Insect Purchasing Information
If you are unable to purchase insects locally, you can order them
from the following companies:
Carolina Biological
1-800-334-5551
Insect Lore
P.O. Box 1535
132 S. Beech Street
Shafter, CA 93263
1-800-LIVE BUG
FAX: (805) 746-6047
Web site: www.insectlore.com
THE LADYBIRD BEETLE
The story connected with this nursery rhyme runs like this: The
ladybird beetle was found on the hop vines in England. These vines
were burned every year after the hops were picked. Because the
ladybird beetles ate the aphids, which destroyed the vines, people
used to sing them this ditty to warn the beetles to save themselves
from being burned. Because they assisted the farmer to rid his
plants of pest, they were called beetles of Our Lady, a gift from
the Virgin Mary, and from that, ladybird beetles or ladybugs.
A beetle is an insect with two pairs of wings, the outer pair
being a hard shell and meeting in a straight line down the middle
of the back. The inner pair, which is thin and papery, folds away
beneath the other pair and supports the beetle in flight. Like
other insects, beetles have three parts to the body, a head, thorax,
and abdomen. On the head is a pair of antennae, the compound eyes
made up of small, hexagonal lenses, and the mouth parts suitable
for chewing. On the thorax are six legs and two pairs of wings.
On the abdomen are the breathing holes (spiracles) and in females
at the rear end is the egg-laying organ (ovipositor).
There are many species of beetles, large and small; some are found
the ground, others in the bark of trees, and still others in the
water. Some have long antennae, some are black or brown, some
are orange and black and yellow and black and some a beautiful
iridescent color. Most ladybugs have spots however there are some
with stripes. It bright color and pattern serves as a warning
to predators of its unpleasant taste.
The ladybird beetle, like most insects, goes through metamorphosis.
When it hatches from the egg, the larva has pincers on the head
and a flat body, and only after metamorphosis does it take on
its typical form and color. In nature, they can live up to one
year.
Both the larva and adult labybird beetle are considered beneficial
by gardeners because they feed on aphids, which are very destructive
to roses an other garden plants.
In the late 19th century, an aphid known as cottony cushion scale
endangered California's fruit crop. This pesky insect sucked the
juices from the leaves of fruit-bearing plants, causing them to
die. Then someone discovered that a species of ladybug from Australia
ate this type of aphid. California farmer imported the beetles
and sprinkled them over their crops. Miraculously, the crops were
saved by the feasting ladybugs. Fruit farmer around the world
praised ladybugs as heroes in the fight against pestilence. Today,
ladybugs are bred in farms and sold to farmer and gardeners as
an effective, natural, and chemical-free alternative to pesticides.
A ladybug stamp is even part of the US Post Office's American
Wildlife Issue. Help kids understand the benefits of having ladybugs
in their backyards and encourage them to become protectors of
these little creatures.
In the winter the ladybird beetle either crawl into a hole to
hibernate or congregates with others in a great mound, climbing
on top of another for the same purpose.
WHERE TO FIND THEM - Look for them on any shrub that is infested
with aphids. They are especially common on unsprayed rose bushes.
HOW TO KEEP THEM -
LADYBUG LODGES - Ladybugs can be kept in a jar with a ventilated
lid. Place a thin layer of soil at the bottom of a large glass
jar or terrarium and keep it fairly moist but not wet. Provide
a place for the insects to hide; a twig or a small stone lying
on the soil will serve this purpose. It may be necessary to metabolically
slow your ladybugs down before putting them in their new home.
Do so by placing them in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Ladybugs
eat aphids so it is unlikely that they will live very long in
captivity unless aphids are provided. Tiny apple chunks or water-soaked
raisins (cut into tiny pieces) will provide some nutrients during
the time you have them. If your climate is warm and aphids are
on the outdoor vegetation, you can release the ladybugs when you
are finished observing them or have finished your bugs unit.
WHAT TO FEED THEM - Feed them aphids. Cut a branch from the infested
bush on which you found the ladybird and continue to provide plenty
of food, for beetles are heavy feeders. No water is needed because
the bodies of aphids contain enough liquid.
Aphids - Aphids eat the sap of plants. They secrete a liquid called
honeydew that attracts ants. Ants "tickle" aphids to
get them to produce more honeydew. Ants keep the aphids safe from
their predators the ladybugs.
Mealworm - Beetles
Larva Stage
Mealworms like the butterflies represent the complete metamorphosis
in insects. They develop through four stages: egg, larva, pupa,
and adult. Like many insect, they are somewhat influenced by temperature
and will progress through the larval molts (between 9 and 20 of
them!) faster, and they will also develop from pupa to adult beetle
faster, in temperatures in the high 70=s or 80=s. Lower temperatures
reduce the rate of speed of their growth. The entire life cycle
from egg through egg-laying adults takes about six months. Meal
worms purchased as larvae will mature in about 4 to 8 weeks.
