Here are the steps to draw an insect: 1. Look closely at the insect and break it down into basic shapes. Draw the shapes individually rather than trying to draw the whole insect at once. 2. Draw the middle part of the insect first. Think of it as a clock and draw the legs at positions like 4:20, 6:30, and 8:40. Draw the head, abdomen, wings. 3. Consider the relative sizes of the body parts. Is the head the same size as the body? Bigger or smaller? Draw the parts the sizes you observe. 4. Erase or adjust any lines that don't look right. Spend time erasing extra lines when all the

2. Insectigations In sec
t Wo r ld
t he
re
40
p lo
ha Ex
nd o
s-o
n activiti es t
Cindy Blobaum

3. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Blobaum, Cindy, 1966–
Insectigations! : 40 hands-on activities to explore the insect world /
Cindy Blobaum.— 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 1-55652-624-5
1. Insects—Juvenile literature. 2. Insects—Study and teaching
(Elementary)—Activity programs. I.Title.
QL467.2.B59 2005
595.7—dc22
2004028245
Cover design: Sommers Design
Interior illustrations: Gail Rattray
Interior design: Rattray Design
All photographs courtesy of Cindy Blobaum unless otherwise noted.
Butterfly Puddles ©2004 by Highlights for Children, Inc., Columbus, Ohio.
© 2005 by Cindy Blobaum
All rights reserved
First edition
Published by Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
814 North Franklin Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
ISBN 1-55652-568-0
Printed in the United States of America
54321

4. For J ac o b , m y b u g - b o y

6. Contents
Acknowledgments vii 3 6 8
Introduction ix Me t a m o r p h i c M a g i c 33 Fi n d e r s 69 Insect Gardening 101
Spontaneous Generation 35 Sweep Net 71 Butterfly Puddles 105
1 Raising Mealworms 38 Insect Trap 73 Antifreeze 108
Getting Started 1 Searching for Insect Leaf Litter Shaker 74 Plan Your Garden 110
Make a Journal 3 Eggs 40 Insect Rain 76 Insect Calendar 111
Draw an Insect 4 Action Cards 43 You’re on a Roll! 77 Action Cards 113
Looking Jar 6 Bug Bait 78
Insectigations! The Game 115
4 White Light 80
2 Sense-sational 45 Walking on Water 81 Appendix 117
Body Basics 9 Point of View 47 Water We Looking For? 83 Ten Common Insect
Excellent Exoskeletons 12 Colorblind Challenge 48 Insectigations! Game Orders 117
A Plantastic Feast 14 Training Bees 49 Board 85
Glossary 119
Need a Lift? 17 Concentration 52 Action Cards 87
Nervous Twitch 18 Dinner Detour 54 Resources 121
Mighty Muscles 20 Action Cards 55 7
Te a c h e r ’ s G u i d e 127
Rigged Ratios 22 Ke e p e r s 89
Twist-an-Insect 5 Temporary Terrarium 91 Bibliography 129
(Game Dice) 27 C a n We Ta l k ? 57 You Saw What? 94
Index 131
Action Cards 31 Wing Waves 59 Fly-Tying a Big Bug 98
Here’s to Ears 62 Action Cards 100
Buzzing Bug 63
Insect Amplifier 65
Sound Off Sentry 67
Action Cards 68

8. Acknowledgments
I unknowingly started research
for this book when I became a
naturalist and began teaching
More recently, Drake University
granted me access to its insect
collection, Keith Wonder of
let me and my children perform
final tests of experiments and
activities in and around their
this effort has meant to me. Cre-
ating a book is a team effort, and
I feel incredibly fortunate to
about insects to thousands of Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association yards and homes.Thank you to have had the Chicago Review
enthusiastic children. Many of shared his enthusiasm for and the Blobaum family: Mel, for Press team of Cynthia Sherry,
my coworkers at the Greenway knowledge of fly-fishing, and clipping and mailing all the Allison Felus, Gerilee Hundt,
and Nature Center of Pueblo, Robin Pruisner, the State of insect articles you read from Brooke Kush, Rattray Design,
Colorado; New Canaan Nature Iowa Entomologist, provided magazines and papers; Norman, and Joan Sommers working on
Center in New Canaan, Con- gypsy moth traps. I appreciate for your constant interest; Paul, my behalf. And I would be
necticut; and Neale Woods your assistance. for being my reference resource remiss if I did not single out Lisa
Nature Center in Omaha, Eli, McKenzie, and Olivia pinch hitter; Margaret, for the Rosenthal, my insightful and
Nebraska, inspired or shared ideas were wonderful models, and care you have given my kids encouraging editor, for a special
with me that are included in this thanks to all the 37th Street and when I needed it most; and mention—thank you.
book.Thank you to all of them. Carpenter Avenue families that Philip, for understanding what
vii

10. Introduction
O n September 9, 1945, Dr.
Grace Hopper was putting
the Mark II computer at
trapped between points at Relay
# 70, Panel F. She removed the
moth, carefully taped it into the
both been bothered by and ben-
efited from insects. Every year,
millions of dollars in crops are
honey, and shellac; as pets; and to
sell to gardeners, farmers, wed-
ding planners, and educators.
Harvard University through logbook, and then made a note: destroyed by insects. Plagues of Insects are the largest group of
some tests. It had what program- “First actual case of (computer) locusts have filled the sky and animals in the world, with more
mers called a “bug” that was bug being found.” eaten every shred of green plants, than one million different kinds
causing it to malfunction. Dr. It wasn’t really surprising that causing people to go hungry or identified and named, and perhaps
Hopper pulled out parts, search- an insect had found its way into migrate to new areas. Fleas were just as many yet to be discovered.
ing for the problem. At 3:45 P.M., the computer. As long as humans the carriers of black death, a dis- They were around a long time
she found it. A moth had gotten have been around, they have ease that almost wiped out the before humans were, and they will
population of entire cities in help decompose our bodies when
Europe in the Middle Ages. Even we are gone. Since they have been
today, some mosquitoes carry so successful, it makes sense to
diseases including malaria, which watch them closely and see what
kills millions of people each year. we can learn from them.
On the other hand, insects In order to observe insects, it
pollinate many of our food helps to have some close at hand.
plants, including chocolate, In the following pages you will
apples, and oranges.They help learn tips and tricks for catching
decompose our waste. Ant jaws and keeping insects, and how to
U.S. Naval Historical Center
have been used as stitches in sur- test the usefulness of an insect
gery. Fly and beetle larvae help exoskeleton, compete against
investigators solve crimes. Fruit insects in Olympic-style compe-
flies are used in genetic research. titions, create a buzzing bug, and
People raise insects for food; for train a bee.When you need a live
Insects are often blamed for many of our problems, including computer errors. their products including silk, insect for an activity, remember:
ix

