A mantis disguised as a flower! Beetles that smear themselves in poop! Insects may be small, but they have adapted to their environments in some extreme ways. Discover some of the most interesting and unusual adaptations that allow insects to survive in all types of habitats around the world.

Mimicry is an awesome, and sometimes slightly weird, adaptation that many animals have developed. In many instances, it's a lifesaver, encouraging possible predators to stay away. That's the case with some kinds of harmless moths. They really look like stinging insects such as wasps and hornets, and sometimes even sound like them, which is effective for scaring away enemies like birds. Young entomologists will learn so much more about the amazing world of insects in the intriguing text and photographs in this valuable volume, a wonderful addition to any science collection.

Do you love spiders? Did you know there's a spider that lives underwater but breathes air? Read this book to learn about the diving bell spider's amazing adaptations.

Termites are amazing builders. Some build mounds more than 15 feet above ground! How do they do that? These social insects live and work together in colonies. Each colony member has its own job. Discover how termites build their nests, communicate, and depend on one another to survive in their huge colonies.

Insects display a staggering diversity of behaviors. Studying these systems provides insights into a wide range of ecological, evolutionary, and behavioral questions including the genetics of behavior, phenotypic plasticity, chemical communication, and the evolution of life-history traits. This accessible text offers a new approach that provides the reader with the necessary theoretical and conceptual foundations, at different hierarchical levels, to understand insect behavior. The book is divided into three main sections: mechanisms, ecological and evolutionary consequences, and applied issues. The final section places the preceding chapters within a framework of current threats to human survival - climate change, disease, and food security - before providing suggestions and insights as to how we can utilize an understanding of insect behavior to control and/or ameliorate them. Each chapter provides a concise, authoritative review of the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological foundations of each topic.

"Explores various extreme fish adaptations throughout the world, including wrasses, anglerfish, and grunions"--

Beautifully illustrated throughout with color plates, photographs, and drawings, this volume is a comprehensive introduction to the natural history of the tropics worldwide. 59 color photos. 21 maps.