Zoobooks_-_February_2021

• Life on the wing
• Strange body parts
• Why we need them
• and so much more!

I nsects are the most successful Today, there are more than a million
creatures on earth. Their bodies and species of insects in the world. In terms of
behaviors have been adapted in numbers, no other group of animals even
different ways so that they can live almost comes close. There are only about 5,000
everywhere, eat almost any food, and species of mammals.
survive under almost any conditions.

Insects have been so remarkably As you can imagine, the variety of ways
successful because they are very efficient so many species do these things is almost
at finding food and mates, building endless. In this book, you will see some of
shelters, communicating with each other, the most fascinating things that insects do.
and sometimes even working together. And you will learn how they help to make
our world a better place to live.

Periodical Cicada

Burying Beetle

Many plants need bees and insects to carry pollen
from flower to flower. If there were no insects to do
this, there would be few flowering plants and no fruit.

When animals die, their
bodies lie on the ground.
If they weren’t removed,
they would just pile up.
Many insects help to keep
the world clean by eating
dead animals.

Mistle Thrush and Chicks

Honeybee

Y ou need insects more
than you probably realize.
Every day, in many ways,
insects are doing things that make your
life better. In fact, the whole world would be
different if there were no insects. And your
life would be different too.

If there were no insects, you would have
fewer foods to eat. There would be no fruit
and only a few vegetables. Many beautiful
things would disappear from the world.
Most birds would be gone, as would many
other animals. Few colorful flowers would
grow. Without insects, the world would be
dirtier, poorer, and more ugly.

On these pages, we show the world
resting on the back of an ant. In a way,
insects do hold up the world.

2

Every day, many trees
and plants die and fall to
the ground. If it weren’t
for insects, there would
be piles of dead wood
everywhere. Wood-boring
insects often eat dead
wood and drill holes in it.
This helps bacteria enter
the wood, which makes
the wood rot faster.
When the dead wood is
removed, there is space
for new trees to grow.

Beetle

Insects are an Northern Mole Cricket
important food supply
for many spiders,
reptiles, fish, birds,
and mammals. If there
were no insects to eat,
most of these animals
would die. And this
would cause a severe
food shortage for all
other animals and
people.

Plants can’t grow in soil that is too tightly packed, because
they can’t spread their roots. Many insects and other small
animals loosen the soil and make it possible for plants to
grow. One of the best diggers is the mole cricket.
If you look closely at its front legs, you’ll see that
they are built like little shovels.

3

I nsects eat almost everything. This is one reason for Flowers produce a
their great success. Most insects are plant eaters. In fact, liquid sugar called
there is an insect to eat practically every part of every
plant in the world. Many live in the soil, where they feed on nectar to attract
roots or decaying plant life. Some chew into stems and insects. When an insect
branches. Others eat leaves. And thousands of them eat
nectar from flowers. goes into a flower to
get the nectar, some
The larvae of insects usually eat more than the adults do.
Like children, their bodies are growing rapidly and they need pollen sticks to its
more food. Often the larvae eat different foods than the adults. body. Then the insect
For example, the larvae of some species prey on other insects,
but when they become adults they are plant eaters. carries the pollen to
other flowers.
Acorn Weevil

There are even insects that catch
fish! Some giant water bugs grow
to be four inches long and can catch
fish twice their size. They use their
powerful forelegs to grab their prey.

Many plants have developed defenses to keep insects Giant Water Bug
from eating their seeds. Some seeds have very hard
covers. But some insects have ways to break through
these covers. This weevil has a long, hard snout than can
cut right into the hard shell of an acorn.

The larvae of bark beetles have an
easy time finding food. They are
born sitting on top of an endless
supply of it. The female bark
beetle deposits her eggs right in
the bark of a tree. So when the

larvae hatch, they are surrounded
by wood. As with most insects,

the larvae eat huge amounts. But
strangely, most adult bark beetles

do not eat any wood at all.

Larva of Bark Beetle

Black-tailed Skimmer Dragonfly

Damselflies and dragonflies are expert
fliers, although damselflies fly more
slowly. They both catch mosquitoes,
midges, and small moths in midair.
With their enormous eyes, they
can spot their prey from almost
any angle. Each brings its six
bristly legs together like a trap
to catch prey. The physical
feature that distinguishes the
two is that dragonflies cannot
fold their wings together,
always looking like an
airplane in flight, but
damselflies can fold their
wings and look more graceful.

