"A squirrel in the garden. A rat in the wall. A pigeon on the street. Humans have spent so much of our history drawing a hard line between human spaces and wild places. When animals pop up where we don't expect or want them, we respond with fear, rage, or simple annoyance. It's no longer an animal. It's a pest. At the intersection of science, history, and narrative journalism, Pests is not a simple call to look closer at our urban ecosystem. It's...

"A look at insect species that infest homes and other buildings and what can be done to prevent unwanted visitors from invading your home"--

When a boy leaves cupcake crumbs in his bed, his mother warns him "If you don't clean up after yourself, we're going to get pests!" But really, what's the worst that can happen? It's no big deal ... until Vlad shows up and wants an entire cupcake. And then more barbarians take over the TV room ... and the garage! They use the school supplies to scratch their hairy backs! The exterminator won't take the case, and mousetraps don't work. What can the...

Today we live in snug, well-furnished houses surrounded by the trappings of a civilized life. But we are not alone--we suffer a constant stream of unwanted visitors. Our houses, our food, our belongings, our very existence are under constant attack from a host of invaders eager to take advantage of our shelter, our food stores and our tasty soft furnishings. From bats in the belfry to beetles in the cellar, moths in the wardrobe and mosquitoes in...

Examines the anatomy, behavior, and dangers of cockroaches, as well as ways of coping with them.