Insect Wars (First Books--Animals) [Library Binding]

Sara Van Dyck (Author), Sara Dyck (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: First Books--Animals

Discusses several types of beneficial insects and how they are being raised by insectaries and purchased by farmers, theme park operators, and restaurant owners to protect food crops and decorative vegetation.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5. The focus here is on beneficial insects?natural enemies of such crop-damaging pests as aphids, mites, caterpillars, beetles, etc. The text discusses the two categories of beneficials (predators and parasites) and describes some physical characteristics, feeding techniques, and prey of about a dozen representatives. Included are the ladybug, green lacewing, ichneumon wasp, tachinid fly, etc. The text also gives a brief historical survey of the agricultural industry's use of biological controls; outlines the operation of an insectary (a commercial supplier of beneficial insects); and offers some tips on observing insect behavior. Clear, color photographs accompany the text on about every other page; most are close-ups of the arthropods discussed. While most of the text in this well-organized introduction is clearly written, there are a couple of exceptions. For instance, although most of the scientific terms are defined in the text, the term "larva," or "larvae," is only defined in the glossary. Readers unfamiliar with the process of metamorphosis are likely to be confused. The text states, "Although they are lovely, butterflies and moths hatch from larvae." This is inaccurate. Caterpillars (larva) hatch from eggs and must undergo another stage of development, the pupal stage before emerging as adults. These errors, however, are minor flaws in an otherwise clear and straightforward text that will help fill a gap in the area of biological pest controls.?Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

[SERIES LAST REVIEWED IN BKL Ja 1 & 15 97, under Rauzon, Mark J. Gr. 4^-6.]

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 64 pages
• Publisher: Franklin Watts (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531202615
• ISBN-13: 978-0531202616
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,547,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.