Beetle Giant Asian Mantis

Two of the most popular foods African Praying Mantis
for insects are stems and leaves.
Because insects concentrate on
different parts of plants, there
may be room for thousands of
them to feed on a single plant
at the same time. Some bite
and chew the edges of leaves.
Others devour the whole leaf.
Some insects, like those shown
here, pierce the plant and suck
out the liquid inside.

When the praying mantis 5
hunts, it looks as though
it is praying. And this is
how it got its name. The
mantis stands perfectly
still with its sharp forelegs
held together. It may
wait in this position for
hours until an insect
comes within reach. Then,
suddenly, it leaps forward
with lightning speed and
snares the insect.

Yellow Aphids

W onderful senses help insects to Isabella’s Tiger Butterfly
find food and mates, and to escape
from animals that would like to eat Some insects that eat nectar use their feet to taste it. They
them. Because the bodies of insects are so brush the bottom of their feet over the surface of a flower to
small, there isn’t much space for sense see if any nectar is there. If they find some, they start eating it
organs. For this reason, some sense organs immediately. As they eat, their feet continue to look for more.
may be located in strange places. And some How would you like to be able to taste sugar with your feet?
insects combine several senses in one organ.

For example, some parts of an insect’s
antennae may be used to hear. But other
parts may be used to touch, smell, or taste.
Some insects use the hairs on their legs and
feet to feel. But they may also use other hairs
in the same area to smell and taste. Hairs may
even sense such things as warmth, or
dampness, or how hard the wind is blowing!

Many insects have eyes that are much different from yours. Some flies can
Each of your eyes has a single lens that can see one image at do more than see with
a time. But the eyes of most insects can have thousands of their compound eyes.
lenses, and can see thousands of images at the same time. They can also use them to
This kind of eye is called a compound eye. feel. The tiny hairs between
Because each of the lenses in a compound the lenses of this eye
eye points in a slightly different direction, an
insect can see in many directions all at once! are feelers.

Cockchafer Beetle

Learn!

Eye of
Fruit Fly

This insect has thousands of hairs all over its body. Drone Fly or European Hoverfly
And it can use many of them to feel and smell.
Imagine what it would be like having thousands
of fingers and noses all over your body! To hear a
strange story about this beetle, go to rangerrick.
org/learnmore.

Katydids have their ears on their legs! It is important for Atlas Moth
them to hear well, because the females find their mates by
listening for the sounds that the males make. By changing Ants’ Nest Beetle
the positions of their legs, the katydids can listen for sounds Snout Moth

from any direction. Just
think, if you had ears
on your legs, you
could hear from
many different
directions
too.

Fork-tailed Bush Katydid The antennae of insects
have different shapes

because they are used for
different purposes. Many
moths have long, feathery
antennae to pick up smells

in the air. The spoon-
shaped antennae on the
beetle at right are used
for tracking ants. The ants
leave a scent trail as they
walk. And the antennae are
sensitive enough to smell it.

The long-horned beetle has some of the longest antennae of any
insect in the world. The antennae can be nearly three times longer
than the rest of its body. Some large species can reach body lengths
of several inches, not including their extra-long antennae!

Long-horned Beetle The long, fuzzy things on this moth’s head look 7
like antennae. But they’re not. They are tasters
called sensory palps. This moth brushes its palps
over plants to see if it can taste anything that
might be good to eat.

I nsects communicate in many different ways. They Female Silk
send signals that other insects can see, hear, smell, Moth
feel, or taste. Some of these signals are warnings
meant to keep other insects from attacking them. These Many female moths send out chemical
signals are easily recognized by other species. signals to attract a mate. When they
release even a tiny amount of their
But many messages are meant only for members of the “perfume” into the air, males will pick up
same species. They are sent in secret codes that outsiders the scent and come flying. See if you can
cannot understand. Insects send these secret messages follow the scent that this female
by tapping, flashing, stroking each other, releasing moth is sending out.
chemical odors, or even “singing and dancing.”
Honeybees
Most of these codes are used to locate a mate. But they use dances
may be used for a number of other purposes as well. For to tell other
example, they may alert other insects to approaching bees where
danger or tell them where to find food. nectar is

Male crickets “chirp” located.
to attract females.
They produce this A bee that finds nectar performs a dance
musical sound by
making the inside when she returns to the hive. The round
edges of their front dance (shown below) tells the other bees
wings vibrate. To do there is food within 110 yards. The dancing
this, they rub their bee runs around in a circle, then turns and
wings together, just repeats the dance in the
like a violin bow rubs opposite direction.
the strings.

