Focus on Mini Beasts

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Copyright 2010 Top That! Publishing plc

Tide Mill Way, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1AP, UKwww.topthatpublishing.com

Top That! is a trademark of Top That! Publishing plc

All rights reserved


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Flying ColoursPages 46

Whats Bugging You?Pages 79

Beetle ManiaPages 1012

Eye Spy DragonflyPages 1315

Give It Up ForGrasshoppers

Pages 1618

Flutterby Butterfly

Pages 1920

Busy Bodies

Pages 2122

Ant-tastic

Pages 2325

Leggy, Leggy, Leggy

Pages 2830

Staying Alive

Pages 3133

CONTENTS

Eat Up

Pages 2627


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House Of Horrors

Pages 5557

Now You See MePages 3436

Up, Up And AwayPages 3739

Lets Get TogetherPages 4041

Water Babies

Pages 4647

Going Underground

Pages 4849

Desert Bugs

Pages 5051

Swamp Monsters

Pages 5254

The Eyes Have It

Pages 5860

Deadly ClothesPages 4243

Rainforest Rarities

Pages 4445

CONTENTS

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Fossils show that insects have lived on Earth for at least 320 million years

even before there were dinosaurs! These amazing creatures come in all sortsof shapes and sizes and can be found all over our planet, from jungles and

deserts to houses and gardens. But what exactly is an insect?

FLYING COLOURS

What is an insect

An insects body is made of three essential parts the

head, thorax and abdomen. Unlike humans, insects

have exoskeletons skeletons on the outside of their

bodies. This protects them from harm and ensures that

water stays inside, preventing their bodies from drying

out. Many insects have wings, and the majority have

antennae close to the head. Insects rank among some of

the most successful animals in the world. With millions of

species, they can live in almost any habitat. Insects are

known as arthropods, animals which lack a backbone.

What are arachnids

Arachnids have eight (sometimes ten) legs and are

made of two distinct body parts the abdomen and

the cephalothorax (a combination of the head and

thorax). They have a pair of fang-like mouthparts and a

pair of leg-like structures that come in useful for holding

food. Scorpions, mites, ticks, crane flys (daddy long-

legs) and spiders are all part of the arachnid family.

An ant is an insect it has a head, thorax

and abdomen.

A spider is an arachnid.


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There are millions of speciesof insect in the world.


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An insects hard exoskeleton cannot grow, which makes

it difficult for the insect to get any bigger. Insects growby breaking out of and shedding their skin. When this

has happened, they have to grow before their new skin

hardens. This process is called moulting. Once they

become adults, insects dont get any bigger.

Do insects grow

Different insects have different lifespans. Mayflies live

for less than a day; some butterflies live for severaldays. Many insects are seasonal and live for a year,

mating, laying eggs and then dying. However, there

are some exceptions. A queen termite, for example,

can live for up to fifty years!

How long do insects live

Being cold-blooded, insects tend to prefer warmer

climates and have adapted in a number of ways to

cope with the cold. In the winter, some insects

hibernate through a process called diapause, which

makes them stop moving, preserving energy. Some

adult insects can stop the water in their bodies from

freezing by producing a chemical called glycerol that

acts like anti-freeze. Honeybees stay in clusters in their

hives and use their vibrating wing muscles to raise the

temperature to keep each other warm when its cold!

Honeybees stay in clusters to keep warm.

Do insects hibernate

FACT FILE

Stick insects are thelongest insects inthe world.

African stick insects

can be as longas 40 cm (16 in.).


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Bedbugs, assassin bugs, flat bugs, seed bugs, red bugs, stink bugs, plant

bugs there are around 80,000 different types of bug that make up thegroup of insects known as Hemiptera. All the insects in this group have

something in common sucking mouthparts.

WHATS BUGGING YOU?

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How and what do bugs eat

Do bugs eat other bugs

How did the assassin bug getits name

Bugs feed through a long, hollow tube called a

proboscis. They pierce their food and then suck up the

juices. Some bugs suck up plant juices, called sap, but

there are other more sinister bugs in existence that like

to suck blood and body fluids. These bugs often have

legs covered in tiny hairs, which help them to hold on

to their victims while they feed.

Ambush bugs, which

mainly live in the

tropical Americas and

Asia, are stealthy

insects, as they rely on

camouflage to disguise

them as they wait to

catch their prey. These

ferocious bugs use

their front legs to grab

unsuspecting insects,

which are often much

larger than themselves.

Lurking in the undergrowth, waiting to ambush its prey,

the assassin bug lies in wait, preparing to attack. This

bug is a killer (hence its name), and eats other insects

by stabbing them with its proboscis and then injecting

them with a lethal dose of saliva. This toxic saliva turns

the inside of the victims body into liquid, and the

assassin bug sucks up what it probably considers to bea delicious meal. If an assassin bug cant find a

suitable insect to eat, it will quite happily eat a fellow

assassin bug rather than go hungry!

An assassin bug injectsits prey with toxic saliva.

An ambush bug hides in aflower as it waits for its prey.


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Do bugs use disguise

Many bugs use disguise to protect

themselves from predators, and

its easy to see how the thorn

bug got its name after all,

no predator would like to eat

a sharp thorn. Thorn bugs

like to suck sap, so tend

to gather in groups on the

stems of plants, which makes

them look even more prickly!

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Night night, sleep tight, dont let the bedbugs

bite The bad news is that, yes, bedbugs really

do bite! They commonly hide in mattresses and thecracks in bed frames during the day, but crawl out

at night to feast on snoozing humans. The good

news is that bedbugs dont transmit diseases and,

apart from leaving you with a few itchy patches,

if they bite you wont feel a thing!

A bedbug enjoys feeding on human blood.

Do bedbugs really bite

A stink bug emits a nastysmell to deter predators.

FACT FILE

Measuring up to just5 mm (3 316 in.) inlength, its thought thata bedbug can drinkaround four times its

original body weight inblood in just 15 minutes!

Put yourself in a stink bugs shoes theres a big bird

about to pounce on you and gobble you up, and in a

matter of moments youre going to be history sowhat would you do? Youd need to unleash a hidden

defence so you can live to see another day. Thats

exactly what a stink bug does. Its hidden defence is its

pong phew. One whiff of this smelly perfume and

predators think twice!

What makes a stink bug stink

A thorn bug.


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Are bugs able to live under water as well as on land

A water boatmanuses its longest legslike oars to propel it

through the water.

Scientists use electronmicroscopes tomagnify specimens,such as this bedbug,thousands of times.

Many bugs have adapted to life in or around water.

Water boatmen swim upside down, using two long legslike oars, which make them look like tiny rowing boats.

They paddle through the water, chasing and catching

tadpoles and small fish to eat. Giant water bugs are so

large that they can catch and eat frogs and bigger fish.

Water measurers can be found at the edges of ponds.

They skate across the waters surface, stabbing at

mosquito larvae with their piercing mouthparts.


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When threatened, the devilscoach-horse beetle arches its tail

and opens its pincer-like jaws,

rather like a scorpion. (Its arched

tail means it is also known as

a cock-tail.) If this action

doesnt put off predators,

the beetle squirts astinking liquid from

two glands at

its rear.

Some beetles secrete toxic chemicals when threatened.If the poisonous chemical secreted by the blister beetle

touches human skin, it causes painful blisters and can

even be fatal if swallowed. This chemical, called

cantharidin, is secreted by the male beetle and given to

the female, who covers her eggs with it to protect them

from predators. Blister beetles are often brightly

coloured, which acts as a further warning to predatorsto stay away these beetles are bad to eat!

The stag beetle is Britains largest beetle, with males

growing to 7 cm (3 in.) in length. On summer evenings,

males take to the air in search of a mate. Despite their

fearsome-looking jaws, male stag beetles dont bite, but

wrestle with each other over a good breeding site, the

winner throwing the loser to the ground.

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BEETLE MANIAWith around 400,000 different kinds, beetles form the largest group of insects,

known as Coleoptera. The word Coleoptera means sheathed wing, andyoull see that most beetles flight wings are protected by a hardened shield.

Which is Britains largest beetleFACT FILE

Apart from their hardened shields, do beetles have any other form of defence

The devils coach-horse beetle has no sting in its tail,but squirts a foul-smelling liquid and gives a nasty bite.

This brightly colouredblister beetle secretesa toxic chemical.

The name stagbeetle comes fromthe enormousmandibles (jaws)found on the malesof this species.

They look like astags antlers!


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Male stag beetlestake to the air onwarm summerevenings in searchof a mate.