11. they are an important part of our Entomology sidebars.You will be As a special feature, you can regular, numbered die.The
natural ecosystems.Tread lightly amazed at where you can find test your luck and survival skills as instructions for putting the game
through their habitats and collect insects and how they are used. an insect by creating your own together and the basic rules for
only the insects you need or can Speaking of finding and using Insectigations! board game.The playing are at the end of the book.
take care of, releasing all the oth- insects, the Real Entomologists materials are easy to find, with If you finish trying the
ers back where you found them. sidebars tell the true stories of instructions for how to make spe- experiments and activities and
It is also wise to be like Dr. Hop- how insects play a part in engi- cial insect dice in chapter 2,“Body want to do even more, look to
per and record all your activities neering projects, crime scene Basics,” and details on the game the Resources section at the back
in the journal you’ll learn how investigations, and even food board in chapter 6,“Finders.” You of the book.There you will dis-
to make in chapter 1. Journal service studies. Bug Business side- use the action cards you create at cover where to get more infor-
Notes at the end of most activities bars tell about enterprising the end of chapters 2 through 8 to mation about favorite activities,
give suggestions for important entomologists who earn money make the path through insect find connections to entertaining
observations or results to record from insects. And you get the habitats on the game board.The insect festivals, and learn how to
in your journal. shortcuts to finding fun on the only other things you need are participate in ongoing research
If you have a strong stomach, Internet in the Make a Connec- tokens (cicada shells, plastic insects, projects. All you need to do now
make sure you read all the Gross tion sidebars. or decorated bottle caps) and a is turn the page and get going!
x

12. 1
Getting Star ted
Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home,
Your house is on fire and your children are alone.
❃
You’re as busy as a bee.
❃
Snug as a bug in a rug.
❃
You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.
❃
The larger the middle band on a wooly bear caterpillar,
the colder the winter will be.
❃
Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite.
1

13. From the time you were every young, you have likely heard many say- try to figure out how to increase the number of insects that help
ings like these.What do all these sayings have in common? humans. Others try to figure out how insects communicate, how their
They show that people have been studying insects for a long time. senses work, or how to use insects to solve human problems.
-
The formal name for studying insects is entomology (en-ta-MOL-a-je). Although humans spend billions of dollars every year on insects, you
Scientists who study insects are called entomologists.What exactly do don’t need a lot of money to be a good entomologist.You can find
entomologists do? Some identify and name new insects. Others keep insects wherever you are, and the only equipment you really need is a
track of insect pests and try to figure out ways to control them. Some pencil and a journal.
2

14. Make a Jour nal
E xplorers and scientists have
long used journals, also
called logs, to record what
paper to record your discoveries
for each activity or experiment
that you do, repeat this process
they find, see, hear, and do. Most until you have at least 20 sheets
of the activities in this book of unlined paper for your jour-
include observations or questions nal. Put the unlined paper and at
for you to answer in your jour- least 20 sheets of lined paper on
nal.Your notes will become a the rings in your binder. Finally,
valuable record of what you see slip any equipment you want in
and think, even if you feel your the pockets, and you are ready
experiences are ordinary or nor- to go.
mal. Although any type of note- A three-ring binder makes a the first cover for your journal. It’s essential to include in your
book will work, the following great journal for several reasons. You might want to include your journal entries: the date and
journal is one you can use for It has pockets that can hold pen- name, a clever title, and some place of each activity or insect
years. cils, a magnifying lens, ruler, small sketches of insects or insect habi- find, the name of the activity
field guide, and a bandage or tats. Slip the cover paper into the (when appropriate), sketches of
Materials two. It is easy to wipe dew, dirt, clear plastic sleeve. what you see, and specific things
Three-ring binder with pockets or mud off the plastic cover. It If your unlined paper doesn’t you notice, like how many differ-
and a clear plastic cover lies flat when you open it, mak- already have holes punched in it, ent colored grasshoppers you
sleeve ing it easier to write in. It is sim- lay a piece of lined paper with find or the sizes of the ants that
Unlined paper ple to add more paper. It is easy holes on top of three sheets of you catch. Also, copy down the
Markers to make a new cover and plain paper to use as a guide. questions from this book so that
Lined paper rearrange the contents for sci- Use the hole punch to make you know what your answers
Hole punch ence projects or reports. three holes so the paper can be mean.
Use one piece of unlined put on the rings. Since you
paper and the markers to create should use a separate sheet of
3

15. Draw an Insect
E ven if you are a beginning
artist, it is important to
include in your journal
3
accurate sketches of the insects
you see.You can start by copying
other drawings or photographs, How to shade drawing
4
but your goal should be to draw
from actual insects that you find
1
or catch. Remember, the more
you practice, the better your
drawings will become.
2
Materials shapes (circle, oval, rectangle, pyra-
Journal mid) or to think about the shapes
Pencil of common items (egg, crescent
Eraser moon, ice cream cone, pencil).
Insect (or insect picture) Sometimes it is helpful to
draw the middle part of the
Take a close and careful look at insect first and then think of it as small, make a line to show its real When you have drawn all the
the insect you want to draw. a clock.Where are the legs? At size, then draw it whatever size pieces, erase or adjust any that
Instead of trying to draw it all at 4:20, 6:30, and 8:40? Where is you want.What is important is to don’t look like you want them
one time, use your imagination to the head? Where is the abdo- show relative sizes. Is the head to. After you have everything in
break it down into pieces. Don’t men? You also want to think the same size as the body? Half place, spend some time erasing
worry about the little details at about sizes. It is impossible to the size? Twice as big? Figure out extra lines, making lines at joints,
first; just look for shapes you rec- make a decent, life-sized drawing how big each piece is compared points, and special features
ognize and can draw. It might of some of the very tiny insects. to the others, then lightly sketch darker, and adding shading to
help to think about traditional Instead, for every insect, large or the shapes you need together. show different textures.
4