Oak Bush Cricket

Periodical Cicada

A male cicada can make
the loudest sound of

any insect. It produces
the sound by vibrating

a pair of “drums”
located on the sides of
its abdomen. The shrill
“music” of one cicada
can be heard more than
a quarter of a mile away.

8

On summer
nights, you
often see fireflies
blinking on and off. The
males fly about and flash
their lights, while the females sit
waiting for them on leaves or branches.
A female knows whether or not a male is the
right species by the way he flashes. When she
sees the right kind of male, she answers back
by flashing her own signal. Then they continue
signaling to each other until they meet.

Bee

A bee gathers pollen. When it
returns to the hive, it carries
pollen in “baskets” on its back
legs, and the others taste it.
See if you can find the baskets
of pollen on this bee.

When the food is farther away, the honeybee Male Silk Moth

does a waggle dance. She runs in one direction Silk moth males have
a great sense of smell.
while waggling her body from side to side. Then
With their antennae,
she returns to her starting point and repeats the they can smell a tiny
amount of a female’s
waggle. The direction of the perfume from several

waggling line tells the other miles away!

bees what direction to fly.

And they know how far to fly

by how rapidly she waggles

and the number of waggles

she makes. Watch!

Social insects are different from other insects Big-headed Subterranean Termites
because they live together in groups that can
be very large. These groups are called The members of termite colonies have different bodies
colonies, and they may contain thousands and for different jobs. The large termites above with the
thousands of insects. Termites and ants, as well as huge heads are soldiers. They are big and powerful,
some bees and a few wasps, live in large colonies. so they can defend the colony. The smaller termites
are workers. There are more workers in a colony than
All social insects have at least three things in anything else. They gather food, build and repair the
common. The adults cooperate in caring for the nest, and tend the eggs. Some termites have wings
young. Different members of the group are and can fly. A few of these may become queens.
responsible for different jobs. And in each group
there is at least one queen.

A queen produces all the young, and she may live
many times longer than the other members of the
group. She also sends chemical messages that may
control the actions of the others. Her messages are
passed from one member to the next throughout
the colony.

Some soldier termites Formica Ants
have huge jaws that they
can use for crushing
intruders. By smelling
other insects, they can
tell whether or not they
are strangers. If they are,
the soldiers immediately
attack them.

Soldier Termite and Intruder

Army Ants

Social insects are highly Some ants are “farmers.” They raise “herds” of
organized for finding aphids and “milk” them for honeydew.
food. Army ants probably The ants protect their herds from predators.
have the most complex And they get aphids to release the honeydew
organization of all. They march by stroking them with their antennae.
in huge troops, sometimes
over a million strong. Traveling
at incredible speeds, they devour
whatever lies in their path.

10

Honeybee colonies are different from those Honeybee
Queen
of termites and ants. Worker bees do all the
different jobs that need to be done. In its short 2
life, every worker progresses from one job to
another job. It starts as a house cleaner and ends It takes 21 days for the larva to
as a food gatherer. In this box, we show the become an adult. Then it emerges
major stages in the life of a worker bee. from its cell, ready to go to work.

There can only be one queen bee in a hive. She 4
is fed and cleaned by the workers, so that she
can spend all of her time laying eggs. The
workers make pollen into a special royal jelly,
which they feed to the queen. This helps her
lay up to 2,000 eggs per day.

1

Every worker bee is born from
an egg laid by the queen. She
deposits one small egg in each
perfectly shaped cell of the
honeycomb. Three days later, a
larva hatches. When the larva
is ready to begin changing into
an adult, its cell is sealed shut
with white wax, like the one
shown at left.

3

When a worker bee
comes out of its cell, it

spends the first three
days of adult life as a
“house cleaner.” Then it

becomes a nurse,
feeding and caring for

the larvae.