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Which beetles are the largest and which are the smallest

Beetles eat all sorts of different foods, including leaves,

seeds, fruit and rotten wood. Some beetles eat fungus,

and some eat other insects. There are, however, somebeetles with a rather unusual taste for fecal matter

thats dung or poo. These beetles roll balls of dung with

their back legs, hence the name dung beetle. The

female beetle lays her eggs in the ball and when the

eggs hatch, the larvaes first meal will be a feast of

dung yummy!

What do beetles eat

The goliath beetle is a real heavyweight.

Were dung beetles worshipped

The scarab beetle became a symbol of immortality tothe ancient Egyptians.

The ancient Egyptians were fascinated by a type of

dung beetle known as the scarab. As scarab beetles

busily rolled balls of dung along the ground, theirbright, almost metallic colouring reminded the

Egyptians of the sun crossing Earth. The scarab symbol

was soon used as a good luck charm to ward off evil

and symbolise immortality. Keep a look out in history

books to see pictures of the scarab on Egyptian tombs

and jewellery.A dung beetle in action.

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Some large, tropical beetles can grow to be as big as a

human hand, whereas the smallest types can barely beseen. The heaviest beetle is the adult goliath beetle, which

can measure up to 15 cm (6 in.) in length and weigh up to

100 g (4 oz) this heavyweight is bigger than your fist!

Although thinner, some stick insects are over 30 cm (12 in.)

in length! Feather-winged beetles, on the other hand, are

the smallest beetles in the world. They can barely be seen

by the human eye and look like specks of dust.


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Dragonflies are one of the oldest types of insect. They first appeared in the

Carboniferous period, around 320 million years ago and way beforedinosaurs walked on Earth. These ancient insects were much larger than

modern-day dragonflies, and some fossilised examples have been found

with wingspans of close to a metre!

A dragonfly dentist would soon be able to tell you! Dragonflies

belong to the family Odonata, which means toothed jaw.

Imagine how scary these powerful jaws must look to an

unsuspecting prey insect. In the Middle Ages, flies had a bad

name. The term dragonfly probably reflects this negative attitude

towards flies. You may also hear the dragonfly being referred to by

one of these other names, none of which are very flattering: adder

bolt, snake doctor, mosquito hawk, devils riding horse, horse stinger

and devils darning needle.

How did the dragonfly get its name

Note thedragonflys

large eyes andpowerful jaws.

What do dragonflies eat

A dragonfly meal typically consists of

any of the following: gnats, mosquitoes,

midges, wasps, flies, butterflies and

even smaller dragonflies. Adult

dragonflies catch their prey in flight,

seizing it with their hairy legs and chewing

it with their powerful jaws. Despite being

such fearsome predators, dragonflies dont sting,

and will only try to bite a human if they are being held captive.

One of thelargestdragonflies,Megaloprepuscoerulatus, hasa wingspan

of 19 cm(7 12 in.).

FACT FILE

Dragonfliesdont sting.

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EYE SPY DRAGONFLY


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A dragonfly has 360-degree all-round vision.

A damselfly folds its wings along the length of its body(left), whereas a dragonflys are held away.

Why do dragonflies have big eyes

Like many insects, a dragonflys eyes take up most of its

head, giving it a 360-degree field of vision. Each

human eye has just one lens, but a dragonfly has many

thousands of lenses in each eye (called compound

eyes). This means it can see in front, above, below and

behind perfect for detecting the slightest movement,

whether to catch prey or escape from danger.

Dragonflies are often seen near water because this is

where the female lays her eggs. When the eggs hatch,

the larvae (called nymphs) live beneath the water,

breathing through gills and feeding on tadpoles and

small fish. Dragonflies stay in this laval state for up to

five years. When they are ready to become adults,

they climb up a reed or piece of plant matter, where

their old laval skin splits overnight and a beautiful

dragonfly emerges in the warmth of the morning sun.

Why do dragonflies live by water

While its true that both dragonflies and flies are

insects, flies have just two wings, whereas dragonfiles

have four. So, a dragonfly is not a type of fly. As a

general rule, most insects have four wings; flies are

the exception.

Damselflies also belong to the group Odonata, and

can easily be mistaken for dragonflies unless you knowwhat to look for. Both dragonflies and damselflies have

four wings, but a dragonflys hind wings are usually

shorter and broader than its front wings. A damselflys

wings are equal in size and shape. Dragonflies are

usually larger than damselflies, and when a dragonfly

is at rest, it holds its wings out from its body, whereas a

damselfly folds its wings along the length of its body.Although both are often found near water, dragonflies

venture further afield.

What is the difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly

Is a dragonfly a type of fly


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How fast can dragonflies actually fly

Dragonflies can beat each pair of wings independently:

their front wings go down while the back ones comeup. This makes all dragonflies excellent fliers. They can

loop-the-loop, hover and even fly backwards! These

amazing wings enable most large dragonflies to reach

speeds of about 30 kph (18 mph), but the Australiandragonfly, Austrophlebia costalis, beats them all. It has

been recorded at an incredible 58 kph (36 mph)!

Dragonflies returnto water to lay

their eggs.


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GIVE IT UP FOR GRASSHOPPERS

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Grasshoppers belong to the insect family called Orthoptera. The word

Orthoptera comes from the Greek words orthos meaning straight andptera meaning wing. As well as grasshoppers, this family of 20,000

different species includes locusts, crickets, ground hoppers and katydids.

A grasshopper uses itspowerful hind legs toleap from danger.

How high can a grasshopper jump What do they eat

The wart-biter cricketwas once used to bite

warts off skin.

Although grasshoppers, and most other members of the

Orthoptera family, have tough, leathery wings, they

rarely fly. Instead, they use their powerful hind legs to

hop away from danger (hence the name grasshopper).

These insects are natural long jumpers. Its thought that

an average grasshopper can jump at least twenty times

its own body length. Thats the human equivalent ofabout 37 m!

Grasshoppers and locusts are completely vegetarian,

chomping on grasses and other plants with their

specially adapted chewing mouthparts. Crickets and

katydids, on the other hand, are omnivores and so

tend to eat anything from plants, fruit and fungi to

meat and even each other! There is one type of cricket

with extremely powerful jaws known as a wart-biter,and, guess what it was once used to bite warts off

human skin.

FACT FILESince Biblical times, locusts and grasshoppershave provided tasty snacks for humans. Johnthe Baptist was said to have lived on locustsand honey, and today these insects, whichcontain fifty per cent protein, still feature as astandard ingredient in Middle Eastern and

Chinese cuisine. Simply remove the wings, thesmall legs and the head, season and serve!


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All the members of theOrthoptera family have toughleathery wings, but most preferto jump instead of fly.


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Locusts usually live alone until it rains. Rain provides

locusts with the perfect conditions to reproduce, andthey go into a breeding frenzy, producing millions

and sometimes billions of offspring. The close contact

between these insects can cause them to become what

is known as gregarious. They appear different to their

parents, changing colour from the usual green to

multicoloured pink, black and yellow, and form

enormous groups called swarms.

Grasshoppers and crickets dont have ears on their

heads, but they can still hear and feel vibrations. Agrasshoppers ears (called tympanum) are on the sides

of its body, whereas a crickets ears can be seen as a

swelling just below each knee on its front legs.

How do grasshoppers hearWhat is a plague of locust

How do they communicate

Listen carefully as you pass patches of tall grass in the

summer and you might be lucky enough to hear

crickets and grasshoppers chirping. This sound, known

as stridulation, is not made by a voice, but by a row

of bumps on the insects legs or wings. The insect rubs

its hind legs against its forewings or, in some cases,

rubs its wings together to make the noise. Each species

has a different arrangement of bumps, so the sounds

they make are unique. Next time you hear a

grasshopper chirp, take it as a sign that love is in the

air! Its the males that sing to woo the females and to

warn off other males.

The male sings to woo the female before the pair mate.

With a single swarm thought to contain up to eighty

million locusts, imagine the damage that these hungry

insects can cause as they munch their way through any

plant in their path. Locusts live mainly in northern

Africa, but a swarm can travel huge distances into Asia

and even Europe, causing widespread devastation tofarmers crops and so leaving people to struggle

without food. This is known as a plague.

Locusts can cause serious damage to farmers crops.


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FLUTTERBY BUTTERFLYButterflies and moths are both part of the Lepidoptera group lepido meaning

scale and ptera meaning wing. This is the second-largest group of insects,with over 15,000 species of butterfly and 150,000 species of moth.

