Did you know?: Some insects molt more than 50 times, shedding their exoskeletons as they grow. A grasshopper can travel a distance 15 times its body length in one leap. Some small flies flap their wings 1000 times a second. Many insects smell with their antennae, and some taste with their feet. A single egg laid by some species of wasps may produce up to 1000 new wasps. Bugs Up Close features common North American insects, such as mosquitoes and ladybugs. The index of insects and superb close-ups will help learn about the bugs in your neighborhood.
Gr 3-5 In a series of two-page chapters, columns of lucid text set against brightly colored backgrounds describe basic insect anatomy, major body parts and how they function, special adaptations of close to three dozen kinds of insects, egg-laying, metamorphosis, defense mechanisms, etc. One to three finely detailed close-ups of the invertebrates discussed dominate each section-most are arranged in large ovals or circles. Most of the photos are so highly magnified that individual hairs, spines, and antennae segments are clearly visible. A sidebar in each section also describes a distinctive characteristic of the insect featured in the largest close-up. Among the small creatures depicted are a wasp, blow fly, grasshopper, etc. Similar information on anatomy and body parts is available in titles in the "Minibeasts Up Close" series (Raintree); they also have good close-ups, though on a smaller scale. Swanson's book, however, has a broader scope and more detailed text, and offers some fresh insights into insect life. For instance, instead of just identifying spiracles, the air holes through which insects breathe, Bugs explains that they vary in number, size, and shape according to species, and that most contain hairs to filter out dust. This attractive, informative overview will appeal to both browsers and budding entomologists.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library
Bugs fill important niches in our world. We need them and you need this book. Highly Recommended.
For a swarm of fascinating facts, this title is highly recommended.
For a swarm of fascinating facts, this title is highly recommended.
Overview
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