5

Worker bees have short lives. In summer they only After spending about one week as
live four to five weeks. For the last few weeks, they a nurse, the worker takes on new
spend their time searching for nectar and pollen. jobs. It may build new honeycombs
Most of the food that they find is brought back to or become a soldier to guard the
the hive and given to the nurses for storage. entrance of the hive. Like soldier
termites, the bees identify
intruders by their smell
and attack them.

Ha ha!

I nsects build a great variety of Many adult insects protect their eggs with
structures for many reasons. These special structures. And often, larvae will
may be very simple, or very complex. construct their own shelters to keep them
Some of them build little “houses” that safe while they develop into adults.
are barely large enough for themselves or
their young. But social insects often build Pupa of Ulysses Butterfly
elaborate “cities” that may hold hundreds
of thousands of insects.

Froghopper or Spittlebug

The spittlebug The larvae of some moths and butterflies
builds a house spin beautiful silk cocoons. A cocoon gives
of bubbles! It protection to the young insect while it is
blows the bubbles from plant juices. Some spittlebugs developing into an adult. The cocoon shown
surround themselves with masses of bubbles many times here somewhat resembles a crescent roll. It
larger than they are. This helps protect them because hangs from a single strand of silk.
predators usually don’t look for food in a big pile of bubbles.
A Caddisfly larva makes a suit of armor to live
A female potter wasp makes in—underwater. It builds a tough, protective tube
a little clay pot for a nest. She out of twigs, leaves, shells, and anything else it
uses her front legs to make little can find. It may take a year or two before the
balls of clay. Then she puts them caddisfly changes into an adult. The whole time
together to build a pot. Once she it’s in the larval stage, it drags its protective case
lays her egg inside the around with it as it continues to eat.
pot, she makes a
cover and
closes it.

Caddisfly Larva

Potter Wasp

12

Green Lacewing Eggs of Lacewing

Inside a Termite Mound Many insects use plants to shelter their
eggs. The lacewing uses a leaf as a roof
These tropical ants use silk in a over its eggs. It hangs rows of long rods
different way. To make a nest, from the leaf and then lays its eggs on the
they pull leaves together and ends of the rods, as shown above.
fasten them with silk. Often, the
ants must build living bridges to Termite Mound
reach from one leaf to another.

Weaver Ants Some termites live in skyscrapers.
They build mounds that sometimes
reach more than 40 feet high. To do
this, they stick billions of grains of
sand together with their saliva. Inside
one of these mounds, there may be
hundreds of miles of tunnels.

13

People and insects have been fighting each Most of the time, people try to control insects
other for centuries. We have been battling with by spraying poisons called insecticides in huge
some insects because they eat food that we quantities. This not only kills destructive insects,
want to eat. And we want to get rid of others because but helpful insects as well. And it may end up
they carry diseases. But no matter how hard we fight harming people too. In most cases, chemicals
them, we don’t seem able to win. In fact, destructive are not the best way to control insects.
insects are a bigger problem for people today than
they have ever been before.

Often the methods we use to control insects don’t
work. And some of the chemicals we use may even be
dangerous to people. But scientists have been trying
to find better ways to control insects. If these methods
are successful, the way we look at insects may change
in the future. Instead of competing with us for food,
some insects may help us to have more food.

Insects are a problem for people because
they eat the crops that we grow. Actually,
only a small number of insect species do this,
but the number of insects in each of these
species can be enormous. The leaves at right
were eaten by caterpillars. If there were only
a few caterpillars eating a few leaves, the
damage would be small. But when millions of

them eat leaves, it can be a disaster.

Boll Weevil

People have caused many of the problems that we have
with insects by planting huge fields of crops. This is the
cheapest way to raise food and other crops. But it also
concentrates great numbers of plants in one place and
draws insects by the millions. For example, when people
plant huge fields of cotton, this is an invitation to millions
14 of boll weevils to come to a feast.

Ladybug Chalcid Wasp

Sometimes
there are better
solutions to the
insect problem than

insecticides.

Wasp Cocoons on Tomato Hornworm

Scientists are finding ways to use
some insects to destroy other
insects that damage our crops.