16. her home into her laboratory, and
An Ordinary Observation
started raising monarchs. Each day,
Becomes an Extraordinary
she gave the same caterpillars milk-
Opportunity
weed plants that had a layer of road
Like many kids who live in the coun-
dust on them, and gave other caterpil-
try, high school student Rachael
lars clean milkweed plants. She
Collier knew the easiest place to find
weighed the caterpillars at each stage
monarch caterpillars was on the milk-
of their development and kept track of
weed plants growing along the gravel
how many lived and how many died.
roads near her home in Iowa. She
By the end, her records showed that
noticed that the milkweed plants were
monarch caterpillars exposed to lime-
often dusty, and she began to wonder
stone road dust were not as large and
if the road dust had any effect on the
were more likely to die than caterpil-
monarch larvae’s health. Instead of
lars that ate clean milkweed. She pre-
waiting for someone else to answer
sented her findings at science fair
her question, she turned a bathtub in
competitions, where she was awarded
several thousand dollars in scholar-
ship money, plus a summer research
Make the Connection
job in another country.
Although a journal and pen-
If you really enjoy drawing
cil are your most essential
insects, enter one of your
and valuable equipment, a
artworks in the University
few other things will make
of Illinois annual insect art
your study of insects easier
contest. More information is
and more fun. A magnifying
available at
lens is helpful for looking at very Rachael Collier’s bathtub laboratory. Courtesy of Rachael Collier
www.life.uiuc.edu/entomology/
small insects, a ruler is important
egsa/ifff.html.
for noting the size of insects, and away while you are trying to to catch insects, and chapter 6
a jar where you can keep an sketch it is also handy. (Activities has more information on making
insect from flying or crawling in chapter 5 will teach you how temporary insect homes.)
5

17. Looking Jar
I nsect cages come in all sorts of
shapes and sizes and are made
from a wide variety of materi-
However, many of the plastics
used today are brittle and will
split if you try to punch holes in
als.While netting is good for air- them.With the help of an adult,
flow, it makes it hard to see the you can either drill very small
small details on insects. If you holes in the lid and near the bot-
want to observe an insect for a tom edge of the jar or heat the
short time, a clear, plastic con- tip of the barbecue fork over a
tainer is your best bet. flame and melt small holes in the
lid and near the bottom edge of
Materials the jar.
A large, clear, plastic jar with a The larger the mouth of the
lid (large peanut butter con- jar, the easier it will be to put
tainers work well) insects in. After you have
Drill with very small bit (or a watched your insects and made
barbecue fork) notes and sketches in your jour-
nal, turn the jar on its side and
Insects need air to breathe, just open the lid. Don’t shake the jar
like every other animal.To make to get the insects out, just wait a
your looking jar ready for tem- few minutes and they will be
porary insect visitors, you need gone.
to make plenty of air holes.
6

18. Field Research Tips will help protect you from as big as the end of a pencil (tick side in) to create your
Many activities in this book scratches, scrapes, poison ivy, eraser. Most ticks need blood own piece of ticker tape. If a
should be done outdoors and and insect attacks. from a warm-blooded animal tick has its head stuck under
with live insects. Since insects • It is a good idea to bring a in order to continue their your skin, have an adult use
have a wide range of defense simple first-aid kit with you. development or lay eggs.To tweezers to remove it.
strategies, including biting, Tweezers, alcohol swabs, first- discourage these bloodsucking
pinching, stinging, spraying, and aid ointment, and bandages ticks from feeding on you, Do you have your journal and
spitting, here are a few tips and can be a big help. tuck your pant legs into your pencil ready? Are you dressed for
tricks to help you feel the most • If you get stung by a bee, pull socks.When you go inside, adventure? Get ready to explore
comfortable out in the field. the stinger out immediately.To check all over your skin and in how insects are similar to and
help ease the pain, put ice, your hair to see if any ticks different from you as you attract,
• If you are going to be collect- baking soda, meat tenderizer, managed to sneak by.To catch, study, mimic, and release
ing insects in tall grass or or barbecue sauce directly on remove a tick that is crawling insects in your area.
brushy areas, wear long, light- top of the sting. on your clothes or skin, place
colored pants, a long-sleeved, • Ticks are tiny creatures with the sticky side of a piece of
light-colored shirt, closed-toe eight legs.They can be as tape on the tick. Lift up and
shoes, and a hat.These clothes small as the size of a period to fold the piece of tape in half
7

20. 2
Body Basics
P ut a butterfly and a cricket side by side, and what do you
notice? Even though the size, shape, color, and sometimes
the function of each part can be different, the basic body
plan for both insects, and every other adult insect, is the same.
(Immature insects can look very different than adult ones. See
chapter 3,“Metamorphic Magic,” for details.) They may seem sim-
ilar to each other, but how do insects compare to you? Can they
see better with those huge eyes? Are they really able to lift more,
jump farther, and run faster than humans? Get ready to find out.
9

21. Insects are cold-blooded inver- muscles to attach. However, a An insect’s thorax has three The abdomen is the softest
-
tebrates (in-VUR-ta-br ats). solid, hard shell would be too segments. Each segment has a and most flexible part of an
Invertebrates are all animals that hard to bend and move, so insect pair of jointed legs, so an insect insect’s body. It usually has
do not have a backbone, includ- bodies are divided into three normally has six legs. Most between eight and eleven seg-
ing worms, clams, slugs, and parts, and each part has smaller insects also have one pair of ments with tiny holes called spir-
insects. Instead of having bones segments. wings attached to the middle acles on the side of each
to hold their bodies up, insects The three body parts are the segment, and another pair of segment.These holes are how an
have exoskeletons. Exoskeletons head, thorax, and abdomen. wings attached to the back seg- insect breathes.The abdomen
are like miniature suits of armor. On its head, an insect usually ment. But some insects have only also holds an insect’s stomach
These hard shells protect insects’ has two sets of jaws, two kinds of one pair of wings, and a few have and other organs.
bodies and give a place for their eyes, and one pair of antennae. none at all.
Antenna
Head Thorax Abdomen
Head
Thorax
Abdomen
10

