Outdoor Insect Hunt
Today’s Activity-
Hunt for Insects Outside
Spring is springing and the bugs have arrived!!! Today is beautiful weather and great day to find real bugs! Get out in that back yard with a small shovel and see what you can find.
The first step is to suit up!
Don’t forget bug spray as the ticks are already out. Avoid tall grasses where they like to live.
If you have fancy bug catching equipment, by all means pull it out and put it to use! Nets, tweezers, magnifying glasses, containers, binoculars.
Next, gather your equipment.
If not– no problem! A spoon to scoop and dig with and a recycled container with holes punched in it will do just fine! Or you could DIY your own Pinterest ready bug catcher here or a more realistic home made one here. However both require a piece of screen that not everyone is going to have lying around.
Search for your insects.
Remember where bugs like to hide. Search in moist soil, under rotting logs, bricks and rocks. Watch the leaves carefully as they come out. You may find caterpillars, aphids and larva there too!
See who you can find! Beetles, millipedes, stink bugs, earwigs, ladybugs, slugs and worms. And the ants! I can tell you from experience—the ants are marching (unfortunately into my house, but they are on the move!!!)
How many variations can you find?
With wings or without, many legs or a few, antenna? How many different colors? Once you catch them, examine them and then put them back out with their friends! They need to find food on their own and need to eat often.
Dig Deeper
Not a fan of gathering bugs? You can take pictures of found bugs instead! Later, take the time to identify each one and find out a cool fact about each. If your interested– here is a checklist with names and pictures of common outdoor bugs to get you started. Click the printer friendly link at the top of the page to see the full 4 page checklist.
Check out this show called Minibeast Adventure with Jess! It is a British show so she has an accent but if your kids are able to understand her, I think they will enjoy it!
Leave a Reply