Butterflies and moths can be tricky to tell apart, but

take a closer look and youll soon be able to spot the

differences. Both have four wings, which are covered

in tiny coloured scales that look like dust. Butterflies are

usually brightly coloured, and show off their beautiful

wings during the day. When they stop to rest, they

close their wings, which have a duller pattern on the

underside. Butterflies have slim, smooth bodies, with a

bulge at the end of each antenna, known as feelers.

Moths, on the other hand, are nocturnal (they fly

at night), and their wings are often muted

brown, grey, white or black in colour. This

colouring keeps them camouflaged during

the day, when they rest with their wings open. Moths

are usually fat and furry, and they have feathery, comb-

like antennae, which scientists believe helps them to

smell and sense movement.

What is the difference between butterflies and moths

FACT FILE

Most adult butterflies drinknectar from flowers through theirproboscis a feeding tube that theycan unroll and use like a straw to

suck up this sweet-tasting liquid.

A butterfly (left)and a moth.

If youve watched a butterfly resting on a leaf, consider

that you might have interrupted its lunch! Butterflies tastethrough their feet. The female also does this to check

whether a plant is the right variety to lay her eggs on.

How do they taste their food


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The atlas moth is a truly impressive sight and has the

largest wing area of any moth in the world. It lives in

the jungles of Malaysia, and uses the large white eye

spots on its beautiful ruby-coloured wings to warn off

predators. Despite its defence camouflage, the atlas

moth has a sad tale to tell. While the atlas

caterpillar munches asmuch as it can in

order to develop into

this mammoth moth,

the atlas moth itself has no

stomach. This means that it

cannot take in food, and so

lives for only around a day.

Which is the largest moth

Well, for a start shes female and shes named after a

queen the Queen Alexandra birdwing. This rare

and poisonous beauty has a wingspan of up to 28 cm

(11 in.), with pale markings on a dark chocolate-brown

background and a bright yellow abdomen. Boththe males and the females fly high in

the rainforest

canopy of Papua

New Guinea.

The QueenAlexandra birdwingis one of the worldsbiggest butterflies.

Which is the biggest butterfly

FACT FILE

Keep a look out for butterflies basking in thesunshine on chilly days. They do this becausetheir wing muscles wont work properly if they

get too cold, which prevents them from flying.Their optimum body temperature is around 28C.

An atlas moth.


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BUSY BODIES

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What is the difference between bees and wasps

You may think that all bees and wasps are just

buzzing, stinging, yellow-and-black insects, but there

are ways to tell them apart. Bees have short hairs all

over their bodies even their eyes which makes them

look soft and fuzzy. Bumble bees are larger and

rounder than honey bees, but they are still hairy. Bees

feed on nectar and pollen, and can often be seen

carrying pollen back to their hives in little baskets on

their hind legs. Wasps, on the other hand, have a thin

waist and a smooth, shiny body. Their yellow-and-

black markings are much sharper and brighter than

bees. Wasps chew up wood to make a nest of paper,

and instead of collecting nectar, they prey on other

insects. Many bees and wasps are social insects, which

means they live and work together as a colony. A

colony may comprise thousands of insects, but is

always centred on a queen bee or wasp, who is larger

than the others and the only one to lay eggs.

There are over 19,000 known species of bee and a similar number of wasp

but these are only the ones we know about! Both bees and wasps are agardeners friend, as bees pollinate flowers and wasps like to eat common

garden pests, such as caterpillars and aphids.

Bees produce honey from a sugary liquid called nectar.

They suck the nectar from flowers and store it in aspecial honey stomach, which is in addition to their

regular stomach. Filling this stomach takes between

1001,500 visits to flowers and, when full, can weigh

almost as much as the bee does! On returning to the

hive, the nectar is passed to worker bees, who digest it

and regurgitate it as raw honey. It is then spread

through honeycomb and fanned dry by the bees wingsuntil it becomes thick and gooey. The honey is stored

for the bees to eat throughout the year.

honey stomach

A cross section of a bee.

stomach

rectum

sting

poison

sachind leg

mid legfore leg

How do bees make honey


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The yellow and black colours of bees and wasps act as a warning to say that

these insects sting! While a sting can be painful and, in a few people, cause a

serious allergic reaction, bees and wasps usually attack only when they feelthreatened. A bee can sting only once. This is because a little hook on the end

of its stinger catches in whatever it decides to sting, causing its abdomen to tear

as it flies away. The bee dies as a result. Wasps, on the other hand, can sting many times.

Wasps usually eat insects, including caterpillars, ants

and flies. They also feed on household waste and on

the bodies of dead animals. There is one type of

wasp, the tarantula hawk wasp, whose larvae feed on

tarantula spiders. The female wasp watches, waits and

pounces on a tarantula, paralysing it with her sting.

Once her wasp grub has hatched, it sucks the juicesfrom the still-living, but paralysed, spider!

What do wasps eat

Yellowand blackwarn thatthis insect

stings!

Why do wasps like picnics

Wasps love sugary foods, so a picnic for you is a

picnic for them too! Throughout the summer they are

busy feeding their young, so dont tend to botherpeople, but by the end of the season they are at their

most annoying as they search for their favourite

sugary snacks (such as ice creams, fizzy drinks and

fruit). If you prepare a separate picnic for the wasps

perhaps a plate of sweet, sticky jam or a bottle of

cola and put it at a safe distance, they can join in

without upsetting your fun. Remember, though,always look out for them before you sit down, put

your hands down or take a bite of your picnic lunch.

Not every bee or wasp is out to sting you. Remember,

they usually attack only when they feel threatened, and

this might be because you are standing too close to

their nest (you may not even realise it). If a wasp or

bee comes closer to you than youd like, just walk

away calmly. If you wave your arms about and start to

panic, youll probably just convince it that you reallyare a threat.

How can I avoid being stung

Why do bees and wasps sting

22

Wasps love the sweettaste of fruit.


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ANT-TASTICAnts and termites are known as social insects because they live in groups.

The group could be as few as twenty or as large as many thousands and iscalled a colony. Did you know that there are more termites on Earth than

human beings?

What do ants eat

Ants eat anything from small invertebrates and the

bodies of dead animals to fruit, seeds and fungus. Ants

have very strong mouthparts, called mandibles, so can

easily cut up pieces of food. Some ants like honeydew

the sweet liquid made by tiny green

insects called aphids. The ants

protect groups of aphids and

keep them like herds of cows to

milk for honeydew.

Where do termites live

Termites like to eat wood

and dead plant matter, so

usually live near their

source of food. They

may build their nest

inside a tree or

make

a mound either

above or below

ground. The

African termite

takes the prize

for the biggest

mound. Starting

underground, its

nest can measure

up to 12.8 m high

thats the same

as seven tall

people standing on

top of one another!

FACT FILE

A cross section ofa termite nest.

Termites not only like to

eat wood, but enjoychewing on books,carpets, furniture, windowframes and flooring.

In some countries, termitedamage in a house is abigger threat thantornado, fire, lightning oreven a hurricane!

An ants powerful mandiblescan cut up its food.

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How is a colony of ants made up

How do ants communicate

A colony is made up of lots of small rooms, or chambers, which are joined together by a network of tunnels. The

colony is built and looked after by thousands of worker ants. Worker ants are also known as neuter ants, which

means that they cant breed. As well as maintaining the colony, they gather food, look after the young ants,

defend the colony and look after the queen the largest ant and the only one to lay eggs in the colony. Most of

the eggs that the queen lays develop into worker ants, but certain special eggs develop into ants of separate

sexes, both male and female. Unlike their neuter family members, these males and females have wings, so set off

to mate on what is known as their nuptial flight. Once mated, each female becomes the queen of a new colony.

Ants have two ways of communicating in order to pass

on messages about the nest, their food or their enemies.

They do this by creating special chemicals called

pheromones that other ants can smell. If this doesnt

work, they take a more direct approach and use their

antennae to tap their message on to another ant!

There are over 12,000 known ant species and

probably many more that we dont yet know about!Youve probably seen black ants before they are the

most common species in Britain but ants come in all

sorts of different shapes and sizes. Some are smaller

than a grain of sand, whereas others grow to the

size of a human thumb. The unusual honeypot

ant, with its body swollen with sweet

honeydew, acts like a walking larder, whereasa bite from the ferocious bullet ant is said to be as

painful as the shot from a gun!

How many different types of ant are there

A honeypot ant.

Ants use their antennae to communicate directly.

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What does a queen ant do

Worker antsclean, feedand protect

the queen.

The queen ants sole responsibility is to

lay eggs, making sure that the colony

continues to grow. This means that all

the other ants in the colony

must look after her, clean her,

protect her and feed her.

What a great life

for the queen!