22. Head Thorax Abdomen
Compound
eye
Ocellus
Antenna
Mandible
Spiracle
Ovipositor
11

23. Excellent Exoskeletons
A lmost 300,000 kinds of
beetles have been identified
so far, making them the 1
wet paper towel
stuff a dry paper towel inside a
third tube. Add food coloring to
the water in the spray bottle. Lay
cardboard and stained the paper
towel. Place an egg inside the
fourth tube. Roll it across the
largest group of animals on the the tube down and spray it until ground until the egg breaks.
earth.Their hard exoskeletons are color has seeped through the
one reason they have been so
2
successful. How do exoskeletons
help beetles and other insects Journal Notes
survive? This activity will give
you some ideas. Start time: _________
Stop time (towel inside dry): down water loss due to
Materials _________ evaporation. They also
Spray bottle with water Stop time (towel outside dry): keep unwanted chemicals
Paper towels 3 _____________________________ (such as bug spray) from being taken
4 toilet paper tubes How long does it take for each wet in. Exoskeletons protect insects from
dry paper towel
Watch or clock paper towel to dry out? cuts, scrapes, and bruises when they
Red food coloring How much spray does it take to run into things.
Egg colored water get the towel inside the tube to turn There are two main disadvantages
red? to exoskeletons. Every time an insect
Wet one paper towel and stuff What finally causes the egg to grows, it has to shed its skin. While it
it inside a toilet paper tube.Wet break? is shedding its exoskeleton, an
another paper towel and wrap it 4 Our skin acts as a two-way trans- insect’s body is soft, making it easier
around the outside of a different portation system. It lets water out for other animals to attack and eat it.
tube. Record the time on your (sweating), takes chemicals in (such And the exoskeleton limits how big
watch in your journal, then stand as with skin lotion or medicine patch- an insect can get. You will never see a
both tubes on end and set in a es), and is easily bruised, scratched, beetle the size of a small dog—the
safe place.While these are drying, egg and cut. Insect exoskeletons slow exoskeleton would be too heavy.
12

24. Since worker honeybees do not mate and they often clamber into flowers to get nectar, honey-
bees have short, simple antennae. Moth antennae are often large and featherlike so they can
detect small amounts of airborne chemicals to find a mate, but they don’t get in the way since
moths have long, tube-like mouthparts to obtain flower nectar. Can you determine other rea-
sons for the different types of antennae?
can be used to taste, touch, smell, things.They are called com-
and hear.There are at least 14 pound eyes because each eye is
–
During the summer, the shed exoskeletons of cicadas (si-KA-das) can be found clinging to types of antennae.Antennae are made of between two and
trees, fences, and even houses. While one type of cicada, known as dog day cicadas, appears different lengths and shapes, and 23,000 lenses. Even with all these
each year, periodical cicadas live underground as nymphs for either 13 or 17 years.
have a different number of jointed lenses, most insects are near-
segments. Entomologists often use sighted—they can only see things
Heads Up! whole body. On the other hand, the shape and the size of antennae that are pretty close to them.
There are three main parts to an a fly has tiny antennae but its to help them identify insects. However, they can focus on
insect’s head: the antennae, the compound eyes take up two- Insects have two kinds of eyes, things that we would need a
eyes, and the mouth. How these thirds of its head. If a fly had a simple and compound. In larvae, microscope to see!
three parts look and are used head the size of yours, its eyes -
the simple eyes, called ocelli (o- People use fingers, forks,
depends on what senses an insect would be about the size of can- - can detect spoons, straws, and cups to help
SEL- i),
needs to be successful where it taloupes.This lets a fly see almost some colors and get food into their mouths.
lives. A cave cricket spends most all the way around its body with- shapes, while the While insects don’t eat exactly
of its time in caves, hollow trees, out ever having to turn its head. ocelli in adult the same way we do, they have
or under rocks. Being able to see People use antennae on televi- insects are sensitive mouthparts adapted to do many
well is not as important as being sions, radios, and other electronic to light and movement of the same jobs.These mouth-
sensitive to smells and touches. devices to get better signals. but cannot see images. parts determine the type of food
So its eyes are very small, but its Insects use their antennae to get It is the compound eyes on an insect can eat.
antennae are longer than its better signals, too. Insect antennae nymphs and adults that really see
13

25. A Plantastic Feast
A single plant can provide
food for many different
insects, with each kind
feeding on a separate part of the
plant.The coiled tube mouthpart
of a butterfly is great for sipping
nectar but is useless in trying to
bite a green leaf.The chewing Because their mouthparts limit the types of food they can eat, most insects must be able to travel to find enough food.
mouthparts of a grasshopper
make a quick dinner of a leaf but Materials Remove the straw from the a straw and take a butterfly sip of
can’t pierce the stem to drink the Juice bag juice bag.Wrap the sheet of the nectar in the cup. Next, pick
sap.The piercing-sucking mouth Pointed-end straw (from the green construction paper around up the pliers and use them as a
of the spittlebug can do two jobs, juice bag) the juice bag, tape it in place, and grasshopper would, ripping a leaf
first making a hole in the stem, 1 sheet of green construction set it on the plate to create the off the stem and taking it to
then sucking out the plant juice, paper stem of your plant.Tape the let- your mouth. Use the pointed-
but can’t soak up the juices that Tape tuce or spinach leaves to the side end straw as your spittlebug
dribble down the side or spill on Sturdy plate (not paper) of your stem. Draw some flower mouth to jab a hole in the stem
the ground. However, nothing Lettuce or spinach leaves petals on the red paper, cut them of your plant, then gently
goes to waste, as those juices are 1 sheet of red construction paper out, and tape them around the squeeze the stem as you sip some
great for the sponging mouth of Pencil top rim of the small paper cup. plant sap.To slurp up the juice
the fly. Scissors Tape the cup to the back edge at that landed on the plate, put the
Small paper cup the top of the stem and pour a sponge on the bottom of the
Juice bit of juice inside. straw. Move it around, then take
2 Straws Now it is time for your plant your drink as a fly.
Pliers to become dinner. Start out with
1 inch (2.5 cm) piece of clean
sponge
14

