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Ladybugs love aphids. Aphids
are among the most common
plant pests.
Aphids damage plants by
feeding on them and by
carrying diseases from plant
to plant. One farmer's field
can host millions of aphids.
Draw the other half of this
ladybug.
Ladybugs sometimes roll over and play
dead if they are disturbed. Many predators
will not eat an insect that doesn't move.
Find the ladybug that is different.
The praying mantis is the only known
insect that can turn its head and look
over its shoulder. It waits for an insect to
stray close, and then snaps it up with a lightning
grab of its strong forelegs. It can move twice as
fast as a housefly.
When young, praying mantises eat aphids,
leafhoppers, mosquitoes, caterpillars
and other soft-bodied insects.
Later they eat larger insects,
beetles, grasshoppers, crickets
and other pest insects.
Nature
needs
insects.
All
bugs
are
part
of
the
ecological
balance.
When
people
grow
plants
for
food
or
decoration,
insects
often
eat
these
plants,
and
that
leads
people
to
think
of
insects
as
pests.
But,
not
all
bugs
are
pests.
Some
help
gardeners
and
farmers.
When
they
do
that,
people
call
them
"beneficial
insects."
These pirates are good guys. They don't hurt
plants, people or pets. They don't eat grain.
They eat insects that eat grain. Farmers put
them into grain bins to eat the insect pests. Then
they are easily removed before the grain is used.
How many pirate bugs can you find on this page?
Standards Link: Life Science: Understand that animals have
structures and behaviors that help in growth and survival.
Ah, bonjour! Welcome to Café des
Insectes. My name is Claude, and
I will be your waiter today.
Have a seat and use the code in this
menu to discover some delightful facts
about insect eating habits. Bon appetit!
A large praying
mantis can eat
a small
The female
praying mantis
will eat its
after
reproduction.
House spiders
can survive
without food or
water for several
Spiders first
paralyze their
insect victims and
then suck out the
www.kidscoop.com © Vicki Whiting June 2021
Official Kids Mag
