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Scientists in the Field
Beetle Busters (Scientists in the Field Series) by Griffin Burns, Loree (2014) Hardcover
The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) has made news across the United States. These beetles came to America from China, living in wood turned into shipping material. At first the beetles invaded urban areas, where hardwood trees were in limited supply—Chicago was able to declare itself ALB-free in 2006. But right now there is bad news in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Toronto—infestations have erupted in the area’s hardwood forests, and these beetles, while bad at flying, are very good at killing trees.Clint McFarland’s job? Stop the ALB at any cost. How do you balance the needs of residents, the impact to the environment, and an invasive species primed to wipe out entire forests? It takes the help of everyday people, such as children playing baseball at a playground, teams of beetle-sniffing dogs, and science-minded people (bug scientists and tree doctors) to eradicate this invasive pest.
Hardcover
First published October 7, 2014
6 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Loree Griffin Burns
15 books68 followersLoree is a scientist-turned-writer specializing in books about science and nature for young readers. You can learn more about her adventures and her books by visiting her website (www.loreeburns.com) or by following her blog (http://loreeburns.com/category/blog/).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 3, 2018
How interesting can a book about beetles be? That's what I thought when I picked up this book even though it's part of the Scientists in the Field series, which I love. Well, the book grabbed me right from the beginning because the Asian Longhorned Beetle is an invasive species here in the northeast threatening millions of hardwood trees, maybe even the ones in my back yard. The ALB originated in China. To control the infestation the Chinese cut down the trees, but, rather than sending the wood through a chipper to make sure the beetles living in the wood were dead, they made the wood into shipping crates and pallets, which went all over the world. The U.S. isn't the only country dealing with this damaging insect. Most of the book dealt with how a group of scientists sought to eradicate an infestation in Worcester, Massachusetts. The whole community became involved, and even children were trained to spot the signs of an infested tree. It was fascinating! I know this spring I'm going to be looking at trees around my house. I hope I don't see anything! Highly recommended for adults as well as children! We should all know how to spot these things for the sake of our trees and forests.
July 10, 2015
Another well-researched book in the Scientists in the Field series. The photographs and text do an excellent job in explaining how the Asian longhorned beetle is seriously impacting North American hardwood forests and what is being done to curtail the damage. This is a great example of effective narrative nonfiction. Although the author lives in the middle of an infestation and has personal concerns about some of the issues involved, the information is presented in an objective manner that will give the reader much to think about and discuss.
January 16, 2015
Beetle Busters captures the incredibly complex issues of how a small beetle, hardwood trees, and community residents all have a starring role in how the needs and health of the environment often require difficult decisions to be made.
November 30, 2015
Burns relates the discovery of Asian Longhorn Beetles in the United States, explains why they are a threat, focuses on the efforts to eradicate and study the beetle in Worcester, MA a few years ago, and the recovery process of the areas devastated by this infestation.
A good book for those studying invasive species or primary and secondary growth patterns. Not the best Scientist in the Field book I've read, but it certainly isn't bad. And it is one that talks about an insect that is more likely to have impacted US and Canadian readers (whereas many of the other books in the series talk about critters that are harder to find). Make sure to read the author's note in the back about how she at first was very angry with the approach being taken in her town to eradicate the beetle, but she learned from and dialogued with the scientists involved.
No content issues.
A good book for those studying invasive species or primary and secondary growth patterns. Not the best Scientist in the Field book I've read, but it certainly isn't bad. And it is one that talks about an insect that is more likely to have impacted US and Canadian readers (whereas many of the other books in the series talk about critters that are harder to find). Make sure to read the author's note in the back about how she at first was very angry with the approach being taken in her town to eradicate the beetle, but she learned from and dialogued with the scientists involved.
No content issues.
September 7, 2016
This is an interesting book, but I think that the length/target audience is a mismatch for the the subject. If you are interested in why moving firewood is banned, this would be a good place to start-- but I can't imagine that it would be interesting to tweens who would be attracted to the format.