EAT UP


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26

EAT UPInsects have varied feeding habits, and their feeding parts, including feet and

mouths, are designed to munch through the dinner of the day. Some insectscan eat just about anything others are more selective.

What do insects eat

Insects enjoy a varied menu and will eat just about

anything, depending on the species. An insect supperincludes plants, nectar, other insects,

blood, fruit, seeds

and human food.

Sometimes an

insects mouthparts

are designed to suit a

certain purpose. A weevil,for example, has tiny jaws at the end of a curved

snout. It bites (or drills) tiny holes in plants.

How does a praying mantiseat its prey

The praying mantis looks suspiciously leaf-like. Its greencolour enables it to stalk its prey before grabbing

it with its spiky front legs. It then uses its

mighty jaws to slice through

the victims body.

What are parasitesA parasite is any animal that lives off another, different

animal without giving anything in return. The itch mite is

a good example of this and can live off humans who do

not wear sufficient protective clothing. The mite burrows

underneath the skin and lays eggs, which emerge as

larvae two or three days later. All this activity under theskin can be itchy, with scratching making it worse,

leading to infection.

How do mosquitoes spread disease

Mosquitoes drink blood and any viruses that are

contained within it. When the mosquito feasts on anew victim, it can pass on diseases, such as malaria.

The mosquito is responsible for more human deaths in

Africa than any other creature.

A weevil.

A prayingmantis.

The blood-sucking mosquito can spread disease.


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A housefly vomits itsdigestive juices ontosolid food beforemopping it up.

Which beetle has the most disgusting feeding habit

Glossy, dark-coloured carrion beetles love to munch on

the decomposing flesh of dead

animals. Sometimes they hidebeneath it; at other times you may

see them wandering around the insides of the rotting

body. However, these beetles cannot live on

decomposing flesh alone and die if they do not havea healthy supply of maggots to keep them going.

How does a housefly eat

To find out whether something is good to eat, ahousefly tastes it with its feet, which are thought to be

ten million times more sensitive to sugar than the human

tongue. A housefly cant bite, so if it wants to eat solid

food it has to spread its digestive juices over it rather

like vomiting! The food turns soft, and the fly can then

dab at it with its sponge-like mouthparts.

A carrion beetle.

LEGGY LEGGY LEGGY


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28

LEGGY, LEGGY, LEGGYYouve seen creepy-crawlies scuttle and crawl along floors and up

walls, but have you ever stopped to wonder just how amazing theirlegs are? If it werent for their legs, many of these insects wouldnt be

able to leap, bound and generally get around.

The hind legs of the flea are very strong,

making them one of the best animal jumpers of

all in comparison to their body size. There are

thought to be over 2,000 species of flea in the

world, but cat and dog fleas are two of the most

common to be found in peoples homes. These

blood-sucking insects use their powerful hindlegs to jump from one host (or meal) to another.

Fleas can jump as high as 30 cm (12 in.),

accelerating as fast as a space rocket!

A millipede.

How many legs does a millipede have

The word millipede literally means

a thousand legs. Plant-eating

millipedes do not, in fact, have that

many legs; the leggiest of all only

has 710 legs. A millipedes legsmove rhythmically beneath it, and

are hidden under its body.

Which insect is the best jumper of them all

This highly magnified image of a flea shows itspowerful hind legs.

D h l lf d f


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29

The Jerusalem cricket usesits powerful hind legs todig into the ground.

Native Americans once called this strange-looking insect Woh-tzi Neh, which means old bald-headed man.

It is, in fact, a Jerusalem cricket, and although at 5 cm (2 in.) in length it may look fearsome, it doesnt sting

and isnt poisonous so how does it protect itself from harm? Instead of using its strong hind legs to

jump away from danger like other crickets might, they help it

perform a disappearing act! When threatened, it uses the spikes

on its powerful hind legs to dig a hole in the soil or sand and

disappears to safety underground.

Do insects use their legs in self-defence

H d t b tl d t


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A locust ready to jump.

30

A locust ready to lift off is an impressive sight. First, itkeeps its hind legs folded ready to jump. Then the leg

muscles straighten out, launching the insect into the

air. High in the air, the locust uses its wings to flyforwards, before spreading its legs wide to ensure a

safe landing.

A locust using its wing to fly.A locust beginning to land.

How do water beetles escape predators

One type of water beetle, the camphor beetle, uses its legs to ski on

the waters surface. To escape from predators, it shoots a chemical

from its back legs that reduces the water surface tension. This means

that the tension on its front legs pulls it forwards. It zooms out of

trouble on its front feet, which are held out like skis, and steers itself

by flexing its abdomen. This tiny beetle is the size of a rice grain,

but can travel nearly a metre per second. Another water beetle, the

whirligig, dives into water to avoid predators, breathing from a

bubble of air trapped in its rear end.

FACT FILE

How does a locust jump

Giant crane flies (daddy-long-legs) have breakaway legs thatenable them to fly off if caught.The predator is left with a spindlyleg, and the crane fly cansurvive with five of its six legs.

STAYING ALIVE


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STAYING ALIVEIts a jungle out there particularly for insects struggling to survive without

being eaten by predators! Insects have developed cunning means of self-defence, and some even re-grow injured legs or antennae.

A male stag beetledefeats a rival.

Wh d t b tl fi ht th


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How does the bombardier beetle protect itself

Stay away from a bombardier beetle! When this beetle

is angry or provoked, it fires a mixture of chemicalsfrom special glands situated in its rear end. One

species fires the chemicals as a constant jet (like a

hose), and other types releases its spray at intervals. A

complicated system of chemical reactions take place

inside the body of the beetle, creating such a high

pressure that boiling point is reached, and thechemicals are released at a high speed and

temperature. The beetle cannot instantly take flight so,

due to its vulnerability on the ground, it needs this

defence mechanism to survive.

Despite its fearsome

appearance, this insect is

really quite harmless but it

may give a small nip if

threatened. As well as

being used to stave off theunwanted attention from

predators, the earwig also

uses the pair of pincers at the

end of its body to help it tuck

its wings away. It was once

thought that earwigs crawled into

peoples ears, but they wouldmuch rather live under stones.

Why do earwigs have pincers

Why do stag beetles fight one another

If two male stag beetles are interested in the same

female, they will fight. Each beetle stretches out his

antennae to assess his rival, and then tries to look asthreatening as he can. If that doesnt make the other

beetle back away, he resorts to using his antler-like

jaws to wrestle his rival to the ground. The stronger

beetles jaws may puncture the other beetles tougharmour, leaving him injured and dying on his back.

An earwigs pincers protect it from harm.

The bombardier beetle maylook harmless, but can blast

a nasty chemical mixture atwould-be attackers.

FACT FILE

Some insects, including the ladybird and the

monarch butterfly, use their bright coloration towarn predators that either they dont taste niceor are poisonous to eat.

Eyespots on the wings of butterflies and mothsmay cause predators to think twice beforepouncing the markings look like the face of alarger animal that might fight back.

The yellow and black of bees and wasps tellsother animals to stay away these insects sting!

Do butterflies moths and caterpillars sting


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Butterflies and moths dont sting, but some caterpillars do. However, their sting is not the same as a bees or a

wasps. Some species have hollow hairs (like tiny quills) covering their bodies,

and each hair is connected to a sack full of poison. If the hairs are touched, theyrelease the poison, which can cause anything from an irritating itch to intense

pain. So, if you see a hairy caterpillar crawling on you, dont brush it off with

your hands, but gently move it with a stick. Remember, though, caterpillars

dont set out to attack other creatures their stinging hairs are used for protection.

Do butterflies, moths and caterpillars sting

How do insects avoid being eaten by predatorsMany insects face the problem of how to survive without being eaten. By pretending to be something else (another

insect, for example), they stand a better chance of survival. Copying others is known as mimicry.

The orange emesis butterfly has no natural defence system it has no biting jaws or stinging tail and its not

poisonous yet it has developed to look just like a poisonous butterfly. Predators, such as birds, know that one

bite of the poisonous butterfly will make them sick, so they avoid eating the orange emesis just in case.

There is a type of jumping spider that looks just like an ant!

Most birds avoid ants as prey, so the threat of the jumping

spider being eaten is greatly reduced through mimicry.

33

Some hairy caterpillars cangive a nasty sting.

The orange emesis butterfly (far right) and the jumpingspider both use mimicry to avoid being eaten.

If youve ever touched a butterfly or a moth, youve probably found your fingertips

covered in what looks like fine dust. This dust covers the wings of these insects

and is really made up of minute scales. Some scientists think that the scales make

the wings slippery, protecting butterflies and moths from the grasp of predators

and enabling them to escape from spiders webs, but once the scales have beendamaged, they dont grow back. So, if you ever have to pick up a butterfly or

moth, remember to be very gentle.

