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Category: beetles (Page 7 of 14)

Bug of the Week: Another Children’s Book About Bugs

December 2, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Remember the dung beetles from Bug of Week a few weeks ago? As luck would have it, another children’s book featuring dung beetles just came across my desk (nominated for the 2015 Cybils award in the Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction category.)

Would You Rather…Dine with a Dung Beetle or Lunch with a Maggot?: Pick your answer and learn about bugs!by Camilla de la Bedoyere and illustrated by Mel Howells is a cute picture book that uses a question-and-answer format with a twist.

The text consists of two-page spreads that ask a number of related questions about bugs and their relatives, like the “would you rather dine with a dung beetle or lunch with a maggot?” on the cover. Turning the page, the reader finds answers to the questions, plus many cool facts.

The cartoon illustrations add to the fun. Many show a child interacting with the insect or other creatures, which draws the reader in.

Parents be aware:  This book crosses into the “ewww, gross” territory that is so popular with children of a certain age (and sometimes so unpopular with their parents).

Would You Rather…Dine with a Dung Beetle or Lunch with a Maggot? is both entertaining and educational. Pick up a copy and have some fun with it today!

Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Publisher: QEB Publishing (August 3, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1609928148
ISBN-13: 978-1609928148

 

Disclosure:  The book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title or image link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Bug of the Week: Dung Beetles

November 18, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Dung beetles have a rather odd lifestyle, but nonetheless they are fascinating for a number of reasons.

dungbeetle-X2(Public domain photograph by Alex Wild)

  1. Dung beetles help recycle dung by feeding on it.
  2. Dung beetles either roll the dung or bury it to prevent it from drying out.
  3. Dung beetles navigate to and from their burrows by the position of the sun and some can even navigate by recognizing the Milky Way at night.
  4. Female dung beetles, or sometimes both parents, may stay with their offspring after the eggs hatch and take care of them, something that is unusual with insects.
  5. Although most often seen on the ground, the adult beetles are actually strong fliers.

We’ll learn more about one of the first people to dung beetles for STEM Friday this week.

Bug of the Week: A Different Lady Beetle Larva

July 1, 2015 / / 0 Comments

This week let’s take another look at the diverse community of insects found on the rush or desert milkweed.

Dusky Lady Beetle Larva with Aphids(Photograph by Lynne S., used with permission)

What do you see here? Probably the first things you notice are the bright orange-yellow aphids. Those are oleander aphids.

Dusky Lady Beetle Larva with Aphids on Milkweed(Photograph by Lynne S., used with permission)

But, what is the insect with the bright white fluffy look?

The insect that looks like a tiny white carpet is actually a lady beetle larva. Instead of the bright red-and-black lady beetles we usually think of, this larva will turn into a small dark brown or black beetle.

These nondescript beetles belong to a group called dusky lady beetles (Tribe Scymnini). The adults are round in shape, like other lady beetles, and feed on aphids, scales and mealybugs, too. The main difference is that the larvae produce a white waxy coating, which is thought to help protect them from predators.

Have you ever spot an adult dusky lady beetle or a larva? Where did you find it?

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