September 19, 2015
Love the series SCIENTIST IN THE FIELD! Fascinating look into the beetle world.
September 21, 2017
The book "Beetle Busters" focuses on the Asian long-horned beetle also referred to as ALB's, their processes of life, and their journey to the United States that likely occurred through a crate or wooden pallet transported from Asia to the U.S. The author describes this destructive beetle, the havoc it has caused on trees in New York, and the work that researchers and scientists are performing in order to annihilate the species. "Beetle Busters" is a very interesting book, that provides rich details about the life cycles of the Asian long-horned beetles. I would definitely use this book in an elementary classroom, on a lesson with 4th grade students in order to discuss the type of organism and their role in their ecosystems.
December 5, 2015
Was cutting those trees the right thing to do?
If cutting trees in one community today would save the trees in your backyard tomorrow, would it be worth it?
Would you feel the same way if you lived in that community and the trees being cut down were the only ones in your neighborhood?
Beetle Busters is a narrative nonfiction book for middle-grade students about the Asian Longhorned Beetle, focusing specifically on its infestation of Worcester, Massachusetts. Native to China, these beetles first grew out of control in the 1970s when the Chinese government replanted a thinned out forest with American poplars rather than native trees. When the government realized what had happened, they cut the forest down. But instead of chipping the wood to tiny pieces to completely eradicate the bug, the wood was used to create shipping containers. These shipping containers ended up in American port cities like New York and Chicago. Luckily, an infestation of an urban area is fairly easy to remove. However, when the Asian Longhorned Beetle showed up in the more rural city of Worcester, researchers new that this fight would be more difficult because of the wild forests surrounding the city. Would the team be able to stop the beetle before it moved across all of New England's forests? How much damage could the beetle infestation do? And was eradicating the beetle worth the cost - cutting down hundreds of mature hardwood trees?
This Scientists in the Field title is well-written and meticulously researched. Burns does an excellent job presenting information in a way that is thorough and balanced. It was only when I read the Author's Note in the back of the book that I realized that she lives in the community of Worcester and was initially (and still remains) hesitant to say that cutting down her town's trees was the right thing to do. Not only is the story of the beetle infestation interesting, but it also brings up larger questions that researchers must ask. In order to tackle an environmental problem, what is the best way to respond? And how will that response affect the larger community and ecosystem? This book is an excellent choice for middle schoolers interested in animals and/or forestry and for middle school classes studying ecosystems and biodiversity. Fans of Sy Montgomery's work, like Chasing Cheetahs are sure to love Beetle Busters.
Ages 10-14
If cutting trees in one community today would save the trees in your backyard tomorrow, would it be worth it?
Would you feel the same way if you lived in that community and the trees being cut down were the only ones in your neighborhood?
Beetle Busters is a narrative nonfiction book for middle-grade students about the Asian Longhorned Beetle, focusing specifically on its infestation of Worcester, Massachusetts. Native to China, these beetles first grew out of control in the 1970s when the Chinese government replanted a thinned out forest with American poplars rather than native trees. When the government realized what had happened, they cut the forest down. But instead of chipping the wood to tiny pieces to completely eradicate the bug, the wood was used to create shipping containers. These shipping containers ended up in American port cities like New York and Chicago. Luckily, an infestation of an urban area is fairly easy to remove. However, when the Asian Longhorned Beetle showed up in the more rural city of Worcester, researchers new that this fight would be more difficult because of the wild forests surrounding the city. Would the team be able to stop the beetle before it moved across all of New England's forests? How much damage could the beetle infestation do? And was eradicating the beetle worth the cost - cutting down hundreds of mature hardwood trees?
This Scientists in the Field title is well-written and meticulously researched. Burns does an excellent job presenting information in a way that is thorough and balanced. It was only when I read the Author's Note in the back of the book that I realized that she lives in the community of Worcester and was initially (and still remains) hesitant to say that cutting down her town's trees was the right thing to do. Not only is the story of the beetle infestation interesting, but it also brings up larger questions that researchers must ask. In order to tackle an environmental problem, what is the best way to respond? And how will that response affect the larger community and ecosystem? This book is an excellent choice for middle schoolers interested in animals and/or forestry and for middle school classes studying ecosystems and biodiversity. Fans of Sy Montgomery's work, like Chasing Cheetahs are sure to love Beetle Busters.
