John Hainze, an entomologist, ethicist and former pesticide-developer calls for greater respect and moral consideration for humans and their natural world. Are creepy crawlers and unwanted plants deserving of empathy as partners dwelling with us on earth?

Fruit flies, dandelions, and crabgrass are the bane of many people and the target of numerous eradication efforts. In his compelling reassessment of the relationship between humans and the natural world, Hainze considers the fascinating and bizarre history of how these so-called invasive or unwanted pests and weeds have coevolved with humanity and highlights the benefits of a greater respect and moral consideration toward these organisms.

Joining the conversation will be James Barilla, author of My Backyard Jungle: The Adventures of an Urban Wildlife Lover Who Turned His Yard Into Habitat and Learned to Live With It, which considers the habitat of a typical urban back yard as a microcosm of burgeoning cities like Rio de Janeiro. He teaches creative non-fiction and environmental literature at the University of South Carolina.