26. 1 2
3
6
5
4
15

27. Thorax Up Close
Attached to the top of the thorax
is the most noticeable part of
many insects—the wings. Insects
are the only types of inverte-
brates that have wings.Wings can
be used to fly, to make sounds,
and as protection.Wings also
help entomologists identify the
insects they catch.
Entomologists look to see:
• How many wings does the
insect have? (Flies only have
two wings. Almost all other
flying insects have
four, although some
have none at all.)
• How big are the
wings?
• What shape are they?
• What do they look like? Are
they like cellophane, leather,
scaly, or a hard shell?
• How does the insect hold its
wings when it is not flying?
Are they out to the side?
Above its body like a tent?
Tucked away?
• What do the wing veins look
like?
16

28. Need a Lif t ?
M any butterflies that travel
long distances conserve
their energy by gliding up
include the dashed line. Cut it
out around the solid line edge.
Fold the paper along the dashed
watch what happens.Trace the
pattern on tissue paper and on an
index card.What happens when
and down, using invisible warm air line to make a crease, then open you try to balance them? What
bubbles, called thermals. When the it back up. Grab the pencil about happens if you make the pattern
sun shines on a dark parking lot halfway down in one hand. Use larger? Smaller? Stand on a chair
surrounded by trees, the air over your other hand to balance the and drop the wing pattern, not-
the parking lot gets much warmer paper on the pencil tip. Hold ing what happens as it falls.
than the air around the trees.Warm steady for at least one minute and
air is lighter than cooler air, so the
warm air over the parking lot rises
as a thermal. If a broad-winged Journal Notes
butterfly flies by, it can stretch its
wings and let the thermal carry it
high into the sky, then glide down I held the wing on the pencil What made the wing move? Your
a long distance with just an occa- point for one minute and this body makes heat. The heat from your
sional flap of its wings. is what happened: hand created a mini-thermal that
_____________________________ went up, hit the paper, and made it
Materials When I did this with a thicker spin. When you dropped the paper, it
Sheet of thin writing paper wing, this happened: likely twirled around as it fell, looking
Pencil with sharp point ________________________________ more like a maple seed or mini-heli-
Scissors When I did this with a thinner copter than a gliding butterfly. One
Tissue paper wing, this happened: reason is because butterflies have
Index card ________________________________ four wings, not just two. The wings
When I dropped a wing from up act together to control upward and
Trace the broad wing pattern high, this happened: downward motion, just like the flaps
onto the paper, making sure you ________________________________ on a glider’s wings.
17

29. Ner vous Twitch
W hile some butterflies and
moths flap slowly and
gracefully as they float
through the air, flies, bumblebees,
and hummingbird moths flap
faster than the eye can see. For
years there has been a popular
myth that bumblebees shouldn’t
be able to fly because they have a
short, fat body shape and their
nervous system can’t send mes-
sages fast enough to make their
wings flap the necessary 200
times a second.The truth behind lar manner.The muscles are
the myth is that a bumblebee’s ready to move, similar to you
shape and wings are more like a winding up the wings.Ten to
helicopter than a glider, and the twenty times a second, the
muscles work a bit like a rubber nerves send the message to the
band. Place the sheet of thin paper notches. Put the wing piece in wing muscles to flap, or in your
over the bee and wing pattern the middle of the rubber band. case, to release the wings. It only
Materials and trace them. Cut them out, Wind the wing piece around 20 takes one message from the
1 sheet of thin paper place them on the foam tray, and times in one direction. Release nerves to get the wing muscles
Pencil with dull tip trace around them. Cut them out the wings, and watch and listen started, then they keep vibrating,
Scissors of the foam and decorate them to them as they spin. like the rubber band keeps
Foam tray or plate with crayons. Place the rubber The nerves and thorax mus- unwinding, moving the wings 10
Crayons band over the bee pattern with cles that control a bumblebee’s to 20 times until the nerves send
Thin rubber band the sides hooked into the wings work in a somewhat simi- the next message to flap.
18

30. All About Legs Human Leg hot liquid out of their abdomens.
Legs are attached to the lower side Fireflies have abdomens they
of the thorax. Insect legs have the light up to help them find their
same basic parts that yours do, but mates. Female crickets and
many insects also have extra adap- grasshoppers have a long, skinny
tations for survival. A praying spear at the end of their
Femur
mantis’s front legs have sharp abdomens.This is called an
spines along the edges to hold its ovipositor and is used to lay eggs.
prey. Flies have sticky pads at the The ovipositor on female bees
end of their legs to help them and wasps has changed over time
walk on things, even the ceiling. to become a stinger.
Tibia
Grasshoppers and crickets have
large bent hind legs, just right for
jumping.Water boatmen and
backswimmers have legs like oars Robber Fly
for paddling through the water. Tarsus
Ground beetles have long, strong
legs for running. And crane flies
have very long legs, helping them Insect Leg
stand above the grass on the
ground.
About Abdomens
Abdomens can be long and thin,
short and round, or shapes in
between. Some are striped, some
are one color, and some have little
hooks at the end called cerci (SIR-
-
se). Bombardier beetles protect Assassin Bug Cricket
themselves by squirting boiling
19