For example, ladybugs like to eat
aphids and scale insects. We can

breed ladybugs and use them
to control these pests. Robber

flies prey on a wide variety of
destructive insects. And the larvae

of Chalcid wasps can be used to
destroy caterpillars, as shown at
right. The adult wasp lays its eggs
on a caterpillar, and as the larvae

grow, they eat the caterpillar.

Robber flies are often Beekeeper with Beehive
killed by insecticides.
When we don’t spray, the
flies can help us to control
other insects naturally.

Insects are high in protein. For thousands of years, some insects have
been providing food and other useful products
For this reason, they are to people. For example, the caterpillars of silk
already used for food in moths have been making silk. And bees have
some parts of the world. been giving us honey. Today, we are learning
In the future, as the world how to get more useful things from insects.
population continues to For instance, farmers are finding new ways to
grow, it will get harder and use bees and other insects to help pollinate
harder to feed everybody. their plants. And some scientists
And insects may become a think that insects may be a source
vital food source for us all. for new chemicals and medicines.
For example, insects may
be made into flour and Silk Moth
used to make bread. Caterpillar

15

Photographic Credits Heather Angel (Natural Visions); Middle, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Lower Left, Royalty Free (Alamy
Images); Bottom Middle, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Lower Right, Royalty Free (Alamy Images);
Front Cover: Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Inside Front Cover and Page One: Royalty Free (Alamy Page Fourteen: Top, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Middle, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Bottom Left,
Images); Page Two: Top Left, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Top Right, Stephen Dalton (Science Dan Guravich (Science Source); Bottom Middle, Norm Thomas (Science Source); Lower Right, Royalty
Source); Bottom Right, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Page Three: Top, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Free (Getty Images); Page Fifteen: Top Middle, Royalty Free (Corbis); Top Right, David Phillips (Sci-
Bottom, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Page Four: Top Right, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Middle ence Source); Upper Middle, Phil Degginger (Color-Pic); Middle Left, Royalty Free (Alamy Images);
Left, Ray Simons (Science Source); Right, Gregory K. Scott (Science Source); Bottom Left, Royalty Free Middle Right, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Bottom, Maryann Frazier (Science Source); Page Sixteen:
(Alamy Images); Page Five: Top, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Bottom Left, Phil Degginger (Color-Pic); Royalty Free (Corbis); Back Cover: Phil Degginger (Color-Pic).
Middle Right, Francesco Tomasinelli (Natural Visions); Bottom Right, Royalty Free (Alamy Images);
Page Six: Top, Adam Jones (Science Source); Bottom Left, Stephen Dalton (Science Source); Bottom Art Credits
Middle, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Bottom Right, Manfred Kage (Peter Arnold, Inc); Page Seven: All paintings by Walter Stuart.
Top Left, Bill Johnson; Top Right, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Middle Right, Kjell Sandved (Science
Source); Bottom Left, Ed Degginger (Color-Pic); Bottom Right, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Page February 2021 Volume Thirty-eight Number Four Ranger Rick Zoobooks (ISSN 0727-9005) is published
Eight: Top, Phil Degginger (Color-Pic); Middle, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Bottom, Scott Camazine nine times a year by the National Wildlife Federation, a nonprofit corporation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive,
(Science Source); Page Nine: Middle, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Bottom, Phil Degginger (Color- Reston, VA 20190. Periodicals postage paid at Herndon, VA, and additional mailing offices.
Pic); Page Ten: Top, David M. Schlesser (Science Source); Middle Left, Alan Root (Science Source);
Bottom Left, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Bottom Right, Michael Ederegger (Peter Arnold, Inc.); TO SUBSCRIBE: Rates are $29.95 per year (9 issues). Add $15 for Canada and all other foreign
Page Eleven: Top, Stephen Dalton (Science Source); Middle Left, Stephen Dalton (Science Source); countries. Send payment to Ranger Rick Zoobooks, P.O. Box 3057, Harlan, IA 51593.
Middle, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Middle Right, Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Bottom Left, POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Ranger Rick Zoobooks, P.O. Box 3057, Harlan, IA 51593.
Royalty Free (Alamy Images); Bottom Right, Hans PfletSchinger (Peter Arnold, Inc.); Page Twelve:
Top Left, Heather Angel (Natural Visions); Top Right, Michael McCoy (Science Source); Bottom Left,
Hans Pfletschinger (Peter Arnold, Inc.); Middle, V.E. Ward (Science Source); Bottom Right, Heather
Angel (Natural Visions); Page Thirteen: Background, John Brackenbury (Science Source); Top Right,

Leaf-cutting Ants

Spreading the news that animals need our help is something you

can do. One way you can get the word out is by sharing your
drawings, poems, and stories!