Why are the wings of butterflies and moths dusty

A moths wings are covered inminute scales that look like dust.

NOW YOU SEE ME


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What is a katydid

The beautiful Malaysian orchid mantis lives in the

rain forests of southern Asia. It has pointed eyes,

petal-like shapes on its legs and is coloured a pretty

pale pink just like the flowers of the plant on

which it lives. Not only is this a clever

camouflage (and so protection against

predators), but it also leads insects to

take a closer look, believing theyre

going to take a drink of nectar

from a flower. The mantis grabs

these unsuspecting insects

which include butterflies, moths

and flies and gobbles them up.

34

NOW YOU SEE ME

Which insect takes on the appearance of a Malaysian flower

Many insects are masters of the art of camouflage. Their colouration may help

them to blend in to their surroundings in order to pass unnoticed by predators,or they may use their camouflage to help them catch prey for themselves.

Katydids, with their long antennae and shiny bodies,

are strange-looking insects that get their name from the

sound they produce, ka-ty-did, ka-ty-did-nt. They have

existed for over 300 million years, and their truly

amazing capacity for camouflage is a strong reason

for this. You are unlikely to see one, as their glossygreen bodies blend in with their leafy surroundings,

safe from any passing birds or other predators.

What are crab spiders

Crab spiders are spiders that scuttle sideways like

seaside crabs. They use their camouflage as a way to

attack prey undetected. When the spider grabs its

victim, it pumps poison into the preys body to paralyse

it. The spider then sucks up the victims body fluids.Crab spiders tend to live in flowers that share the same

colour and markings as them.

The Malaysian orchidmantis tricks its prey

into believing it isreally a flower.

What is a leaf butterfly


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35

What is a leaf butterfly

This amazing butterfly looks just like a leaf. In

addition to its brown leafy colour, it has what

look like leaf ribs and fungus spots! Youdhave to have excellent eyesight to spot it.

The underside ofthis leaf butterflys

wings provide

excellentcamouflage.

Somecaterpillarslook like

leaves or birddroppings inorder to blendin with theirsurroundingsand so preventthemselvesfrom becoming

a predatorstasty snack.

FACT FILE

How does the stick insect get its name


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36

Just one look at the amazing walking stick

insect, with its slow body movements, long

body shape and green/brown colour, isenough to prove how it got its name.

If a predator approaches, it will remain

absolutely motionless to avoid detection

until the danger has passed. The stick insect

is also known as a phasmid, which comes

from the Greek word phasma, meaning phantom. This insects twig-

like appearance is such good camouflage, youd find it very hard to seea stick insect among the leaves of a tree.

How does the stick insect get its name

The leaf insect from New Guinea uses camouflage to

blend in to its surroundings. Its grey/green colourperfectly matches the vegetation it lives on. However, it

has also developed a leaf-shaped body, which means

that most predators simply ignore it, not realising

theyve missed a potential meal. The leaf insect clings

to a branch, swaying in the breeze with the leaves

around it, and even sways when it walks so as not todraw attention to itself. Some species of leaf insect take

camouflage a step further and have what look like bite

marks along the edges of their body. This confuses

predators even further.

Once this leaf insect starts climbing among thebranches, it will appear invisible to passing predators.

Insects that rely on camouflagedont usually run away frompredators or take flight, butmove slowly and cautiously,

staying close to their homeswhere they blend in best.

FACT FILE

Its twig-likeappearance

provides the stick

insect with excellentcamouflage.

Does a leaf insect really look like a leaf

UP, UP AND AWAY


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UP, UP AND AWAYThe way in which

insects have managedto survive for million of

years is largely due to

the fact that they can

fly. Without wings they

would find it much

harder to escape from

predators, to find food

or to look for new

places to live.

Giant prehistoricdragonflies once

ruled the skies.

Why do insects have thin wingsWhich insects have the biggest wings


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38

Can insects fly backwards

Some insects can. Dragonflies can hover like

helicopters, fly vertically, stop or suddenly change

direction in mid-flight, and also fly backwards. The

fastest flier was believed to be a giant prehistoricdragonfly. It was so large that it had to fly as fast as

69 kph (43 mph) to stop it from crashing.

Most insects dont travel long distances, but those

that do often use the wind to help them on their

way. Some insects have special wings that can

help them glide over long distances, and one of

these is the African grasshopper. It has broad hind

wings, which are perfect for the job.

Can insects travel long distances

Most flying insects have two pairs of wings. They are

very thin and light so they dont weigh the insect

down. Insects have to beat their wings very fast inorder to fly, so have to warm up their flight muscles

before they get moving. A beetles second pair of

wings has evolved into a hard protective casing when

the beetle isnt flying.

Why do insects have thin wings

Fossils of prehistoric dragonflies have been found with

wingspans of around 75 cm (30 in), but the insects

with the biggest wings alive today are certainbutterflies and moths. The Queen Alexandra birdwing

and the Atlas moth are really impressive (see

page 20), but the hercules moth from

Australia comes a close second,

with an enormous wingspan of

28 cm (11 in.)

Which insects have the biggest wings

An Africangrasshopper canglide over longdistances.

The hercules mothhas an enormouswingspan.

Can spiders flyWhy are moths attracted to light


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39

No, they cant but they do travel vast distances in the

air. Small spiders, or young ones which are called

spiderlings, can be blown along by the wind acrossland and sea, which may explain why spiders are

found on islands. Some spiderlings have been caught

in remotely operated weather stations thousands of

metres up in the sky!

p y

Some scientists think that moths navigate by the light of the moon.

No one is sure why moths fly towards light. Some

experts believe that moths navigate by moonlight,

and become confused by artificial lights, such aslightbulbs, car headlights, campfires, etc. Others

think that moths are sensitive to certain wavelengths

of light, with white lights proving more attractive

than yellow.

y g

LETS GET TOGETHER


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LET S GET TOGETHERMost female insects must find a mate of their own kind in order to reproduce.

Contrary to what you might think, there are many different rituals of insectcourtship, and some of them are quite similar to humans!

Do insects create love signals

Male fireflies flash their lights at female fireflies in order to attract a mate.Females are attracted to the male whose light lasts the longest. This is

because she reads the light as a signal that he will make a good father.

The male has to make sure the female is of the same species before he

lands otherwise he will discover that hes the main course on the menu

for her dinner date. Not a very nice end to a romantic evening!

A male firefly flashesto attract a mate.

It is to a male praying mantis the

female sees him as just another

meal! The male must stealthily

creep up on the female andthen jump on her to mate.

If hes unlucky, she will

kill and eat him head

first! Bad news for the

male, but the females

eggs are fertilisedand she enjoys a

nutritious meal!

Is mating dangerous

FACT FILE

With only one day to live,mate and lay eggs, theaquatic insect called themayfly is the fastest romancerof the insect world.

The malepraying mantisapproaches the

female withcaution.

Why does scent matter


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Do insects like to dance

Butterflies perform special dancing flights to make

sure they have found the perfect mate from the same

species. Dancing helps to exchange the pheromones

that will tell them they have found the right partner.Male scorpions are more brazen they actually take

hold of the female and lead her into a courtship dance!

The insect world is full of chemical signals called

pheromones. Moths have sensitive feather-like antennae

that they use to detect long-distance love signals from amate. Moon moths in India can smell the scent from a

distance of over 11 km (6 miles) away. The female

emperor moth only comes out at night, so she

leaves a strong perfume wafting in the air

to help the male to find her.

Next time you hear a grasshopper chirping, it maymean that love is in the air. It rubs its back legs

along its front wing so that it can serenade females.

Which insect sings love songs

Dancing butterfliesexchange pheromones

to confirm they havefound the perfect

partner.

41

DEADLY CLOTHES


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42

DEADL LOTHESSome of the worlds deadliest and most dangerous creatures belong to

the insect world.

This hawkmoth

caterpillar looks just

like a small snake,which may have a

venomous bite. When

alarmed or disturbed, it

raises its head and inflates its thorax

with air to mimic a snake. It even has

false snake eyes for good effect. It

may have a deadly appearance,but this caterpillar is

completely harmless.

