Mealworms: Raise them, watch them, see them change - Hardcover

Gr 2-4-Darkling beetle larvae, better known as mealworms, are commonly used to feed many types of animals kept in captivity. This introduction describes the insect's basic anatomy and life cycle; explains the process of metamorphosis; and gives step-by-step instructions for starting a mealworm farm, making an insect catcher, and conducting simple experiments. The clear, full-color drawings that appear on every page are accompanied by numbered instructions for activities and lists of necessary materials. Several large diagrams are also included. Colored inserts provide additional miscellaneous facts about mealworms and other insects. This title has an attractive format and a lucid, well-organized text. However, information on reproduction is limited and mating is never mentioned. Robert Gardner's Science Project Ideas about Animal Behavior (Enslow, 1997) includes similar information on the beetles' life cycle and also describes a number of simple experiments to test their reaction to stimuli, but it is aimed at an older audience. Despite its flaw, Mason's title will fill a gap in natural-history sections.-Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library

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