Zooworks ®
Charlotte Guzik, age 8

Madeleine Ha, age 7 Makenna Sofia Favia, age 6
Gia Favia, age 9 Lindsey, Carmel
age 5 Newman,
age 9
Isabella Tiger Moth
Northern Mole Cricket
Snake Fly
Earwig
Carpenter Ant
Termite

Ethan Gedamu, age 8

Kaden Sheira, Candice Reynolds, age 7 Selway Jose Eldredge, age 7
age 11

Look for Would you like to see your
Activity Pages Online! work published in

Visit Rangerrick.org and click on . Ranger Rick Zoobooks?

That’s where you’ll find fun activities Here’s what to do: Go to
to print or download. www.rangerrick.org/
zooworks for rules
Tell us what Plus you’ll find: and deadlines.
you thought of • Interactive games
• 50 pictures, poems and stories from kids like you We want to see your
this book! original poem, story, or
• Animal videos drawing by March 24, 2021
for “Young Animals”

© 2021, The National Wildlife Federation®

Explore the habits and habitats of animals
around the world with other titles in the
Ranger Rick Zoobooks series:

Alligators & Crocodiles Endangered Animals Penguins

Animal All-stars Giraffes Polar Bears

Animal Babies Gorillas Rattlesnakes

Animal Champions Hippos Rhinos

Animal Wonders Hummingbirds Sea Otters

Apes Insects Seabirds

ON THE COVER: Bats Insect World Seals, Sea Lions
A White-legged Damselfly Bears Kangaroos & Walruses
Big Cats Koalas & Other
The strange-looking compound eyes Birds of Prey Sharing the World
of a damselfly, along with their powerful Butterflies Australian Animals with Animals
Camels Lions
wings, make them effective hunters Cheetahs Little Cats Sharks
of smaller insects. Chimpanzees Nocturnal Animals Snakes
City Animals Old World Monkeys Spiders
Created and Written by Deer, Moose & Elk Orangutans Tigers
John Bonnett Wexo Dinosaurs Ostriches Turtles
Dolphins & Porpoises Otters, Skunks & Whales
Original Scientific Consultants Ducks, Geese & Swans Wild Dogs
Eagles Their Relatives Wild Horses
Thomas Eisner, Ph.D. Elephants Owls Wolves
Schurmann Professor of Biology Pandas Young Animals
Parrots Zebras
Cornell University
For more from The National Wildlife Federation
Edward J. Maruska please visit our website
Director Emeritus
rangerrick.org
Cincinnati Zoological Gardens
EXPLORE With a
Ronald E. Monroe, Ph.D. Ranger Rick
Department of Zoology Even More! newsletter, part
of a Ranger Rick
San Diego State University membership.

Chief Innovation & Research Consultant Subscribers can sign up for the FREE digital
Growth Officer Peter Gilson newsletter at rangerrick.org/enewsletter-sign-up
Dawn Rodney and discover:
Social Media
Sales Manager Manager • Best wildlife sites on the web
Kurt Von Hertsenberg
Kate Golembiewski • Animal jokes, puzzles, games, activities
Editorial Director
Renee C. Burch • Wildlife and zoo news

Art Director • Animal cams
Shawn Biner
• Green tips,
save-the-animals
sites and causes

Want to tell Ranger Rick a story or
joke or ask him a question? Visit
rangerrick.org/submit-a-video.

