Los Angeles River Through a Microscope

Besides being found together in the Los Angeles river, the water scavenger beetle larva and damselfly larva share another important similarity: they both breathe with their butts. Or, as elementary teacher, microscope aficionado, and videomaker Warren Hatch puts it--a tad more scientifically--each of these insects "sucks air with its rear." Following on the heels of Crystals Through the Microscope and What's That Through the Microscope (VL-1/95), this new program looks at mayflies, dragonflies, water boatmen, algae, green caterpillars, and the abovementioned butt-breathers among others, under the microscope at different life stages and various magnifications. The simple unadorned, unscripted approach makes this an optional purchase for public libraries, but it's recommended for elementary school libraries (where it can be best used in a classroom in segments). (R. Pitman)