Product Description

Why does a Madagascan giant hissing cockroach hiss?
How do bombardier beetles spray chemicals that are the temperature of boiling water?
Why do leaf-cutter ants carry bits of green leaves over their heads?

Nothing is more exciting than getting an up-close look at the amazing lives of unusual insects. In this wonderfully detailed guide, written by the author of the kids' perennial favorites Pet Bugs and More Pet Bugs, you can find the answers to everything you ever wanted to know about the behavior of the weirdest bugs on our planet. From burying beetles and back swimmers to robber flies and Madagascan giant hissing cockroaches, Stinkbugs, Stick Insects, and Stag Beetles digs deep into the creepy, crawly world of these strange and tiny creatures. You'll learn what each bug looks like, where to find it, and how its odd habits help it to survive. With lots of illustrations and observing activities, Stinkbugs, Stick Insects, and Stag Beetles will show you just how incredible the strangest bugs in the world can be.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1569673 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-30
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .33" h x 8.28" w x 11.00" l, .69 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-An introduction to 21 insects that have unusual habits, all but three of which can be found somewhere in this country. The text briefly describes each creature's physical characteristics, and then gives a detailed description of its behavior, explaining how this particular adaptation helps the species survive. A few simple observational activities are included, some of which involve capturing and housing the insect temporarily. Some chapters also introduce related topics, such as symbiosis, predator swamping, chemical defenses, pollination, and mimicry. Pen-and-ink line drawings of individual specimens are adequately rendered; however, illustrations of multiple insects serve as little more than decorations as it is difficult to distinguish the bugs from the background. An appendix lists two biological supply companies and 11 insect zoos. Although this title is clearly written, well organized, and contains some information not offered in other introductions, it is marred by anthropomorphism. For instance, a sentence in the chapter on assassin bugs refers to the insect as a "murderer," and its prey as a "victim." In the chapter on stinkbugs, the female is described as "one tough mom," and her offspring as "children." These passages do not jibe with the scientific tone employed in the rest of the book. Ellen Doris's Entomology (Thames & Hudson, 1993; o.p.) and Laurence Mound's Insect (DK, 2000) cover many of the same insects, albeit in less detail, and have a consistently scientific approach and excellent color photographs.-Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover
Why does a Madagascan giant hissing cockroach hiss?
How do bombardier beetles spray chemicals that are the temperature of boiling water?
Why do leaf-cutter ants carry bits of green leaves over their heads?

Nothing is more exciting than getting an up-close look at the amazing lives of unusual insects. In this wonderfully detailed guide, written by the author of the kids’ perennial favorites Pet Bugs and More Pet Bugs, you can find the answers to everything you ever wanted to know about the behavior of the weirdest bugs on our planet. From burying beetles and back swimmers to robber flies and Madagascan giant hissing cockroaches, Stinkbugs, Stick Insects, and Stag Beetles digs deep into the creepy, crawly world of these strange and tiny creatures. You’ll learn what each bug looks like, where to find it, and how its odd habits help it to survive. With lots of illustrations and observing activities, Stinkbugs, Stick Insects, and Stag Beetles will show you just how incredible the strangest bugs in the world can be.

About the Author
SALLY KNEIDEL, a former science teacher with a Ph.D. in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has stalked bugs from the mountains of Switzerland to the tropical rain forests of Costa Rica. She is the author of eight science books, including Creepy Crawlies and the Scientific Method and Wiley s bestselling Pet Bugs and More Pet Bugs.