Basic food for mealworms kept in a class room are: bran, oatmeal,
cereal, crackers or other similarly crushed grain. They can get
their moisture through pieces of carrot, citrus rinds, raw potatoes,
apple cores, cactus, zucchini, and etc.
Encourage the children to observe and find out if the mealworm
likes light or darkness, by placing it on a pile of oats and then
on a pile of crushed leaves. What did it do?
Place some larvae in two containers, put one in very warm place
and put one in a very cool place. Observe them everyday. What
happens? Which hatch first? Which molts faster and more often?
Some questions to ask the kids:
1. How many legs does the larva have?
2. Where are they located?
3. How many segments does the larva have?
4. Which segment has a different shape?
5. How long is your mealworm?
6. How do you think the mealworm spends most it time?
Pupa Stage
Mealworms enter the pupa stage when they have reached the end
of their growth cycle as larvae. They are usually quite fat and
full looking just before they pupate. They do not spin a cocoon.
They simply seem to wrinkle up into an off- white curved pupa.
They appear dead to the observer at first glance. But they are
actually just resting. If you hold the pupa firmly between the
thumb and forefinger and gently apply a bit of pressure, the pupa
will wriggle and squirm very animatedly. They do not eat during
this resting stage, which can run from a few days to a couple
of weeks ore more. Warmer temperatures accelerate their progress
through this stage.
Questions to ask the kids:
7. How many segments does the pupa have?
8. How long is the pupa?
9. What color is the pupa?
10. What shape is the pupa?
Adult Stage
The beetle will hatch out of the pupa rather rapidly once it begins.
At first, the beetle is usually an off-white color, like the pupa.
The beetle soon develops a reddish hue and slowly darkens to a
full black color in a few days or less. The adult beetle will
eat but not a much as the larva. After the adults mate, the female
will lay very tiny eggs, little larger than specks of dust. They
are nearly impossible to distinguish for the food. You will know
that the cycle has renewed itself when the eggs hatch into very
tiny mealworms, each about a millimeter long.
Questions to ask the kids:
11. What color is the beetle?
12. How old do you think the beetle is?
13. How many legs does the beetle have?
14. Where are the legs connected?
15. How many wings are there?
16. What does the beetle do if you place it in the pile of oat
bran? In the pile of crushed leaves?
MEALWORM MOVEMENT - How do mealworms move? Do they crawl? Wiggle?
Slither? Place several mealworms on a table and have the children
watch the different ways they move. Do they curl into different
shapes? Ask the children to draw pictures of the mealworms showing
how they look when they move.
DO MEALWORMS HAVE A FAVORITE COLOR? - To find out, create a color
course made from 5 " (13 cm) red, blue, yellow, and black
squares with a 1" (2.5 cm) white circle in the center. Place
a few mealworms on the white circle and watch what they do. Where
do the mealworms go?
HOW FAR WILL A MEALWORM TRAVEL TO GET A BRAN TREAT? - Make a small
maze using dominoes or Unifix Cubes'. Place a pinch of bran at
one end of the maze and the mealworm at the other end. (Don't
make the maze too difficult or the mealworm may give up.) What
happens?
MEALWORM MANOR - Mealworms are not worms. They are actually the
larvae stage of the Tenebrio beetle. House your mealworms in a
smooth-sided container. Place a large amount of bran and mealworms
in the container. To keep the mealworms in a dormant state, cover
the container with a lid and set in a refrigerator at 40-50 degrees
F (5-10 degrees. A temperature cooler than this will kill them.
Once taken from the refrigerator, house them at room temperature
to begin their life cycle. Mealworms can be purchased at most
pet stores or bait shops. (Note: There is a mealworm hybrid that
should not be refrigerated. Check with your pet store or bait
shop to find out if the mealworms you are purchasing can or cannot
be placed in a refrigerator.)
Mealworms are among the easiest insects to raise in the classroom
and they provide a chance to see complete metamorphosis (egg,
larva, pupa, and adult). Mealworms can be purchased at a pet or
bait store.
Use a glass or clear plastic container to better view the mealworms
as they change. Place several inches of oatmeal in the container.
Add mealworms. Provide moisture by adding a slice of apple or
potato.
The larval stage can last four to 6 months. The pupa stage will
last one to two weeks before adult darkling beetles emerge. Feed
the adults dry dog food and bits of vegetable. Several types of
insects can make interesting visitors to observe, talk and write
about.