Published by The National Wildlife Federation® The National Wildlife Federation ISBN 978-0-937934-71-5
11100 Wildlife Center Drive
© 2021 The National Wildlife Federation®. All rights reserved. Reston, VA 20190
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in rangerrick.org
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Activities February 2021

Zooworks ® Charlotte Guzik, age 8

Madeleine Ha, age 7 Makenna Sofia Favia, age 6
Gia Favia, age 9 Lindsey, Carmel
age 5 Newman,
age 9
Isabella Tiger Moth
Northern Mole Cricket
Snake Fly
Earwig
Carpenter Ant
Termite

Ethan Gedamu, age 8

Kaden Sheira, Candice Reynolds, age 7 Selway Jose Eldredge, age 7
age 11

raGnogteorrick.org Look for Would you like to see your
Activity Pages Online! work published in
for
even more Visit Rangerrick.org and click on . Ranger Rick Zoobooks?

fun! That’s where you’ll find fun activities Here’s what to do: Go to
to print or download. www.rangerrick.org/
zooworks for rules
Plus you’ll find: and deadlines.
• Interactive games
• 50 pictures, poems and stories from kids like you We want to see your
original poem, story, or
• Animal videos drawing by March 24, 2021
for “Young Animals”

© 2021, The National Wildlife Federation®

These Bingo cards name or picture types of insects
found in this book. Your challenge is to find the page
on which each insect appears in the book and write
that number over the correct Bingo square.

The first person to cover all the squares on his or
her card wins. If playing on your own, time yourself
and score as follows:

15 minutes = good
10 minutes = excellent

5 minutes = expert

aphids cricket

termite cicada butterfly cricket

lacewing

weevil

water FREE burying cicada katydid
bug beetle

praying butterfly weevil bbuereytilneg FREE moth
mantis

moth katydid aphids wbautger pmraanyitnisg
termite
lacewing

Did you know that some people See how many words you can
make a living studying insects? make from the letters in the word
These insect-loving scientists are entomologist. Score double
entomologists. We think points for each insect word you
entomologists are pretty busy list. Hint: look for ideas and clues
people. If you turn to the inside on the pages in this book.
front cover of this book, you can
learn how many insects there are Example: MOLE, which is made
in the world for entomologists from the fifth, fourth, seventh,
to study. and first letters in the word
entomologist.
b

Many people get these two beautiful

insects mixed up. One is a butterfly

and one is a moth. Can you

tell which is which? Hint:

One of the biggest

differences between

the two is that the

butterfly has antennae

that are thin with knobs

on the ends. The moth

has feathery, pointed

antennae.

Be imaginative as you color these two
insects. Then learn about the cocoons
and chrysalises of these beautiful
insects on page 12.

Answers:The smaller insect, which is lower on the page, is a moth. The larger
insect is a butterfly. Notice how different the antennae of these insects are.
Another difference between these two types of insects is that butterflies rest with
their wings held straight over their backs, while moths hold their wings out flat.

NATURE NOTEBOOKOwwTbhhhaseeetnreryvloayetuoeiunsrsesfieetnca.dtrDstirtnya.oewYuaorrpuyoicocwtauunnrreohbsfoefiomgcfiieanw.lyhWnoaaurttiurtyeroneounntofieotnsetdeshbeaaorbneodo.ku.t Try this!

IfMlsoaywwaeurasntbinlasoackuidraigtnadirsodareanmn. goIetnabfrluecthwtebrufftlrytoemrwflfaylo.lkwinegrotnotfhloewer.

1. Press your thumb in an ink pad. Then make
a print on paper.

2. When it dries, add details with felt pen to
make your favorite insects.

If you don’t have an ink pad, color your
thumb with a felt pen or dip your
thumb in poster paint.

c

Each missing word relates to social insects. Write
each word in its place. Then read the highlighted
word to find the name of the class to which all
insects belong. For help, turn to pages 10 and 11.

type of messages sent by an insect queen
a large group of insects
this insect takes care of the larvae
home for a bee colony
worker bees search for this
where most bee food is put
an insect queen sends these to control
the actions of other insects

Answers: firefly, honeybee queen, dragonfly.+ = f r u i t f l y___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ npaumzCttzheahlesenisssaey?bnopoEuinioacsscktoehu. clrvoteenine
Answers: 1. chemical, 2. colony, 3. nurse, 4. hive, 5. nectar, 6. storage, 7. messages, key word: Insecta (Latin for insect).(See page 6.)

+ – =butter ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

(See page 9.)

Now make your own picture puzzles for some of the insects in this book. See if your friends and family
can solve your puzzles.

There is only one of these in a hive (see page 11).

+ + = ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___
This expert flier on page 5 can catch its prey in midair.

+=
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

d Credits: Created and Designed by Carol Prime; Additional Design and Production by Shawn Biner