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Why do bees and wasps sting 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 feel threatened. 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. How can I avoid being stung 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 you’d like, just walk away calmly. If you wave your arms about and start to panic, you’ll probably just convince it that you really are a threat. 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 don’t tend to bother people, 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. 22 What do wasps eat Yellow and black warn that this insect stings! 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 juices from the still-living, but paralysed, spider! Wasps love the sweet taste of fruit.
ANT-TASTIC Ants 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 is called 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. FACT FILE Termites not only like to eat wood, but enjoy chewing on books, carpets, furniture, window frames and flooring. In some countries, termite damage in a house is a bigger threat than tornado, fire, lightning or even a hurricane! An ant’s powerful mandibles can cut up its food. 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 – that’s the same as seven tall people standing on top of one another! A cross section of a termite nest. 23
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Page 5 and 6: Now You See Me Pages 34-36 Rainfore
Page 7 and 8: There are millions of species of in
Page 9 and 10: WHAT’S BUGGING YOU? Bedbugs, assa
Page 11 and 12: Are bugs able to live under water a
Page 13 and 14: Male stag beetles take to the air o
Page 15 and 16: EYE SPY DRAGONFLY Dragonflies are o
Page 17 and 18: How fast can dragonflies actually f
Page 19 and 20: All the members of the Orthoptera f
Page 21 and 22: FLUTTERBY BUTTERFLY Butterflies and
Page 23: BUSY BODIES There are over 19,000 k
Page 27 and 28: What does a queen ant do The queen
Page 29 and 30: Which beetle has the most disgustin
Page 31 and 32: Do insects use their legs in self-d
Page 33 and 34: STAYING ALIVE It’s a jungle out t
Page 35 and 36: Do butterflies, moths and caterpill
Page 37 and 38: What is a leaf butterfly This amazi
Page 39 and 40: UP, UP AND AWAY The way in which in
Page 41 and 42: Why are moths attracted to light No
Page 43 and 44: Why does scent matter The insect wo
Page 45 and 46: Do killer bees really exist African
Page 47 and 48: Which rainforest insect tucks itsel
Page 49 and 50: Which water insect lives at the bot
Page 51 and 52: Which insect helps to turn over the
Page 53 and 54: How else do insects find water to d
Page 55 and 56: Ponds and swamps provide excellent
Page 57 and 58: DESERT BUGS You might expect the dr
Page 60 and 61: THE EYES HAVE IT To make up for the
Page 62 and 63: How does a caterpillar see its food
Page 64 and 65: GLOSSARY Honeycomb A waxy structure
Page 66 and 67: INDEX African honeybee 43 African s

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