Ages 10-14
January 29, 2017
From the time that humans started traveling the world, invasive species have been a problem, causing enormous environmental damage. The species range from the fungus that destroyed chestnut trees in the eastern United States to the red imported fire ant that causes an estimated $5 billion worth of damage in the United States each year to the giant Burmese pythons that are systematically killing all the small game in the Florida Everglades.
This book is about the Asian long horned beetle (ALB) and the damage it is doing to hardwood trees in the northeastern United States. Females dig out nests to lay their eggs and when the larvae hatch they bore deep into the tree, where they can stay and feed for over a year. Once they reach adulthood they exit the tree, leaving a circular hole in the bark. If enough of the ALBs infect a tree, it can be weakened to the point that it dies.
Unfortunately, the only countermeasure against the ALB is to cut the infected trees down and grind all the wood up into fine particles. Fortunately, the ALB does not travel well by itself, it needs assistance if it is to travel any significant distance.
This book is an excellent introduction to the dangers of invasive species. Written at the level of the late elementary school student, it points out the need for citizen scientists to aid in data gathering as well as vigilance in reporting suspected infestations. Invasive species are a global problem and children need to be educated regarding this ongoing environmental problem, for the costs continue to run in the billions every year.
This book is about the Asian long horned beetle (ALB) and the damage it is doing to hardwood trees in the northeastern United States. Females dig out nests to lay their eggs and when the larvae hatch they bore deep into the tree, where they can stay and feed for over a year. Once they reach adulthood they exit the tree, leaving a circular hole in the bark. If enough of the ALBs infect a tree, it can be weakened to the point that it dies.
Unfortunately, the only countermeasure against the ALB is to cut the infected trees down and grind all the wood up into fine particles. Fortunately, the ALB does not travel well by itself, it needs assistance if it is to travel any significant distance.
This book is an excellent introduction to the dangers of invasive species. Written at the level of the late elementary school student, it points out the need for citizen scientists to aid in data gathering as well as vigilance in reporting suspected infestations. Invasive species are a global problem and children need to be educated regarding this ongoing environmental problem, for the costs continue to run in the billions every year.
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February 3, 2015***ORIGINALLY POSTED ON WEAREWORDNERDS.COM***
Mom Notes:The Scientist in the Field books are aimed at middle grade readers, and are great for those kids with an interest in nature or science.
ATOS Book Level: 7.3
Interest Level: Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
AR Points: 2.0
Word Count: 10678
Genre: NonFiction
My Thoughts:
I enjoy this series and I suspect young science enthusiasts will as well.
With Beetle Busters, we learn about the damage this particular beetle causes in hardwood forests and follow a team as they try to contain the infestation. The book is full of full-color photos which makes the “sciency” talk a little easy to follow for those of us not so “sciency”. In this book, children will learn about the insect (and eggs, etc) as well as the dangers it poses to our environment. They will learn about the beetle and also how to recognize infested trees, etc.
Mom Notes:The Scientist in the Field books are aimed at middle grade readers, and are great for those kids with an interest in nature or science.
Recommended for middle graders, say ages 8+
For Students & Teachers:
ATOS Book Level: 7.3
Interest Level: Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
AR Points: 2.0
Word Count: 10678
Genre: NonFiction
January 23, 2015
Ever since the book about the vanishing little brown bat I've been hooked on these books about Scientists In The Field. They're filled with useful information, interesting to read and try to apply the learning to other problems specific to our own area, also to figure out what problems may be as close as the neighborhood. If you lived in Worcester, Massachusetts, you would understand, because the work there to help track and destroy this beetle is there. The beetle was moved from Asia because of a mistake in planting trees, a plan to use the trees which were not wisely chosen, and the export of wood in the guise of shipping pallets. The information about the beetle, how trees grow, and the "hopeful" solving of the problem is excellent.
