Stink Bugs, Stick Insects, and Stag Beetles And 18 More of the Strangest Insects on Earth

by Kneidel, Sally

• ISBN13: 9780471357124
• ISBN10: 047135712X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-07-14
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

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.

Author Biography

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 Wileys bestselling Pet Bugs and More Pet Bugs.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	v
Introduction	vii
Part One Strange Insects You Can Probably Find	1	(36)
Monarch Butterflies	3	(7)
Ants and Aphids	10	(4)
Periodical Cicadas	14	(5)
Stinkbugs	19	(5)
Caddis Fly Larvae	24	(4)
Burying Beetles	28	(4)
Back Swimmers	32	(5)
Part Two Strange Insects You Might Find	37	(32)
Hover Flies	39	(5)
Stick Insects	44	(4)
Stag Beetles	48	(4)
Assassin Bugs	52	(4)
Dung Beetles	56	(4)
Robber Flies	60	(4)
Giant Water Bugs	64	(5)
Part Three Strange Insects You Probably Won't Find	69	(34)
Leaf-Cutter Ants	71	(5)
Botflies	76	(4)
Madagascan Giant Hissing Cockroaches	80	(5)
Army Ants of the Americas	85	(5)
Bombardier Beetles	90	(5)
Honey Ants	95	(4)
Tsetse Flies	99	(4)
Resources	103	(2)
Further Reading	105	(2)
Glossary	107	(4)
Index	111