31. Mighty Muscles
H ave you heard of the amaz-
ing feats that insects can
do? Ants can lift 50 times
Olympic events, how well would
you do?
Since you are much larger
fair, you need to relate how far
and high you jump, how fast you
run, and how much you can lift
where you landed. Measure how
far you jumped. Divide this
number by your height to deter-
their own body weight. than insects, of course you can to your own body size. mine how many body lengths
Grasshoppers can jump 30 times lift more actual weight than an you jumped.
their body length. If you were to ant, and jump higher and farther Materials Tie a rope between two trees
compete against insects in than a flea.To make the contests Tape measure or solid posts, about eight inches
Pencil (20 cm) above and parallel to the
Bathroom scale ground.Try to jump over the
Bug Business Chalk rope without taking a running
Rope start. If you make it over, raise
Watch with a second hand the rope two inches (5 cm). Keep
Fireflies, which are a family of bee- flies, then sells them to Friends raising the height until you miss
tles, can be found on every continent researchers. The
except Antarctica, but not every fire- researchers remove the Record your
fly flashes. In the United States, the chemical that glows (luciferin) and use height in inches (or
fireflies that live east of the Rocky it in their studies. Some researchers centimeters) and
Mountains and away from the desert mix the luciferin with small samples of your weight in
Southwest flash their abdominal ground beef or other foods. If the bac- pounds (or kilo-
lights on warm summer nights. teria e. coli is in the food, the luciferin grams) in your jour-
While most people catch fireflies attaches to the bacteria, making it nal, then get ready
for fun, some people do it for money. easy for researchers to see it. to do your best!
Since 1952, a company in Tennessee How much do firefly catchers Draw a line on
has sponsored a summer firefly drive. earn? The price can change, but a the ground with the
It pays people to catch and freeze fire- good estimate is about one penny chalk. From a still This female rhinoceros beetle moved nearly 100 times its own
per perfect insect. position, jump as far mass during an experiment measuring how much energy it used
flies. The company collects these fire-
while carrying extra weight.
as you can. Mark Photograph courtesy of Rodger Kram, Ph.D., University of Colorado
20

32. Record Holders
it three times in a row. Record Event Long jump High jump Running Lifting
the highest level you jumped in Human About 29.5 feet (almost Over 8 feet (2.4 m) (with About 20 miles (32 km) 17 x body weight in a
9 meters) = about a running start) = per hour = between trestle lift
your journal. Divide this number 4.5 body lengths about 1.25 x height 5 and 6 body lengths
by your height to determine how per second
many body lengths high you Insect A 2-inch (5 cm) 0.1 inch (.25 cm) cat flea Cockroaches run about Rhinoceros beetle can
grasshopper can has jumped 13 inches 3.7 miles (6 km) per support 850 times its
jumped. jump 30 inches (76 (33 cm) = 130 x its own weight on its
hour = 50 body
Begin from a still position at a cm) = 15 body height lengths per second back
starting line. Run as fast as you lengths
can for five seconds (have a
friend use a watch to time your
run). Measure how far you ran in Gather some friends who Journal Notes Heads
inches (cm) and record this num- weigh about the same amount
ber in your journal. Divide this as you. Put your hands and 3. I ran _________(D)
Write these sentences into your jour-
number by 5 to determine how knees on the ground, keeping inches/cm in 5 seconds.
nal and fill in the blanks with your
far you ran per second. Divide your back in the air. Ask your D ÷ 5 = _________(E)
results.
how far you ran per second by friends to straddle your back, distance per second.
your height to figure out how adding one more friend at a E ÷ A = _________ is the number of
I am _______(A) inches/cm tall and I
many body lengths that is. time until you cannot hold body lengths per second I jumped.
weigh ___________ pounds/kg.
any more without collapsing.
1. I jumped a distance of 4. I can hold __________ friends on
_________(B) inches/cm. my back at the same time.
B ÷ A = __________ is the number of Who wins every contest? Don’t feel
body lengths long that I jumped. bad that the insects always win. For
one thing, many insects have more
2. I jumped _________(C) inches/cm muscles than we do. Humans have
high. about 800 muscles. Grasshoppers
C ÷ A = _____________ is the number have about 900 and caterpillars have
of body lengths high that I jumped. as many as 4,000!
21

33. Rigged Ratios
N ot only do insects have
more muscles, but those
muscles have to do less
along the short edge to form a
shorter tube, and again, and tape
the sides. Place one of the tubes
Place the other tube on the other
piece of cardboard. Pour the
cereal from the first tube into the
work.When muscles work, they on a piece of stiff cardboard and second one.
have to move whatever is being fill it to the top with dry cereal.
lifted or pushed and the body Journal Notes
parts as well. Since humans have
more inside (volume) compared
The __________ tube held the
to their skin (surface area) than
greater amount (volume) of dry
insects do, our muscles have a
cereal.
bigger job to do from the start.
You started with the same size
paper, so each tube has the same
Materials
surface area. But because of the way
Pencil
you rolled the paper, one tube holds
2 pieces of paper (81⁄2 × 11 inches)
a greater volume than the other. This
Tape
is true when you compare insect and
2 pieces of stiff cardboard
human bodies as well. Because of the
Dry cereal
way they are made, insects have less
volume compared to their surface
Sketch a strong insect (an ant
area than humans do.
or beetle is a good choice) on
Even though you have a greater vol-
one piece of paper, and a human
ume compared to your surface area
on the other. Roll the insect
than an insect does, and an insect has
paper along the long edge to
more muscles than you do, if you
form a tall tube, and tape the
found an insect the same size as you,
sides. Roll the human paper
you would likely have about equal
strength.
22

34. What’s Bugging You? end of the book in the table Des Moines, 1234 Main Street. are put in the insect class, while
Entomologists use everything titled “Ten Common Insect The first level of information the other arthropods are put into
from an insect’s antennae to its Orders” (see page 117). in the name address for a living different classes like the arachnid
toes to help identify each kind. organism is called the Kingdom. (spider) class or the crustacea
Insects that look and act a lot Classification There is a Plant Kingdom, an (lobster, crabs) class.
alike are put in big groups called Around 1735, Carolus Linnaeus Algae Kingdom, a Fungi King- Scientists keep sorting each
orders. All the butterflies and introduced a new system of clas- dom, and, of course, an Animal level into smaller and smaller
moths are grouped together in sification—a way to identify, Kingdom. All animals are part of groups. All the animals in each
one order, beetles are another name, and group living things in the Animal Kingdom, so it is a class are put into orders. Bugs,
order, and cockroaches are a third an organized way. Although his very big group. beetles, and flies are all in differ-
order.There are about 30 major first system concentrated on As scientists look at all the dif- ent orders. Each order is sorted
orders of insects.You will most plants, he later worked to organ- ferent kinds of animals, they sort into smaller groups called fami-
likely be able to find insects from ize animals into a formal system them into smaller, more exclusive lies. Stinkbugs, assassin bugs, and
around ten of these orders.These as well.There are seven major groups called Phyla. Furry, bedbugs are all in different fami-
ten common orders and their levels of information used to warm-blooded animals with lies. Each family is sorted into a
characteristics are listed at the classify all living things. backbones who give birth to live small group called a genus (JîN-
The system works like making babies and feed them milk are us). Stinkbugs could belong to
a seven-level name and address put in the Mammals phylum, the rough stinkbug genus, the
for each living thing. Each level while those animals with green stinkbug genus, or one of
Real Entomologists of information gets more spe- exoskeletons, at least two body several others, with each group
cific. Imagine you were space- segments, and pairs of jointed having only a few members.
Not all entomologists traveling in a distant galaxy and legs are in the Arthropod (ARE- Finally, at the very end, each ani-
agree how insects should met another creature who asked -
thro-pod) phylum. mal gets its very own name; that
be grouped. Some ento- where you were from. If the Insects are members of the is, its species.The species name
mologists recognize 30 creature wanted your exact Arthropod phylum, as are spiders, for the spined soldier stinkbug is
orders, while other entomolo- address, you might answer some- centipedes, and lobsters. So scien- Podisus maculiventris. If you put
gists recognize more or fewer. thing like: Milky Way Galaxy, tists take all the animals in the together all the classification
Planet Earth, North American Arthropod phylum and sort them information about the spined
continent, United States of into even smaller groups, called soldier stinkbug, this is what it
America, State of Iowa, City of classes. All six-legged arthropods would look like:
23

