Spiders and Mites Alive Through a Microscope

This new installment in the fabulous Video Microscope series (see VL-1/97 & 3/97) provides a fascinating journey into the world of arachnids. Spiders, like snakes, have long gotten bad press due to the many myths that surround their creepy appearance, and this close-up look not only de-mythologizes them, but offers a wealth of information regarding their physical characteristics, behavior patterns, habitat, etc. Seeing a spider's heart beat, watching hundreds of impossibly tiny spiderlings hatch, or observing a mite as it crawls over the enormous "In God We Trust" on a penny is actually exciting (well, I think so). As host/director Hatch points out in the accompanying notes, it doesn't take a huge budget, exotic locales, or expensive equipment to participate in unlocking the wonder that nature holds. All specimens were kept alive, so at times the views are a bit jerky, but other than that, the videography, editing, and even narration has improved beyond the already solid productions of the past. A useful bibliography of arachnid-related resources is included. Highly recommended. Aud: E, I, J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)