naturalists, or people who want to learn about the environment and creatures in it, can be read and appreciated by anybody. I believe Lemke's purpose in writing this book was to make us, Homo sapiens, realize that although some other creatures and things may look different, or even harm us, does not mean that they don't have a purpose in life and can't provide a benefit. "How do we deal with the bad stuff? With all those disgusting, sickening, despicable, repellently alien lives that impinge on ours?" are the straightforward questions that begin the book. But as you continue reading the answers to these questions become all the more complicated and it seems as though the answers are aimed at answering the more complex question, "Are there lives that the world could do without?" During the book, Lembke looks at the world from an ecological standpoint. The introduction to the book, titled "Living together, like it or not", talks about the complex subject of symbiosis. Lembke leads the reader to make the conclusion that we are all put on Earth together and there is nothing that can be done to rid the world of creatures we find despicable. Even the most revolting creature has a very important relationship with other creatures that may not seem as revolting to them. Beginning with sandburs, Janet Lembke creatively informs the reader of species we find very contemptible. In "Prospect and Refuge: Sandburs", sandburs which can be any of several grasses of the genus Cenchrus, which have a spiny bur-like envelope that surrounds several one-grained spikelets, are explored. Although not too dreadful, sandburs can be annoying. The next essay, "The Barkings of a Joyful Squirrel: Gray Squirrel" is far more humorous but also provides an excellent example of symbiosis. This essay also includes a recipe for Jannette East's Brunswick Stew. "Murmurations: European Starling" is the next essay. Lembke's literary allusions and her vast knowledge of Greek and Latin classics are especially prominent in this essay. "The Natural History of Proteus: Pfiesteria piscida", and "Blood: The Tabanids-Deerflies and Horseflies" come after that. "A Foot in the Door: The Fungi" is the next essay. In this, Lembke reminisces about her childhood and the finding of mold in old books. "The Creature with Nineteen Lives: Common Opossum" comes next. After that, she wrote intriguing essays about hornworms and centipedes. Then comes an essay called "Heritage: Kudzu", about a plant that is despised be many people in the U.S., but use

Despicable Species

Despicable SpeciesReview by Katie Sheahan Despicable Species was written by Janet Lembke. It was published by The Lyon's Press Company, located in New York, NY 10011. There are 216 pages in Despicable Species. Janet Lembke wrote this book with the purpose of opening up our eyes to the bigger picture of how all creatures are useful and connected. She writes about some rather annoying species, such as the mosquitoes, and identifies how important they truly are to keeping other populations in balance. The ideas of the book can be understood by readers of all ages; however the wording may be a little tricky for younger readers. Despicable Species was composed of essays written about individual species. It was written in 1999 and it draws from locations all over America. She raises the probing question: Why do we want to destroy creatures who benefit us in ways we can't appreciate? My favorite essay was the one about the Gray Squirrels. It had lots of humor in it about how dim-witted the squirrels were. When a friend of Janet was asked why he disliked squirrels, his answer was, "Because they're stupid, that's why. They pile up nuts and bury them. Then they forget where they put them. Every year those durn animals tear up my yard looking for nuts." (28) After that truthful statement, I didn't think that there was any way I could be convinced that squirrels were good. Janet then surprised me by telling a story about a gray squirrel who worked its way through the mechanics of a special problem- that of taking one of her green apples up a tree. (35) She personified the squirrel by describing its hard work and dedication. The interactions of symbiosis were shown when she explained that squirrels are apart of a win-win symbiosis with trees. Just as trees aid squirrels, providing them with food, shelter, nesting materials, exercise, and safety from earth-bound creatures (or those at least who do not carry guns), so squirrels serve trees by practicing reforestation. (36) The biggest problem with the squirrel chapter was that at the end it gave a recipe for Brunswick "squirrel" stew--not a happy ending to an uplifting story. A few months ago in class we talked about relationships between different organisms. The first style discussed was mutualism. Mutualism is a victorious win-win relationship. Commensalisms is another relationship that we talked about. It involves one organism benefiting, while the other one is neither helped nor hurt. The last two relationships talked about were the parasitism and predation. These conclude with a plus-minus result. One organism is harmed or killed while the other is helped. Lembke gives examples of all of the types of Symbiosis. The yucca plant and their adapted moths need each other to survive. The plant needs the moth for pollination and the moth needs the plant for larval food. This was a very clear explanation of mutualism. All of her examples painted a clear picture of how the differ

Affectionately considered

It's a pleasure to read somebody who writes as well as Lembke. She is a good old Southern gal, part poet, part naturalist, who chooses every word with loving care. She displays a rationalist's affection for the creatures she writes about rather than that of a bleeding heart.In addition to those in the title, the "despicable species" include sandburs, squirrels, starlings, dinoflagellates, deerflies, horseflies, fruit flies, and even homo sapiens. Lemkbe devotes a chapter to each following an introduction entitled, "Living Together, Like It or Not," which sets the tone of the book. This is a personal experience that she relates, tempered with a classicist's love of allusion and a precision about nomenclature that would please the most exacting. She has a no nonsense attitude about her fellow creatures, especially the two-legged kind, whom she guides with little lectures. Rodney Barker, for example, author of When the Waters Turned to Blood (1997) gets taken to the wood shed not only for getting the species wrong, but for pronouncing "dinoflagellate" with a short "i" (p. 68).The text may be a little too precious in parts for some, and the poetic style is not intended to be merely informative; on the other hand, there is a dimension of beauty and a vividness achieved here that rewards the reader's effort. There's no index, but there is an eclectic reader's guide, "For the Bookworm," that includes some fine old names like Homer, Audubon, Jonathan Swift, Eric Hoffer, John Updike, and some new, like Sue Hubbell and Scott WeidensaulOn page 38 is a recipe for squirrel stew.

Them and Us

Them are starlings, kudzu, and other things that bother us. Millipedes, possums, and flies. Bugs, flies, dinoflagellates. On and on and on. We are all on this earth, we have to live here together, and we can do little about it. Janet Lembke tells us about these creatures and how they fit into their places, niches, in the real world. She calls these creatures despicable because that is how most of us view them. She is a wonderfully gifted story teller, getting her material from a myriad of sources, and weaving it into enchanting tales. She wears no political, religious, or cultural collars, so she is free to think uncommon thoughts, thoughts that often draw the attention of cultural watchdogs. Possibly what holds them at bay is her wonderful sense of humor and lack of self-importance.For example, she believes that the extinction of a species will not bring the whole living world crashing down. She believes, along with Eric Hoffer, that Man is an unfinished business. She believes that we need the world far more than the world needs us. She sees biodiversity as essential to humanity. But, there are so many rich thoughts in this book that the only way to really appreciate is to read it all the way through, then re-read it from time to time. Highly recommended.Oh, yes - humans are one of the despicable species.

Fascinating observations in a lively format.

Janet Lembke's Despicable Species surveys the habits of cowbirds, kudzu and other ugly or vile species and investigates some of the most annoying creatures on the planet, providing a different take on the ways in which they benefit humans. How can blood sucking horse flies benefit? By hatching maggots that secrete chemicals which aid in healing human tissue. Fascinating observations are presented in a lively format.