John Wood - Parasites in Our World

Published in 2020 by KidHaven Publishing, an Imprint ofGreenhaven Publishing, LLC 353 3rd Avenue Suite 255 New York, NY 10010 2020 Booklife Publishing This edition is published by arrangement with Booklife Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer. Edited by: Kirsty Holmes Designed by: Amy Li Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Wood, John. Title: Parasites in our world / John Wood. Description: New York: KidHaven Publishing, 2020. | Series: Under the microscope | Includes glossary and index.

Identifiers: ISBN 9781534533219 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781534533233 (library bound) | ISBN 9781534533226 (6 pack) | ISBN 9781534533240 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Parasites--Juvenile literature. Classification: LCC QL757.W663 2020 | DDC 591.65--dc23 Printed in the United States of America CPSIA compliance information: Batch #BW20KL: For further information contact Greenhaven Publishing LLC, New York, New York at 1-844-317-7404. Please visit our website, www.greenhavenpublishing.com. For a free color catalog of all our high-quality books, call toll free 1-844-317-7404 or fax 1-844-317-7405. PHOTO CREDITS All images courtesy of Shutterstock. With thanks to Getty Images, Thinkstock Photo, and iStockphoto.

Front Cover Carlos E. Santa Maria, givaga, Henri Koskinen, Arkadiusz Wos, 3drenderings, Khomulo Anna, logistick, Master Images logistock (fleas), givaga, FabrikaSimf (title and label masking tape), andy0man (paper texture), photowind, science_photo, Cosmin Manci. CONTENTS Words that look like THIS can be found in the glossary on page 24. WHAT IS A PARASITE? A parasite is a creature that lives on or inside another creature. The creature that a parasite lives on is called the host. WHAT IS A MICROSCOPE? Microscopes are used to see very small things that cant be seen with just our eyes. WHAT IS A MICROSCOPE? Microscopes are used to see very small things that cant be seen with just our eyes.

There is a whole world of living things that would be to us without a microscope. use very powerful microscopes, like the one in this picture. THE VARROA MITE The varroa mite is a parasite that attacks bees. They grab on to the bees and suck their blood. If beekeepers dont get rid of the mites, the whole colony might not survive. Baby bees are called a bee brood.

Some varroa mites attack the bee brood. This can cause problems when the brood grows up. The bees might be missing wings or legs. LET'S TURN THE PAGE AND LOOK UNDER THE MICROSCOPE! Their special shape helps them fit neatly onto the bee. This makes it harder for the bee to get rid of the mite while cleaning itself. THE MITES LAY THEIR EGGS IN THE , ALONG WITH THE BEE BROOD.

HEAD LICE You might have heard of head lice. They make your head really itchy. People get rid of them by using special shampoos or combs, or by cutting their hair. Head lice are spread by touching heads with someone who already has lice. Head lice dont care if hair is clean or dirty they will live on anyone. HEAD LICE LAY THEIR EGGS IN THE HAIR, NEAR THE .

LET'S TURN THE PAGE AND LOOK UNDER THE MICROSCOPE! Having head lice is not dangerous, but it is uncomfortable. This is because they are sucking a tiny bit of blood while sitting on a persons head. This doesnt hurt but it itches! SPINY-HEADED WORM There are many parasites that look like worms. Worm parasites are sometimes found in the hosts poop. This is usually how they travel to a new host. The spiny-headed worm is often found inside insects when it is young.

When it grows into an adult, it usually lives inside fish, birds, or other animals. LET'S TURN THE PAGE AND LOOK UNDER THE MICROSCOPE! FOOD THROUGH THEIR BODIES. FLEAS Dogs, cats, and other pets often get a type of parasite called a flea. However, fleas can live on all sorts of animals, even humans. in the past. LET'S TURN THE PAGE AND LOOK UNDER THE MICROSCOPE! Fleas have strong legs, which let them jump a long way.

Fleas can jump distances of up to 200 times their body length. Fleas usually live for a few months. However, they can live for a year and a half if they have everything they need. NOW YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT THE TINY, INVISIBLE WORLD OF PARASITES. WHAT OTHER THINGS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE? GLOSSARY ABSORB to take in or soak up DISEASES sicknesses that cause symptoms in the body HONEYCOMB something made out of wax, with lots of hexagonal-shaped holes where bees store honey and their young INVISIBLE cannot be seen NUTRIENTS natural things that plants and animals need to grow and stay healthy SCALP the skin on top of the head, usually covered with hair SCIENTISTS people who study and know a lot about science INDEX ANIMALS BEES BLOOD CLAWS EGGS FOOD HOST JUMP LEGS SPIKES SPREAD