Mother Nature Is Trying to Kill You: A Lively Tour Through the Dark Side of the Natural World

by Riskin, Dan

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  INDEX />
  acacia ants, 105–6, 113, 126, 139–40, 182

  acacia, bull’s horn, 105–6, 113, 126, 139–40

  activism: importance of, 210–11

  aggression

  childbirth and, 49–50

  mating and, 51–54

  agriculture: need for efficient, 209

  Akin, Todd, 51

  algae, 101, 111–13, 193, 194

  Amazonian ants, 180–81

  anglerfish, 84–85, 95

  Animal Planet (TV program), 70–71

  animals

  as eating other animals, 99, 118–19

  evolution of, 115

  as food, 98

  as helping plants move, 115–16

  humans as hunting, 141–43

  as lacking soul, 204

  largest, 121

  photosynthesis and, 101–2

  pollination of plants by, 113–15

  suffering of, 118, 121, 122, 125

  theft among, 135–41, 135n

  See also specific animal

  antechinus, 38–40, 39n

  antivenins, 173, 173n, 189

  ants

  bites/stings of, 179–83, 189

  and envy, 135–37

  as hymenopterans, 181–82

  mutualism and, 105–6

  number of species of, 180, 180n

  parasitism of, 135–37

  sacrifices of, 200

  selfishness of, 105

  as thieves, 135–37

  tucandeira ritual with, 181, 181n

  See also species of ant

  aphids, 113

  Argyrodes spiders, 137–39

  Australia: human impact on, 26–27

  Australian box jellyfish, 167

  babies: killing of, 20–22, 20n

  bacteria: energy for, 103–4n

  Bagheera kiplingi spiders, 139–40, 211

  Balmorhea State Park (Texas), 177

  bananas, 117

  bats

  in Belize, 1–3, 2n

  in Bracken Cave (Texas), 123–24

  in Costa Rica, 71–78, 71n

  echolocation calls of, 76, 94, 176

  evolution of, 71n

  frog-eating, 58, 58n