I am excited to read this because the Colorado mountains have been going through their own 'beetle' problems, the pine beetle, that has destroyed areas of beautiful pines in the mountains. Thee still is no known antidote for this infestation. In the book, the only way to control (which they believe has been done) this beetle is to find the trees that have been infested, & destroy them. You can read more about the pine beetle here.
I am excited to read this because the Colorado mountains have been going through their own 'beetle' problems, the pine beetle, that has destroyed areas of beautiful pines in the mountains. Thee still is no known antidote for this infestation. In the book, the only way to control (which they believe has been done) this beetle is to find the trees that have been infested, & destroy them. You can read more about the pine beetle here.
January 4, 2017
Over the summer, the city cut down five of the ash trees on our street. They had become infested with the emerald ash borer. Turns out ash trees all over Chicago are falling prey to this invasive species. Last year, the Chicago Park District cut down and replaced more than 100 ash trees along the Midway Plaisance. According to this November 2014 article in the Hyde Park Herald, the Chicago Park District expects all of the ash trees under its care to become infested with the ash borer within the next two years. The picture Danielle Pereira, Regional Forester at Openlands, paints is even grimmer. “There are about 13 million ash trees in the Chicagoland region, and most likely all of them will die,” Pereira said in a recent interview with the Hyde Park Herald.
The Eight-Year-Old had protested the poor workers cutting down her beloved, if dead, ash trees this summer. Hopefully Loree Griffin Burns’ book will help her target her anger in a more fruitful direction.
Review originally posted on my blog Caterpickles.
The Eight-Year-Old had protested the poor workers cutting down her beloved, if dead, ash trees this summer. Hopefully Loree Griffin Burns’ book will help her target her anger in a more fruitful direction.
Review originally posted on my blog Caterpickles.
July 18, 2015
This was surprisingly engrossing! It is the story of the Asian long horned beetle infestation and the scientists in the field working hard to prevent the ALB from wiping out the forests of the U.S. We learn how the ALB came to the U.s. from China (wooden shipping pallets), its life cycle, and a focused look at the impact to Worcester, MA where it was found. I had no idea of the scope of the problem, I only knew it was the reason I can't bring outside firewood when I go camping! Mind-boggling how much damage one pretty little insect can do.
This book has so much going for it; kid friendly engaging narrative nonfiction, great photos and captions, author's note and helpful back matter. At 64 pages long it's not a one sitting read aloud, but would be a tremendous inclusion to classroom discussion of invasive species, insects, botany or introducing different fields of science.
This book has so much going for it; kid friendly engaging narrative nonfiction, great photos and captions, author's note and helpful back matter. At 64 pages long it's not a one sitting read aloud, but would be a tremendous inclusion to classroom discussion of invasive species, insects, botany or introducing different fields of science.
March 2, 2015
Beetle Busters is an in depth look at the Asian long-horned beetle's infestation of the Eastern hardwood forest. The explanation of the color difference within tree growth rings is superb; a wide band of lightly colored springwood grows next to a thinner, darker band of summerwood. The story shows how the beetle traveled from northern China to the United States in wooden pallets and shipping crates - 6 times. Detailed maps illustrate the ALB infestations in North America. Scientists discuss the process of trying to eradicate the Asian long-horned beetle from the United States. This title shows that there are no easy solutions to the problem of invasive species. A table of contents, bibliography including documentaries, web sites, and books, glossary, and index are provided.
October 12, 2016
Beetle Busters
Author: Loree Griffin Burns
Photographs by: Ellen Harasimowicz
This book is written about the opportunity to learn about the beetle, the forest it threatens, and the interaction between the two. Beetles prey on trees and this book takes a look at the life of a beetle and the people who track them. Beetles can cause severe damage to an entire forest and can kill a tree or weaken it to the point of collapse. The book would be very useful for a student doing a project on the beetle. There is a glossary in the back of the book to help you gain useful knowledge about the words in the book and there is a page in the back of the book also of where you would go to learn more.