The black widow is one of the worlds most infamous

deadly spiders. Inhabiting the warmer regions of the

world, it is especially common in eastern and central

parts of America. The venomous female black widow

is shiny black, usually with a reddish hourglass shape

on the underside of her body. The black widowsvenom is fifteen times more toxic than that of a

rattlesnake, but because she does not inject much

poison human fatalities are thankfully rare. Adult

males, on the other hand, are harmless. Like most

spiders, the black widow preys on insects. After

ensnaring her prey in a web, she makes small

punctures in the victims body and sucks out the liquid

contents. The female black widow also has areputation for killing and eating her male partner,

but this is the exception rather than the rule.

Can an ant sting

A hawkmoth caterpillar.

The giant tropical bullet ant

delivers a nasty sting which

gives it its name. Victims havedescribed the severe sting as

feeling like a

bullet, with the

pain lasting for 35

hours. Worker

bullet ants can

be as big as25 mm (1 in.),

so at least you

can see

them coming! A bullet ant can deliver a nasty sting.

Does the black widow spider deserve its reputation

Which caterpillar has adeadly disguise

Do killer bees really exist


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43

African honeybees or killer bees are a real threat.

Found mainly in America, they remain a dangerous

and deadly enemy. They are easily annoyed and onceangry, they stay that way sometimes taking it out on

their victims for an entire day! Worse still, they target

the head and face, so if the victim jumps into the water

to escape, the bees will wait for them to come up for

air then sting again. Although they are spreading

throughout America, they cause fewer deaths

than venomous snakes.

The tsetse fly found in Africa likes to feed

on animal and human blood. Since the

fourteenth century, Africans have been

battling with this insect and the fatal

sleeping sickness disease it spreads.

One bite can transmit a parasite that works

its way through the body, and if left untreated,the victim will become extremely drowsy and

die a slow and painful death.

Which insect spreads sleeping sickness

A swarm ofAfrican honeybees.

RAINFOREST RARITIES


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The biggest rainforest covers an area of 7 million sq km (2.7 million sq miles)

around the Amazon River in South America. The climate is perfect for animals,plants and insects because it is always hot and rains every day.

Leaf-cutter ants feed on fungus, which grows inside their

nest. The fungus needs freshly cut leaves in order to

grow, which the ants collect from the forest.

The by-product of this process adds fertiliser

to the topsoil, which helps to keep

the rainforest plants and

trees healthy.

Leaf-cutter antsat work.

The brightly coloured orange

monarch butterfly looks temptingto predators. However, if eaten,

the predator will soon regret

it. The monarchs poison

doesnt kill, but it makes

the predator sick

something the predator

remembers next timeits passing.

Which rainforest butterflyshould be avoided

Aggressive army ants have large jaws, which they

can open wide in order to bite their prey. Rainforestnatives noticed this and decided the army ants could

help them. Squeezing the ant from behind

makes it bite down on a

wound, creating a

handy stitch and so

preventing infection.

Which ants help to maintain the environment

A monarchbutterfly.

How do rainforest natives use ants

A singlecolony ofarmy ants

could containas many as700,000 ants,which live offthe forest floor.Army ants willhave a bite ofanything that

crosses theirpath.

FACT FILE

An army ant.

Which rainforest insect tucks itself into bed at night


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The morpho butterfly has brilliant blue wings that make it stand out as one of the most beautiful butterflies in the

world. In order to ensure sweet dreams and no nightmare

predator attacks, the morpho tucks away its brightly coloured wingsso that it can blend into the environment. It hangs from trees or the

underside of leaves.

A morphobutterfly.

Rainforests are home tomany colourful insects.

WATER BABIES


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Next time youre at the riverbank, take a closer look its a haven for a

world of water insects. Most insects breathe through the holes or gills in thesides of their bodies and would suffocate without any air. Water or aquatic

insects are specially adapted to living in water.

Whats so special about whirligigs

The whirligig is one of the only water beetles able toswim on the waters surface. It uses its legs like paddles

to row its way across the water and can be seen

whirling about in groups. Whirligigs have special eyes

that allow them to see both above and below the water

at the same time.

The giant water bug, or fish killer, is one of the largest

aquatic insects, and is a scary underwater predator. It

likes to eat small fish, frogs,

snails and tadpoles. It can grow

up to 7 cm (3 in.) in

length. Adult water bugs

cannot breathe

underwater, so surface

regularly for air. They

breathe through a

specially modified tail

which acts like

The aptly named pond skater, or water strider, has a

long, narrow body and six spindly legs. It stays afloat

thanks to special water-repellent hairs that cover its

underside. If youre lucky enough to see one, you can

watch how it uses its hind legs as rudders and its

middle legs to propel itself across the surface of the

water. Its short forelegs help it to catch prey.

A pond skater.

What do giant water bugs eat

Which insect can walk on water

What is a water tiger

The water tiger is a beetle. Named due to its ferocious

nature and enormous appetite, water tigers have

extremely powerful jaws. They use these to great effectwhen disembowelling tadpoles or penetrating the flesh

of beetles before devouring them!A giant water bug.

Which water insect lives at the bottom of the pond


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A dragonfly nymph (a teenage dragonfly) measures

anything between 1849 mm (23 in.2 in.). This clever

insect doesnt need to come up for air, as it can

breathe by sucking water in, absorbing the oxygen

and then squeezing the water out again to jet propel

itself through the water.

GOING UNDERGROUND


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Do insects need to come up for air What is a mole cricket

Which insects createunderground tunnels

As they have skeletons on the outside of their

bodies, insects breathe in a different way

to humans. Spiracles are tiny holes

along the sides of an

insects body that act

like tiny portholes,

enabling the insect to

breathe, both above

and below

the ground.

Insects have been living on Earth for so long that they have had plenty of time

to adapt to living almost anywhere on, above or underneath the ground.Next time youre out in the garden, think about what tiny creatures might be

living right underneath you!

Mole crickets have a passing resemblance to moles for

a very good reason. Their powerful, flat front legs are

very good shovels, allowing the cricket to burrow

underground, where they eat roots and vegetation

with specially adapted shear-like mouthparts.

Hard-working ants are masters of the art of creating

underground nests that are designed for maximum

comfort and efficiency. Worker ants dig tunnels to

make hallways connecting the chambers, and the

queen ant has one large chamber of her own, in which

she can keep her eggs. These busy ant workers have a

number of roles; caring for the queen or the youngerants, digging or constructing other nest work, or

foraging and defending the nest.

spiracles

FACT FILE

During the summer, ants store food in speciallydesigned underground tunnels.

In the winter they help themselves to theirspecial food stores.

Insects breathe through tiny holes.

A mole cricket has powerfulshovel-like legs.

Which insect helps to turn over the soil


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There are at least 2,700 different kinds of earthworm.

These amazing wriggling creatures tunnel deep into

the soil, turning it over and over like a plough. Thiscreates tunnels that supply the soil with air, and allow

water to penetrate all of the time. The topsoil and sub

soil also mix together, making earthworms

natures help to gardeners.

An earthworm.

Why is it so hard to pull a worm out of the ground

You may have watched a hungry

bird busy tugging at the soil, and

its a safe bet that theres a tug-of-

war going on between the worm

and the bird. The worm has four

pairs of hooks called setae, which

can stick to soil particles andmake it very hard for the worm to

be pulled from its hole!

DESERT BUGS


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You might expect the dry and barren landscape of the desert to be too hot for

insects to survive. However, many of these amazing desert creatures haveadapted to life under the sun.

Which desert bugs rarely drink

Both scorpions and camel spiders are speciallyadapted to their arid environment and have a very low

rate of water loss, taking all the liquid they need from

their prey victims. They are

nearly all nocturnal,

spending their days shaded

in burrows or under

rocks, reservingtheir energy to

hunt by night.

Why is the giant desertscorpion covered in hair

Living in the desert regions of California and

Arizona, the giant desert scorpion can grow

up to 15 cm (6 in.). This hairy monster

lurks under rocks in the heat of the

day, using the brown hairs

that cover its body to detect

air and ground vibrations.

Which insect is deadly to crops

The desert locust. When young, the swarming speciesof desert locust form groups of around 20,000, and

hop about on the sand looking for food. As they grow

up and learn to fly they become even more

dangerous to crops. Swarms of locusts will fly

over the desert eating everything in their path,

travelling up to 1,036 sq km (400 sq miles) per

day. There could be as many as 80 billion insectsswarming, capable of destroying 40,000

tonnes of plants in one day!

What is the camel spider

A cross between a spider and a scorpion,

and growing up to 15 cm (6 in.) inlength, the camel spider can run

like the wind, with speeds of

up to 16 kph (10 mph).

This explains its other

name of wind scorpion. Like scorpions,

camel spiders hunt at night. They prey on

scorpions, lizards, mice and even birds!The giant desert scorpionis able to detect vibrationsthrough its body hair. A camel spider.

