Winter 2001
This issue of Puddler focuses on group life among animals. Whether it's temporary or long-term, gathering in groups offers many advantages. One especially dramatic example is colony life inside a beehive, which is explored in More About. The magazine also continues a series that encourages children to look more closely at nature's “small spaces” (such as the space inside a typical home featured this time around); these “mini habitats” often harbor surprising amounts of life.

 

Special Feature: “Bunches of Beasts”
Animals group together for different reasons, at different times. Some animals are members of a group their entire lives. Others may only get together for a few hours. Being part of a group has several advantages, from extra food and safety to hooking up with mates. From insects to mammals, all classes of animals have examples of group behavior.

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More About...“Life Inside a Beehive”
Social insects are those that live their entire lives together. One dramatic example is a honeybee colony. Tens of thousands of honeybees live together inside a single hive. Each bee has a specific role, which it knows from the time it is born. Workers clean and protect the hive, care for eggs and larvae, and gather food. Drones mate with the queen, so she can lay eggs. All bees work for the well-being of the hive and its queen.

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K-3 activity

4-6 activity

Young Naturalist: “A Closer Look: Inside Your Home”
While many people enjoy seeing large animals in places like lakes and fields, smaller habitats can hide a surprising amount of life on a smaller scale. Even a person's home shelters many creatures, from pets to pests. Whether you're indoors or out, watch for more subtle signs of life—such as the creatures shown in this issue—which might otherwise be overlooked.

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