Overview
Bees and ants and beetles and moths--these are just a few of the creatures who make up some of the oldest and most successful species in the world. This beautifully illustrated volume takes readers into the world of insects and spiders: their habitats, their anatomy, and their methods of defense--and attack.An introduction to the physical characteristics, habits, and habitats of different types of insects and spiders.
Editorials
Children's Literature -
Oversize, with full-color illustrations, and loaded with information, Insects and Spiders will delight browsers and researchers alike. With sections like "Staying Alive", "Cycles of Life", and "Spotlight on Spiders"; information is well organized and easily accessed. Each two-page spread features a different aspect of the topic and comes complete with full-page drawings, photographs, main text, and informative captions. There's no particular order that the reader must follow. It's actually more fun to take an insect-like approach and flit from one juicy info-bite to another. The Nature Company "Discoveries Library" series.Kirkus Reviews
This entry in the Nature Company Discoveries Library lumps spiders together with their arthropod cousins in this comprehensive look at insects, derivative of the Eyewitness series and format.Insects and bugs (in the strict sense, insects with mouthparts that pierce and suck)—from the more common butterflies, bees, beetles, bedbugs, stink bugs, and pond-skaters, to the New Zealand weta, the cockchafer, and the hazelnut weevil—are showcased in full-color splendor, engaged in motion, metamorphosis, mating, and making contact. Little attention is paid to insect ancestors and evolution, but plenty of emphasis is given to present-day worldwide species and their behaviors. Insect peculiarities are highlighted in boxes headlined "Did You Know?" and "Strange But True," sure to capture the attention of young readers. Especially dramatic is a four-page fold-out of two male hercules beetles locking horns in a fight for the female, and a full-sized photograph of a swarm of hungry locusts on the move in Africa. The magnified compound eyes of the horsefly and the martian-like heads of praying mantises stare with an alien presence that is eye-catching. The layout is teeming with features of note—young entomologists will not walk away hungry.