All of the pictures in the book are true photographs
Author: Loree Griffin Burns
Photographs by: Ellen Harasimowicz
This book is written about the opportunity to learn about the beetle, the forest it threatens, and the interaction between the two. Beetles prey on trees and this book takes a look at the life of a beetle and the people who track them. Beetles can cause severe damage to an entire forest and can kill a tree or weaken it to the point of collapse. The book would be very useful for a student doing a project on the beetle. There is a glossary in the back of the book to help you gain useful knowledge about the words in the book and there is a page in the back of the book also of where you would go to learn more.
All of the pictures in the book are true photographs
July 5, 2017
A fascinating book about the fight against the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) in the United States. The ALB came to the U.S. in shipping pallets made from the trees they were laid in as eggs. They spend the egg, larva, and pupa stages of their life cycle inside trees, eating them from the inside out. The only way to get rid of them is to cut down the tree they are inhabiting and shred it into tiny pieces. This presents the problem: the only way to save trees in an infected area is to cut down trees. This book does a wonderful job at presenting the science of the issue, as well as the hope of success.
January 31, 2015
I had known about the ALB before reading this book, but know I understand it so much more! Even my daughters, ages 6 and 9 enjoyed hearing and perusing this book. We have had some exposure to the ALB problem in our home state of Maine and the girls are now exited to do their part this summer when we are hiking and camping in the wonderful state we live in. It is a great piece to introduce the concept of invasive species and how nature creates a natural balance until humans interfere like this. My daughters were fascinated with the idea.
Will be purchasing this book for my elementary school library for sure!
Will be purchasing this book for my elementary school library for sure!
January 2, 2015
I love the "Scientists in the Field" series, and this is another excellent addition to it. This author and photographer have combined talents to make the Asian long horned beetle a fascinating creature and to show readers the kind of work that scientists do when they are committed to protecting our forests.
May 25, 2015
Fascinating! A good read for kids or anyone. Interesting narrative nonfiction about the Asian Longhorned Beetle. This is in the series Scientists in the Field.
AR 7.3, Lexile 1100, 64 pages so a bit longer and more for middle grades. But I think it would be a good read aloud for younger kids.
Recommend
AR 7.3, Lexile 1100, 64 pages so a bit longer and more for middle grades. But I think it would be a good read aloud for younger kids.
Recommend
December 27, 2014
I love the Scientist in the Field series and this one was no different. This book also hits close to home, because it takes place in Worcester, MA. I hope it will inspire people to look at the trees in our area and make sure they are not infested.
April 12, 2015
Review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=5561
The "Scientists in the Field" books are interesting, have phenomenal illustrations, and makes the stories they are sharing accessible to their readers.
The "Scientists in the Field" books are interesting, have phenomenal illustrations, and makes the stories they are sharing accessible to their readers.
March 28, 2015
Love the subtitle: rouge insect! Great layout, uncluttered and clean, clear captions, photos with kids getting involved, extensive back matter. Love this series - so many potential career ideas for kids interested in science.
April 1, 2015
Another spectacular entry in an outstanding series. Great photos, interesting text, the inclusion of citizen scientists and sniffer dogs (who knew?) as well as information for further reading. Automatic purchase for me.
December 5, 2014
Fascinating exploration of the Invasion of Asian Long Horned Beetle into American hardwood forests.
May 11, 2016
Top Ten Science and Health Books for Youth 2014 (Booklist)
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December 29, 2014
Fascinating #nf "where science meets adventure" another great addition to the scientists in the field series. Www.sciencemeetsadventure.com
Loved the inspiring author's notes too.
Loved the inspiring author's notes too.
February 13, 2015
Very interesting. Great pictures. Easy to read. I enjoy all of the Scientists in the Field books.
April 7, 2015
A fascinating, engaging look at scientists and citizen volunteers dealing with an invasive species.
March 15, 2016
This book documents the epic battle between rogue beetles and the scientists who hunt them. :)
February 27, 2015
Thorough and informative, with lots of great photographs!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews