How Not to Be Eaten

February 6, 2012
In his newest (after Fireflies, Honey, and Silk), Waldbauer delves into the nitty-gritty survival techniques of Nature's less-cuddly creatures. He introduces readers to the basics of insect life in language for the layman, describing the myriad ways in which insects have evolved to evade predators, whether by way of disguises, mimicry, or "Hiding in Plain Sight." Waldbauer presents other intriguing bug survival tactics that seem almost unbelievable: a "species of bombardier beetle⦠a noxious spray at the temperature of boiling waterâ¦from the tip of its abdomen directly in the toad's mouth." Interestingâand occasionally disturbingâinformation is given about what are all-too-often household pests: the familiar "American cockroach...can tell light from dark even if the eyes on their heads have been covered with black paint." Though Waldbauer writes about critters many readers would rather ignore, he deftly crafts a pleasurable and fascinating page-turner. But despite the fact that the collective weight of Earth's insects is greater than that of "all the other animalsâ¦combined," Waldbauer assures us that the earth will not be overrun by the crafty bugs of this book, for the predators have evolved too, and those that can read know that to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Illus.

February 1, 2012
Most insects live very short lives. Much of their time is spent as larva, leaving only days or even just hours as adults, during which they need to locate mates, breed, and lay eggs. Most fail to propagate, however, eaten by hungry birds, reptiles, mammals, or even other insects. With a multitude of enemies, only insects with strong survival skills leave descendants, ensuring that there will be succeeding generations of both insects and the creatures that rely on them as food. Their success is essential, as plant-eating insects are the foundation of the food chain. In this report, entomologist Waldbauer, explaining that enough insects do live to continue life as we know it, describes the strategies of concealment, quick retreat, camouflage, mimicry, and biochemical attack that allow a few insects from the multitudes to survive uneaten. Although aimed at general natural-history readers and amateur entomologists, birders will also be interested in the text, much of which details insect-bird encounters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)