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DESERT BUGS You might expect the dry and barren landscape of the desert to be too hot for insects to survive. However, many of these amazing desert creatures have adapted to life under the sun. Why is the giant desert scorpion covered in hair Living in the desert regions of California and Arizona, the giant desert scorpion can grow up to 15 cm (6 in.). This hairy monster lurks under rocks in the heat of the day, using the brown hairs that cover its body to detect air and ground vibrations. The giant desert scorpion is able to detect vibrations Which insect is deadly to crops The desert locust. When young, the swarming species of desert locust form groups of around 20,000, and hop about on the sand looking for food. As they grow up and learn to fly they become even more dangerous to crops. Swarms of locusts will fly over the desert eating everything in their path, travelling up to 1,036 sq km (400 sq miles) per day. There could be as many as 80 billion insects swarming, capable of destroying 40,000 tonnes of plants in one day! What is the camel spider A cross between a spider and a scorpion, and growing up to 15 cm (6 in.) in length, the camel spider can run like the wind, with speeds of up to 16 kph (10 mph). This explains its other name of ‘wind scorpion’. Like scorpions, camel spiders hunt at night. They prey on scorpions, lizards, mice and even birds! through its body hair. A camel spider. Which desert bugs rarely drink Both scorpions and camel spiders are specially adapted to their arid environment and have a very low rate of water loss, taking all the liquid they need from their prey victims. They are nearly all nocturnal, spending their days shaded in burrows or under rocks, reserving their energy to A desert locust. hunt by night. 50
How else do insects find water to drink The darkling beetle, which lives in the extremely dry Namib Desert of Africa, gets moisture in a very clever way. Early each morning, it sets off up to the shady side of a dune, where it stands with its head pointing down the slope and its rear up in the air. As the morning mist clears, some of its moisture collects on the ridged back of the beetle until a drop forms. This drop then gently rolls down the length of the beetle towards its mouth, and it takes a drink! Scorpions performing a courtship dance. A darkling beetle.
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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 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 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: Which insect helps to turn over the
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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