Includes bibliographical references (page 23) and index.
Contents:
Caterpillar conquest -- Wicked wasps -- Laying the eggs -- A nasty exit -- Zombie guards -- What's going on? -- Infected! -- It's catching -- Using parasites.
Summary:
Birds, spiders, and other insects all like to eat caterpillars. But some kinds of caterpillars face a scarier threat: predators that take control of them! Readers learn all about parasites, specifically those that make zombies out of their caterpillar prey. Full-color photographs show these parasites in action, from the gross emergence of wasp larvae to the disgusting liquefaction of dead caterpillars by a nasty virus. Fascinating fact boxes engage readers with a host of details fit for a horror movieeven though they could happen right in your backyard!
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.