35. Classification Level Animals Included
For example, a key to put an
Kingdom Animalia All animals
insect in the right order might
Phylum Arthropoda Only those animals with jointed legs, two or more body segments, exoskeleton
Class Insecta Only those arthropods with six legs, two antennae start out like this:
Order Hemiptera Only those insects with front wings longer than hind wings, and a piercing-sucking mouth that
forms a beak 1. Does the adult have well-
Family Pentatomidae Only those bugs with a shield-shaped back and strong, defensive odor
developed wings?
Genus Podisus Only those stinkbugs considered soldier stinkbugs
Species maculiventris The spined soldier stinkbug Yes (go to 2) No (go to 28)
2. Are the wings clear?
What tools can you use to fig- First Field Guides Yes (go to 3) No (go to 24)
ure out which order an insect
belongs to? There are two basic 3. Are there two sets of clear
types of books to help you: field Field guides come in many differ- Insects: A Concise Field Guide to wings?
guides and keys. Field guides ent shapes and sizes. Some use 200 Common Insects of North
photographs of insects; some use America. Peterson’s First Guides by Yes (go to 4) No (go to 20)
include pictures of the insects,
common names, and a short detailed black and white drawings; Christopher Leahy (Houghton After going through a list and
description.You can find a field others use colored illustrations. Mifflin, 1987). picking the best descriptions,
guide that includes all different Look at several different types of Insects: A Guide to Familiar your final choice tells you to
kinds of the most common field guides to find the one that is American Insects. A Golden Guide which order your insect belongs.
insects, or one for just one type right for you. The field guides list- by Herbert S. Zim, Ph.D. and If you want to find out which
of insect, such as butterflies.To ed here are first guides. To keep Clarence Cottam, Ph.D. (Golden family, genus, and species your
identify an insect, you look them light and easy-to-use, they Press, 1987). insect belongs to, you use
through the field guide to find only include the insects you are Insects and Spiders: National another key that is made for each
the picture that looks the most most likely to find. Audubon Society’s Pocket Guide order. Keys are usually found in
like what you have found. Bugs and Slugs: An (Chanticleer Press Inc., 1988). entomology textbooks and other
A key is a list that gives you Introduction to Familiar Insects: Spiders and Other scientific resources.
two choices. After picking the Invertebrates. Pocket Naturalist by Terrestrial Arthropods. Dorling While most amateur entomol-
choice that best describes your James Kavanagh (Waterford Press, Kindersley Handbooks by George ogists start by using field guides,
insect, you follow the instruc- Inc., 2002). C. McGavin (Dorling Kindersley it doesn’t matter which type of
tions to the next set of choices. Inc., 2000). book you use. After some prac-
24

36. tice, you will be able to automat- exactly which insect you have. It pod phylum, a very large group
ically put most insects into the Make a Connection works a lot like your name when of animals. Many arthropods live
right order. it is listed in a phone book.Your close to each other, sometimes
Don’t get discouraged if you Go to www.csrees.usda.gov/ last name (surname) groups you under the same rock or in the
have trouble identifying some Extension/ or look in the phone with the other members of your same rotting log. Its no wonder
insects you find. Sometimes it book for your area Cooperative family.Your first name shows people often get confused by the
takes professional entomolo- State Research, Education exactly which family member different types of small, many-
gists days or weeks to iden- and Extension Service (look you are. legged creatures and just call
tify an insect all the way to for Extension Service in the If you use a key to identify the them all “bugs.” Turn the page
its species name. After com- county government sec- insects you catch, you will see the to find some clues to help you
paring an unknown insect to tion). Many of them have official names.The official names separate real insects from their
similar ones in their collections, active entomology departments are usually in Latin, and some are close cousins, the insect
entomologists use a microscope that will identify insects found in hard to pronounce, like Drosophila imposters.
to look at its antennae, mouth- your state. melangaster (fruit fly). Of course,
parts, how the wings are veined, some entomologists have fun,
and other very specific details. even with Latin names. G.W.
Common Names
Even then, they are sometimes What’s in a Name? Kirkaldy named one bug Ochisme
fooled. Everyone agreed that a People often call the same insect (o-kiss-me), another one Poly- Many insects have a common name
certain insect in Borneo looked by different names. For example, chisme (Polly-kiss-me), and a third in addition to their scientific name.
and acted like a tiger beetle. It do you call it a lightning bug or one Marichisme (Mary-kiss-me). A The common name is like a nick-
was only when one entomolo- a firefly? To make sure they are fly was named Pieza kake (piece name and often describes the
gist started to raise the insect all talking about the same insect, of cake), and one entomologist insect. Honeybee, walking stick,
from an egg to adult that he entomologists use the official named a moth Dyaria (which grasshopper, fire ant, stinkbug, and
became suspicious. Beetles two-part name for each insect. sounds the same as diarrhea). swallowtail butterfly are examples
undergo complete metamorpho- The first part of the name is the of common names. How many other
sis, but this insect did not. He genus, which puts each insect Insect Imposters ones can you think of?
finally determined that the insect into a small group of very similar Insects, spiders, centipedes, milli-
was actually a grasshopper, acting insects.The second part is the pedes, ticks, scorpions, mites, and
like a beetle.Very tricky! species name, which tells you lobsters all belong to the Arthro-
25

