Insectigations : 40 hands-on activities to explore the insect world

145 Pages·2005·3.716 MB·English

by  Blobaum, Cindy

Insectigations
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Cindy Blobaum
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
5 4 3 2 1
For Jacob, my bug-boy

Contents
Acknowledgments vii 3 6 8
Introduction ix Metamorphic Magic 33 Finders 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 WaterWe 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
Teacher’s Guide 127
Rigged Ratios 22 Keepers 89
Twist-an-Insect 5 Temporary Terrarium 91 Bibliography 129
(Game Dice) 27 Can We Talk? 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

Acknowledgments
I
unknowingly started research More recently,Drake University let me and my children perform this effort has meant to me.Cre-
for this book when I became a granted me access to its insect final tests of experiments and ating a book is a team effort,and
naturalist and began teaching collection,Keith Wonder of activities in and around their 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

Introduction
O
n September 9,1945,Dr. trapped between points at Relay both been bothered by and ben- honey,and shellac;as pets;and to
Grace Hopper was putting # 70,Panel F.She removed the efited from insects.Every year, sell to gardeners,farmers,wed-
the Mark II computer at moth,carefully taped it into the millions of dollars in crops are 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
er
ent have been used as stitches in sur- test the usefulness of an insect
C
cal gery.Fly and beetle larvae help exoskeleton,compete against
ori
Hist investigators solve crimes.Fruit insects in Olympic-style compe-
al
av flies are used in genetic research. titions,create a buzzing bug,and
N
U.S. 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