desert bugs - Top That! Publishing

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How do water beetles escape predators One type of water beetle, the camphor beetle, uses its legs to ski on the water’s surface. To escape from predators, it shoots a chemical from its back legs that reduces the water surface tension. This means that the tension on its front legs pulls it forwards. It zooms out of trouble on its front feet, which are held out like skis, and steers itself by flexing its abdomen. This tiny beetle is the size of a rice grain, but can travel nearly a metre per second. Another water beetle, the whirligig, dives into water to avoid predators, breathing from a bubble of air trapped in its rear end. How does a locust jump A locust ready to jump. A locust using its wing to fly. A locust ready to lift off is an impressive sight. First, it keeps its hind legs folded ready to jump. Then the leg muscles straighten out, launching the insect into the 30 FACT FILE Giant crane flies (daddy-longlegs) have breakaway legs that enable them to fly off if caught. The predator is left with a spindly leg, and the crane fly can survive with five of its six legs. A locust beginning to land. air. High in the air, the locust uses its wings to fly forwards, before spreading its legs wide to ensure a safe landing.
STAYING ALIVE It’s a jungle out there – particularly for insects struggling to survive without being eaten by predators! Insects have developed cunning means of selfdefence, and some even re-grow injured legs or antennae. A male stag beetle defeats a rival.
Page 3 and 4: Copyright © 2010 Top That! Publish
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 and 24: BUSY BODIES There are over 19,000 k
Page 25 and 26: ANT-TASTIC Ants and termites are kn
Page 27 and 28: What does a queen ant do The queen
Page 29 and 30: Which beetle has the most disgustin
Page 31: Do insects use their legs in self-d
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

desert bugs - Top That! Publishing

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