37. Centipede
Sowbug
Mite
Centipedes: long, flat bodies with
15 to 181 segments.The one pair
of legs on each body segment Scorpion
stretches out to the side.
Millipede Isopods (pill bugs or roly-polies):
two body parts, hard shell, one Spiders
pair of antennae, and usually five
or more pairs of legs.
Arachnids: spiders, mites, ticks,
Millipedes: cylinder-like body and scorpions. Eight legs, two
with 9 to 100+ segments. Each body segments, and no antennae.
segment has two pairs of legs, Tick
which are directly under the
body.
26

38. Twist-an-Insect (Game Dice)
T he classification orders put
insects with parts that go
together in predictable ways
Glue stick
Thin dowel rod (1⁄4 inch [ 6⁄10 cm]
diameter), 7 inches (17.75
the insect pictures on pages 29
and 30. Cut along the dotted
lines. Glue all the head pieces, one
inside, to form a cube. It is easiest
to do the long side last. Place the
cubes on the dowel rod with the
in the same group. Flies have two cm) long picture per square, on one cube head box on top, the thorax box
wings and sponging mouthparts. Pencil topper erasers (optional) pattern; all the thorax pieces, one in the middle and the abdomen
Grasshoppers have large hind legs picture per square, on a second box on the bottom. Put pencil
for jumping and chewing Carefully cut along the thick cube pattern; and all the abdomen top erasers over the ends of the
mouthparts. Beetles have a line black outer lines on the cube pat- pieces, one picture per square, on rod to keep the boxes in place.
that goes straight down their tern. Fold and crease along all the a third cube pattern.When the Twist the boxes around to create a
back, and many have a set of thinner inner lines, then flatten glue has dried, use your pencil crazy creature or to help identify
pinching jaws called mandibles. the pattern again. Use your pencil point or punch to poke through insects that you catch.When you
By making and using a twist- point or a hole punch to poke the circles again. Put glue on the want to play the Insectigations!
an-insect, you will start to recog- through the circles. Do this for all trapezoid tab pieces and fold the game, take the boxes off the sticks
nize characteristics that go three copies of the cube. Color pieces up, sticking the tabs on the to use them as dice.
together.This will make it easier
to classify anything you catch to Animal Head: Feeding parts, eyes, and antennae Thorax: Legs, wings Abdomen: Shape and other features
the right order. Bee Coiled tube mouthparts, medium Four clear wings, small legs with Striped, squat, hairy, stinger
compound eyes, short antennae pollen baskets
Materials Cricket Chewing mouthparts, long antennae, Large hind legs bent higher than the Long, thick, females have ovipositor,
3 photocopies or tracings of small compound eyes body; four wings held to sides when males have claspers (cerci) at end
resting
cube pattern on page 28
House Fly Sponging mouth, very large Two clear wings, hairy body, walking legs Short, round, soft, hairy
1 photocopy or tracing of compound eyes, short antennae
insects on page 29 and
Stag Beetle Small eyes, mouth with pincers, Running legs, two pairs of wings, hard wing Abdomen hidden by shell
page 30 long antennae shell makes middle line down back.
Scissors
Moth Feathery antennae, coiled tube Four colored wings with scales Fat, fuzzy, long abdomen
Pencil or hole punch mouthparts, small compound eyes
Markers/colored pencils Spider Eight simple eyes, no antennae Eight legs on combined head and thorax Soft, hairy abdomen with six spinnerets
27

39. Cube pattern
28

40. Bee Cricket House Fly Stag Beetle
29

41. Moth Spider
30

42. Insectigations! Game Action Cards
B
(6.3-by-7.6-cm) cards.Write the
eing an insect has its advan- following actions based on insect
tages and drawbacks.While anatomy onto the cards, one per
food is usually easy to find, card. Place all four cards (includ-
predators are almost always lurk- ing the blank one) into the enve-
ing nearby.You will get to test lope for safekeeping until you are
your luck at surviving as an ready to create your Insectigations!
insect in the Insectigations! game game.
included on page 115, but first
you need to create action cards. • You stumbled across a picnic!
Action cards will be used to Roll the head die. If you have
build the path, with instructions mandibles to carry away the
for moving your game token for- crumbs, roll again.
ward and backward as you try to • A hungry bird is looking for
be the first player to make it an easy meal. If a roll of the
from egg to adult. abdomen die shows you have
an unprotected abdomen, go
Materials back to start.
2 3-by-5-inch (7.6-by-12.7-cm) • Here comes a fly swatter! If a
index cards roll of the head die doesn’t
Scissors show big compound eyes, lose
Pen one turn. Although adult insects come look very different from each
Envelope in many shapes, sizes, and colors, other, and even from their par-
at least they all have the same ents. Get ready to explore and
Cut the index cards in half so basic body plan. On the other understand metamorphosis, one
that you have 4 21⁄2-by-3-inch hand, immature insects often of nature’s greatest magic shows.
31

44. 3
Metamor phic Magic
M ost animals are born with all the body parts they will
ever have and in the habitat where they will spend their
whole lives. As animals grow bigger, they might grow
fur or feathers, and move to a new place within a habitat, but most
animals look and act pretty much the same their whole life.
33

45. Insects are different. Insects green leaves become winged but-
change. This process of change is terflies, flying through the air and
called metamorphosis (met-a- feeding on flower nectar.Algae-
-
MOR-fa-sis). Soft, white, worm- eating mayfly nymphs that breathe
like grubs that hatch from their underwater through gills surface
eggs will later emerge from stiff from the bottom of a pond or
pupal cases as beautifully colored stream, split their skins, stretch
hard-shelled beetles. Striped cater- their iridescent wings and fly
pillars that creep along munching away, never to eat again.
34