Wicked Bugs: The Meanest, Deadliest, Grossest Bugs on Earth. Young Readers Edition [Paperback]

Chapel Hill: Algonquin Young Readers, 2017. Trade paperback. New. A Junior Library Guild Selection! Adapted from Amy Stewart's original New York Times bestseller, the young readers edition of Wicked Bugs is a creepy-cool guide to the worst of the worst insects, arachnids, and arthropods. Illustrated by Briony Morrow-Cribbs.

Reading age: 8 to 12 years; Lexile measure: 1210L; Grade level: 3 to 7. 192 pages.

Do you know about zombie bugs? They not only eat other bugs, but also inhabit and control their bodies. Scorpions glow in ultraviolet light. Flea vomit is the true culprit in a plague epidemic. And lots and lots of bugs dine on corpses.

More bugs to know-and watch out for:

Asian Giant Hornet: The size of a small bird with a sting that feels like a hot nail

Giant Centipede: Up to twelve inches long, it hangs from cave ceilings to catch bats in midair

Bombardier Beetle: Fires a hot, stinging liquid at a speed up to 1000 blasts per second

Puss Caterpillar: It may look like a tiny Persian cat, but its sting hits like a hammer

Chigoe Flea: Check under your toenails-where they may burrow to lay their eggs

Screw-worm Fly: Scientific name: "eater of man". As new paperback. Signed by the author.