Netherworld: The Genius of Parasites

An awe-inspiring journey into the hidden world of parasites, by pioneering ecologist Chelsea Wood.

"Magnificent ... as complex and compelling as the creatures it describes." —Ed Yong, New York Times bestselling author of An Immense World

Parasites are some of the most misunderstood creatures on the planet. The hundreds of thousands of species of parasitic worms, insects, viruses, bacteria, and fungi support nearly every ecosystem on Earth. And yet, for most of us, any mention of parasites is a close encounter of the most grotesque kind.

In Netherworld, leading parasite researcher Chelsea Wood reveals the scientific truth behind our fear: While a tiny fraction of parasite species threatens humans, the vast majority of these misjudged marvels are essential to the health of our planet—and they’re in trouble. With infectious curiosity (and plenty of worm jokes), Wood guides us around the world to show the threats parasites face and their many consequences.

We visit Costa Rica, where banana conglomerates have eradicated many of the parasitoids that control banana-eating pests, and Japan, where a critically endangered fish species may be plummeting toward extinction because the parasite it depends on is being killed off by deforestation.

For fans of Ed Yong and Mary Roach, Netherworld is the first book to uncover the fascinating—and urgent—science of our wormy neighbors.