Tells the success story of insects, discussing how the nearly one million known species have managed to survive and thrive in the varying climates and conditions of the earth, focusing on the cecropia moth as a basis for comparison.
Buzz! Zip! Zoom! When the weather is warm, insects are everywhere. But what do they do in winter? Honeybees huddle in their hive. Monarch butterflies fly south. Woolly bear caterpillars hide under leaves and snow. This book shows what twelve different insects do to survive winter's chill.
What insects can you see in summer? 'Changing Seasons' introduces young learners to the four seasons. Readers learn about seasonal patterns, typical weather, changes to plants and animals, and the clothing and activities that are usual for each season. This Acorn Read-Aloud is an excellent tool for introducing and comparing the seasons to children.
Tiny ruby-throated hummingbirds weighing less than a nickel fly from the upper Midwest to Costa Rica every fall, crossing the six-hundred-mile Gulf of Mexico without a single stop. One of the many creatures that commute on the Mississippi Flyway as part of an annual migration, they pass along Chicago’s lakefront and through midwestern backyards on a path used by their species for millennia. This magnificent migrational dance takes place every year in Chicagoland, yet it is often missed by the region’s two-legged residents. The Art of Migration uncovers these extraordinary patterns that play out over the seasons. Readers are introduced to over two hundred of the birds and insects that traverse regions from the edge of Lake Superior to Lake Michigan and to the rivers that flow into the Mississippi. As the only artist in residence at the Field Museum, Peggy Macnamara has a unique vantage point for studying these patterns and capturing their distinctive traits. Her magnificent watercolor illustrations capture flocks, movement, and species-specific details. The illustrations are accompanied by text from museum staff and include details such as natural histories, notable features for identification, behavior, and how species have adapted to environmental changes. The book follows a gentle seasonal sequence and includes chapters on studying migration, artist’s notes on illustrating wildlife, and tips on the best ways to watch for birds and insects in the Chicago area. A perfect balance of science and art, The Art of Migration will prompt us to marvel anew at the remarkable spectacle going on around us.
This book, the first to catalogue ecologically important insects by their roles, gives us an enlightening look at how insects work in ecosystems--what they do, how they live, and how they make life as we know it possible. Waldbauer combines anecdotes from entomological history with insights into the intimate workings of the natural world, describing the intriguing and sometimes amazing behavior of these tiny creatures. As entertaining as it is informative, this charmingly illustrated volume captures the full sweep of insects' integral place in the web of life.
A fascinating introduction to the bugs all around us. There are twice as many insects in the world as all other animals combined. They’re everywhere … if we know where to look! This beautifully illustrated book introduces young readers to ants, honeybees, dragonflies and more! It covers their basic body parts, life cycles and habitats. It explains which bugs can be found in each of the four seasons, and where. And it includes a beginner’s bug-watching guide with a series of questions to help kids identify insects in their communities. New and longtime insect-watchers will be buzzing for this one!