A desert locust.

50

How else do insects find water to drink


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The darkling beetle, which lives in the extremely dry Namib Desert of Africa,

gets moisture in a very clever way. Early each morning, it sets off up to the

shady side of a dune, where it stands with its head pointing down the slope andits rear up in the air. As the morning mist clears, some of its moisture collects on

the ridged back of the beetle until a drop forms. This drop then gently rolls

down the length of the beetle towards its mouth, and it takes a drink!

A darkling beetle.

Scorpions performinga courtship dance.

SWAMP MONSTERS


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52

Swamps provide an excellent environment for aquatic insects such as

dragonflies and mosquitoes. Either completely or partially wooded with treesand shrubs, these warm, wet habitats teem with animal, plant and insect life.

Midges are small flies that fly around in large swarms

near and around water. The larvae perform anextremely useful task, as they feed on bacteria and are

very important in the disposal of human waste in

sewage plants. They may not look like much, but they

help to keep our environment clean and healthy. Some

species of midge bite, causing itching and swelling.They can be found in the Highlands of Scotland and

North Wales in the summer, and can find you from up

to 200 m away.

The golden orb weaver spider. This beautiful yellow, black and white spider

spins silk webs that have a golden sheen to them, high in the hammocks of

the everglades. The webs are semi-permanent, trapping insects, bats and

even small birds. The spider cleans the web every day to make sure that its

trap is kept free from leaf debris and twigs that would give the game away

to unsuspecting victims.

Which everglade insect weaves golden silk

A golden orbweaver spider

spins silk websthat shimmerin the light.

The water in a swampcan be fresh water orsalt water.

Swamps can be foundall over the world, fromthe Asmat Swamp inIndonesia to the

Okavango Swamp inBotswana, Africa and theEverglades in Florida, US.

A wetland surroundedby trees or shrubs iscalled a swamp. If thereare no trees or shrubs,the wetland is known asa marsh.

FACT FILE

What are midges


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53

Ponds and swamps provide excellenthomes for many aquatic insects.

Which beautiful beetle symbolises wealth and power


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The metallic wood-boring beetle from Ecuador has amazing iridescent wing cases which

reflect nearly every colour of the rainbow! The Shaur tribes of the Amazon use

this beautiful creature to make decorative ornaments, which they believesymbolise wealth and power.

What is the lifecycle of the

bagworm moth

The three

lifestages of thebagworm moth.

FACT FILE

Mosquitoes thrive in swamps. They like to livein dark wet areas, close to water where theycan lay their eggs.

The giant dragonfly! This rare survivor of ancient

times can be (rarely) spotted in New South Wales,

Australia. Its brown and yellow body can

be as thick as a human finger, and

nine species of this

fantastic creature

are thought to bestill alive, but

are endangered.

A giant dragonfly.

At caterpillar stage, the bagworm moth produces a

bag made from silk, fragments of leaves, twigs, bark,

and sometimes even snail shells which are woven into

it. The caterpillar retreats inside the bag, which is

visible in the trees, and pupates, eventually turning into

a moth. Adult males leave their bag, whereas thefemale will either leave it briefly to mate, then return, or

the male will come to her. The female then lays her

eggs in her bag, then dies.

Which swamp insect has survived

from ancient times

A metallic wood-boring beetle.

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DESERT BUGS


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You might expect the dry and barren landscape of the desert to be too hot for

insects to survive. However, many of these amazing desert creatures haveadapted to life under the sun.

Which desert bugs rarely drink

Both scorpions and camel spiders are speciallyadapted to their arid environment and have a very low

rate of water loss, taking all the liquid they need from

their prey victims. They are

nearly all nocturnal,

spending their days shaded

in burrows or under

rocks, reservingtheir energy to

hunt by night.

Why is the giant desertscorpion covered in hair

Living in the desert regions of California and

Arizona, the giant desert scorpion can growup to 15 cm (6 in.). This hairy monster

lurks under rocks in the heat of the

day, using the brown hairs

that cover its body to detect

air and ground vibrations.

Which insect is deadly to crops

The desert locust. When young, the swarming speciesof desert locust form groups of around 20,000, and

hop about on the sand looking for food. As they grow

up and learn to fly they become even more

dangerous to crops. Swarms of locusts will fly

over the desert eating everything in their path,

travelling up to 1,036 sq km (400 sq miles) per

day. There could be as many as 80 billion insectsswarming, capable of destroying 40,000

tonnes of plants in one day!

What is the camel spider

A cross between a spider and a scorpion,

and growing up to 15 cm (6 in.) inlength, the camel spider can run

like the wind, with speeds of

up to 16 kph (10 mph).

This explains its other

name of wind scorpion. Like scorpions,

camel spiders hunt at night. They prey on

scorpions, lizards, mice and even birds!The giant desert scorpionis able to detect vibrationsthrough its body hair. A camel spider.

A desert locust.

50

Which insect likes to eat paper Which insect likes to live anywhere

C k h li l t h b t fP i iti d t l th i l il fi h i l


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Cockroaches can live almost anywhere, but many prefer

warm conditions, so are often found in buildings. They

will eat almost anything, including kitchen waste, sooften become household pests. They have flat bodies, so

are easily able to squeeze into cracks where they can

skulk unnoticed. It is said that a well-fed cockroach

could survive without its head for several weeks,

eventually dying from starvation. This is because

cockroaches dont have blood pressure

like we do, so wont bleed to death;they breathe through tiny holes

found in each body segment; and

they have clumps of nerve tissue

instead of a brain, so can continue

basic functions even

without a head!

How do wasps survive

The distinctive yellow and black common wasp can be

found in both the house and garden. At the end of

summer, you may spy a wasps nest in the loft or under

the eaves of the roof. All summer long, wasps havebeen busy making their nest bigger and bigger. Never

touch a wasps nest, which may have up to 10,000

wasps inside that will sting if disturbed. Wasps die

naturally at the end of autumn,

when the only wasps left are

young queens. These queens

hibernate throughout the winter,starting a new nest the

following spring.

Which beetle feeds on oak

The deathwatch beetles alarming name comes from the

legend based on the tapping sound that it makes to

attract a mate. If an ill person was to hear the

deathwatch tapping in the roof timbers, death was said

to be imminent. Nowadays, pesticidescontrol this beetle in timber-framed

houses, so the threat of the deathwatch

is to the oak trees it likes to munch on.

The deathwatch beetle makes atapping sound to attract a mate.

A queen wasp starts anew nest in the spring.

Primitive and nocturnal, the wingless silverfish is only

20 mm (34 in.) long and can often be seen as a silver

flash scurrying across a room. Its a pest in the housebecause it eats paper, books and wallpaper.

Amazingly, the silverfish is more

than 400 million years old,

so was in existence even

before dinosaurs! The silverfish is active at night.

Can head lice jump and fly

A head louse can only crawl.

No, head lice only crawl. About the size of a

sesame seed, these tiny wingless insects

live only in the hair on human heads.

They hang on tight and puncture the skinwith their mouthparts before sucking

up some blood to eat.

Many species of cockroachprefer the warmth of buildings.

56


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THE EYES HAVE IT


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58

To make up for their size, insects have highly developed senses, which mean

they can see and hear things that humans cant. If you are able to look at aninsect under the microscope, look into its eyes they really are incredible!

What are insect eyes like

Insects can have two types of eyes: compound eyes and

simple eyes, and some have both types. Simple eyeshelp the insect tell the difference between light and

dark. Compound eyes are made up of thousands of

lenses, which scientists believe let insects see things in a

mosaic kind of picture. Although these eyes, unlike

those of humans, are fixed in one place, the lenses

allow insects to get a great picture of whats around

them, and can detect the slightest movement very easily.

Nobody really knows what a fly can see or how far,

but scientists do know that each compound eyecomprises hundreds of single eye facets. The fly can

see even the slightest movement, which makes it

extremely difficult for predators to catch and eat it.

What can a fly see

Which insect has the best eyesight

Scientists believe that insects are very short-sighted, as

their eyes cannot move in their sockets or focus like

ours. Butterflies can see up to 2 m (6 ft) away, whereasa bee can see up to just 50 cm (20 in.). In terms of the

ability to detect exactly whats around

them, the eyes of a dragonfly

are perhaps the most

impressive. Its compound

eyes allow them to dart

around and catch theirprey mid-flight without

bumping in to anything.A dragonfly hascompound eyes.A fly can see even the slightest movement.

