{"title":"Erica McAlister","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eErica McAlister\u003c\/strong\u003e offers a fascinating journey into the unseen world of flies, blending scientific rigour with engaging storytelling. Her works illuminate the complexity and charm of these often overlooked insects, revealing their vital role in nature and the extraordinary lives they lead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect richly detailed explorations that combine natural history with vivid observations, inviting curiosity and deepening appreciation for the marvels of the natural world. Her books are essential for anyone interested in science, nature, and the intricate wonders that surround us.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"metamorphosis-by-erica-mcalister-9781486318902","title":"Metamorphosis","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInsects are incredibly weird. Their morphology is about as alien to us as you can get without leaving this planet. They outnumber us 200 million to one. Before humans stamped their mark on this planet, insects had shaped it into the colourful and extraordinary world we all share today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether it’s the astonishing properties of resilin, the protein that makes fleas jump; the proboscis of the mosquito’s mouth being used to develop smart needles; or the computational dynamics gleaned from studying locust swarms in Africa – Erica McAlister and Adrian Washbourne reveal the wonder of insects, the historical figures who have made great breakthroughs in understanding them, and the increasingly vital role they play in ensuring life, as we know it, continues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePraise for Metamorphosis:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Combining charm, humour and a museum worth of facts, this is a brilliant read that will change your thinking towards our insect friends.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDr Bryan Lessard a.k.a. Bry the Fly Guy, award-winning entomologist, science communicator and children's author\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46854673400044,"sku":"9781486318902","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/b3e6f85a88a886188f4ccd38b2fa7154.jpg?v=1759266543"},{"product_id":"the-inside-out-of-flies-by-erica-mcalister-9781486313808","title":"The Inside Out of Flies","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Inside Out of Flies\u003c\/em\u003e is a look under the bonnet at the astonishing mechanics of fly anatomy. Erica McAlister reveals the engineering miracles embodied in each species of fly and some of the fascinating implications they hold for human technology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover the physics of the mysterious ‘scuba diving fly’, marvel at the venomous horsefly larvae which prey on frogs and glimpse the golden ratio in these creatures’ spiral flight patterns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMcAlister touches on the emerging field of biomimetics – the study of evolutionary adaptations to devise new technology – and anticipates everything from medical needles based on the mosquito’s proboscis to hearing aids inspired by \u003cem\u003eOrmia ochracea\u003c\/em\u003e, a tiny fly with ears on its thorax.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt every juncture she uncovers unique and surprising science lessons encapsulated in the form and function of the humble fly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"NewSouth Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46855008714988,"sku":"9781486313808","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9f11b2f01fd77b8bc697c65ed5e03b59.jpg?v=1759262596"},{"product_id":"the-secret-life-of-flies-by-erica-mcalister-9781486308026","title":"The Secret Life of Flies","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnter a hidden world of snail killers, silly names and crazy sex lives in \u003cem\u003eThe Secret Life of Flies\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Secret Life of Flies\u003c\/em\u003e, entomologist Erica McAlister gets under the wings of these crucial creatures as she ventures into the land of the fly. From hungry herbivores and precocious pollinators to robber flies, danceflies and the much-maligned mosquito, she describes the different types of fly, their unique and often unusual characteristics, and the unpredictable nature of their daily life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eErica travels from the drawers of wonder at the Natural History Museum, London, to the mountains of Peru, via underground caves, smelly latrines and the English country garden. She discovers flies without wings, eyes on stalks, rotating genitalia and the terrible hairy fly, while pausing along the way to consider today's key issues of conservation, taxonomy, forensic entomology and climate change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCombining her deep knowledge and love of flies with a wonderful knack for storytelling, Erica McAlister allows us to peer—amazed and captivated—into the secret life of flies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"NewSouth Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47461634277612,"sku":"9781486308026","price":34.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781486308026-the-secret-life-of-flies.jpg?v=1774973835"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/erica-mcalister.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}