What kind of eyes does a wasp have

Like many insects wasps have both simple and and fly about examining the area before leaving


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Wasps have bothcompound andsimple eyes.

compound eye

simple eyes

Like many insects, wasps have both simple and

compound eyes. It has two compound eyes and three

simple eyes. When leaving an area to which they wishto return, wasps act as if they are locating the place,

and fly about examining the area before leaving.

When they return they are able to find the exact same

spot, unless some landmark has been removed.

How does a caterpillar see its food

Caterpillars live among


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60

Caterpillars live among

their food so dont need

to look far to find thenext tasty leaf. They

have simple eyes so

their eyesight is not

very sharp just good

enough to make out

light and shade.

A caterpillars simpleeyes allow it to

distinguish betweenlight and shade.

Can insects see things that we cant

Yes they can! Many insects can see ultraviolet light

the invisible light from the sun that humans and other

animals cannot see. Many flowers rely on insects to

pollinate them, and the petals of these flowers are often

coloured in ultraviolet patterns that we humans cant

see. These patterns act like runways, directing the

hungry insects straight into the flowers centre, and to

their dinner! This in turn pollinates the flower.

A flower takenwith a normal

camera (left)and an

ultravioletcamera showing

how an insectmight see it.

GLOSSARYAbd C l


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61

Abdomen

The rear part of the body behind the thorax.Antenna

One of a pair of mobile appendages on the heads of

insects (plural: antennae) that often respond to touch

and taste, but may be specialised for swimming.

Aquatic

Lives in or near water.

Arachnid

A group of insects including spiders, scorpions, mites

and ticks.

Arthropod

Animals lacking a backbone, such as insects, spiders

and crustaceans.

Bacteria

A large group of typically single cell microorganisms,

many of which cause disease.

Camouflage

The means by which animals escape the notice of

predators.

Cephalothorax

A combined head and thorax.

Colony

A community of insects of one kind living together.Compound eye

Insect eye consisting of numerous small visual units.

Diapause

A process that makes insects inactive in cold climates.

DiseaseAn illness or sickness where normal physiological

function is impaired.

Exoskeleton

A rigid external skeleton.

FossiliseTo convert or be converted into a fossil.

Glycerol

A chemical produced by insects that acts as antifreeze.

Hemiptera

A large order of insects that have piercing, suckingmouthparts.

Hibernate

To pass the winter in a dormant condition with

metabolism greatly slowed down.

GLOSSARYH b M lti


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Honeycomb

A waxy structure constructed by bees in a hive that

consists of hexagonal cells in which honey is stored,

eggs are laid, and larvae develop.

Insect

Any of a class of small air-breathing arthropods having

a body divided into head, thorax and abdomen, three

pairs of legs, and (in most species) two pairs of wings.

Iridescent

Showing bright colours that appear to change when

looked at from different angles.

Larva

An immature, free-living form of insect that develops

into an adult form by metamorphosis.Lepidoptera

The scale-winged insect family of moths and butterflies.

Mandibles

The crushing mouthparts of certain insects.

Metamorphosis

The rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that

occurs in certain animals. For example, from caterpillar

to butterfly.

Middle Ages

The period from about AD 1000 to the 15th century.

Moulting

The process of a growing insect shedding its skin.

Navigate

To direct or plot a path.

Nectar

A sugary liquid secreted in flowers.

Nocturnal

Active at night.Odonata

The predatory insect family of dragon and damselflies.

Orthoptera

Long-legged insect family of grasshoppers and crickets.

Paralyse

To cause a part of the body to be insensitive to pain

and touch, or to make immobile.

Parasite

An animal or a plant that lives in or on another (the

host) from which it obtains nourishment.

Pheromones

Chemicals produced by insects to affect the behaviour

of others in the same species.

Poison

A substance that causes death or injury if swallowed or

absorbed by a living creature.

GLOSSARYPollinate Regurgitate


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Pollinate

To carry pollen to fertilise a plant.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species inhabiting a

given area.

Predator

Any carnivorous animal.

Prehistoric

Of, or relating to, a mans development before the

written word.

Prey

An animal hunted or captured by another for food.

PrimitiveOf, relating to, or resembling an early stage in

development.

Proboscis

Sucking mouth tube of moths and butterflies.

Pupa

An insect at the immobile non-feeding stage of

development between larva and adult, where many

internal changes occur.

Pupate

Become a pupa.

Regurgitate

To vomit forth partially digested food.

Setae

Stiff bristles on a worm.

Simple eye

The small eye of an insect.

Social

Living, or preferring to live, in a community rather

than alone.

Spiracle

An external breathing hole of an insect.

Swarm

A large mass of small animals, especially insects.

Thorax

Part of an insects body between the head and the abdomen.

Virus

Submicroscopic entities that cause infection or disease,

which can multiply only within the cells of animals andplants.

Wingspan

The maximum extent of the wings measured from tip

to tip.

African honeybee 43 Desert locust 50 Hemiptera 7 Pheromone 23, 41

INDEX


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yAfrican stick insect 6African termite 23Ant 2325, 42, 44, 48Arachnid 4Army ant 44Assassin bug 7

Bagworm moth 54Bedbug 89Bee 2122, 58

Beetle 1012, 27, 30,3132, 38, 46, 51,54, 56

Bullet ant 24, 42Butterfly 1920, 32, 33,

35, 44, 45

Camel spider 50

Caterpillar 20, 33, 42,54, 60Cephalothorax 4Cockroach 56Compound eye 14,

5859Crab spider 34Cricket 1618, 29, 48

Daddy long-legs 4, 30Darkling beetle 51Deathwatch beetle 56

Devils coach horse

beetle 10Diapause 6Dragonfly 1315, 38,

47, 54, 58Dung beetle 12

Earthworm 49Earwig 32

Emperor moth 41Exoskeleton 6

Flea 28Fireflies 40Fly 27, 36, 43

Giant crane fly 30

Giant desert scorpion 50Giant dragonfly 37, 50Giant water bug 46Glycerol 6Golden orb weaver

spider 52Goliath beetle 12Grasshopper 1618, 38,

41

Head louse 56

pHercules moth 38

Honeypot ant 24Housefly 27Hoverfly 36

Katydid 34

Leaf butterfly 35Lepidoptera 19

Locust 1618, 30, 50

Malaysian orchid mantis34

Mandibles 10, 23Mayfly 6. 40Metallic wood-boring

beetle 54

Millipede 28Moonlight 39Moon moth 41Monarch butterfly 32, 44Morpho butterfly 45Mosquito 26, 54Moth 1920, 32, 33, 38,

39, 41, 42, 54

Odonata 13, 14Orthoptera 16

Pond skater 46

Praying mantis 26, 40Proboscis 7, 19

Queen Alexandrabirdwing butterfly 20

Scarab beetle 12Scorpion 4, 41, 50Silverfish 56Simple eyes 5860Spider 4, 22, 33, 34,

39, 42, 50, 52, 55Spiracle 48Stag beetle 10, 11, 32Stick insects 6, 12, 36Stink bug 8

Tarantula hawk wasp 22Termite 6, 23Tsetse fly 33

Walking stick 36Wasp 2122, 32, 36,

56, 59Wart-biter cricket 16

Weevil 26Whirligig beetle 30, 46Woodlouse 55

Picture CreditsKey: Top t; middle m; bottom b; left l; right r

Illustrations by John Butler. Photographs from iStockphoto.com, Wikipedia.org and Top That! Publishing plc unless stated otherwise.6: (br) Martin Gabriel/NPL; 7: (bl) James Carmichael/NHPA; 8: (tl) John Downer/NPL; 9: WHD Microanalysis Consultants Ltd; 12: (br) Andrew Parkinson/NPL;

14: (tr) Bernard Castelein/NPL; 18: (br) Corel; 22: (br) Sinclair Stammer/SPL; 23: (bl) Pascal Goetghluck/SPL; 26: (mr) Pete Billingsley/SPL; 28: (ml) Biophotos;40: (tr) Dietmar Nill/NPL; 44: (br) Corel; 48: (mr) Robert Thompson/NHPA; 51: (tr) Anthony Bannister/NHPA; 58: (bl) Duncan McEwan/NPL.

64


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How do bees make honey? Do bed bugsreally bite? What does a queen ant do all

day? Why do wasps like picnics?

Bursting with bite-sized facts, illustrations anddiagrams, this engaging 64-page book contains

answers to all the questions you always wantedto ask about insects and bugs and more!

No question is too tough, no answer toodifficult to explain Focus On are the

ultimate in addictive reading.

Published by Top That! Publishing plc

Copyright 2010 Top That!

Publishing plc

Tide Mill Way, Woodbridge,

Suffolk, IP12 1AP, UK

www.topthatpublishing.com

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