Rainbow Mealworms
P.O. Box 4907
Compton, CA 90220
1-800-777-9676
FAX: (310) 635-1004
Snails and Slugs
Snails and slugs belong to that group of animals known as mollusks,
which are soft-bodied and without backbones. In this group are
included not only land snails and slugs and sea snails but shellfish
such as clams and oysters, mussels, scallops, limpets, and abalone.
Inside of the shell of the mollusk, covering the soft body parts
is the mantle whose function it is to secrete the shell. Material
is added around the open mouth of the shell, ever widening the
spiral. Snails and slugs are nocturnal, however they can be seen
during the day when it warm, moist and very overcast.
Snails are called gastropods, which means, "stomach-footed"
because it looks as though it walks on its stomach. The organ
of location is a fleshy, muscular foot that can be extended and
withdrawn into the shell. The foot secretes slimy mucus, which
enables the snail or slug to glide along without losing the moisture
in the body. Their entire bodies are covered with this slimy mucus.
Slugs are similar to snails but do not have outer shells. They
protect themselves by curling up into a blob or hiding in cracks
or under rocks and leaves.
On the head of the snail or slug are two pairs of tentacles. On
the tip of each of the longer ones is a dark pot, the eye, by
which the animal can only distinguish light from dark. The shorter
pair of tentacles is said to contain the organ for smell. Within
the mouth is a ribbon like organ called the redula, with its horny
row of teeth turned backward into the mouth. By means of the radula
the slug or snail rasps off food from the edges of leaves and
other soft plant materials, as slugs and land snails are herbivorous
animals.
The pulsating hole on the side of the body is the opening into
the breathing organ, or the lungs.
Look for the two pairs of tentacles and look for the black spots
on the tips of the longer pair. As these eyes are sensitive only
to light and dark. Shade them form the light and watch the tentacles
withdraw. Notice that they are actually turned inside out like
the finger of a glove. Once the animal is no longer afraid the
tentacles will be poked out again. Look at the breathing hole.
Feed it a piece of lettuce and watch it eat. Turn it over and
watch it right it self. Compare the snail shell to other shells.
Look for snail eggs underneath leaf mold. They are chalky white
and the size of small pearls. Keep them in a damp spot underneath
leaf mold until they hatch. The tiny snails can be kept and their
growth watched.
WHERE TO FIND THEM - Land snails are not common in some areas
east of the Mississippi. Slugs, on the other hand, can be found
throughout the United States. Snails are mostly found in damp
spots where plants are growing, though some can be picked up at
the seashore. Slugs usually stay under leaves, boards, or rocks.
Some snails can be purchased at fish markets in the east, if none
are found outdoors. These are large and very active, making them
easy to observe.
HOW TO KEEP THEM - Look for the trails left behind. They are easy
to see when the sun shines on them. Gather only three or four
snails or slugs to a large glass. If too many are confined in
a small area they will cover on another with mucus and form a
tight ball. These animals can also be kept in a planted terrarium,
though they may destroy the plants by eating them. Can make individual
habitats out of margarine tubs.
WHAT TO FEED THEM - Lettuce, celery tops, spinach, or any leaves
containing plenty of moisture. Replenish the food frequently and
keep the container clean. No water is needed if the leaves are
sufficiently moist.
Flies
There are over 100,000 different types of flies that live everywhere
in the world. We are most familiar with the housefly
Flies have taste buds on their feet! Their feet are also hairy
and sticky, enabling them to land almost anywhere, including on
the ceiling.
Flies lay their eggs in the flesh of dead animals or in feces.
This will be the food source for the larvae, called maggots, when
they hatch. In this way flies play an important role in environmental
housekeeping. Some flies also eat other insect pests and aide
in plant pollination. Flies can, however, carry many diseases
such as typhoid fever, yellow fever, and sleeping sickness.
Mosquitoes - Mosquitoes are flies with two sets of wings. Mosquito
is a Spanish word for little fly. Females feed on blood. Some
mosquitoes carry diseases.
Bees
Bees - Bees eat only nectar and pollen. They have body hairs that
collect pollen. Female bees have special "brushes" on
their legs that are used to remove the pollen from their hair.
Spider Facts
There are more than 30,000 different kinds of spiders in the world.
They can be found in forests, gardens, deserts, swamps, mountaintops,
and fields.
Spiders belong to a class of invertebrates called arachnida (arachnids).
Spiders have eight legs and two main body parts. The front body
part of the spider is the cephalothorax (head and thorax). The
back part of the spiders body is the abdomen. The legs of spiders
are joined to the cephalothorax.
Spiders do not have a backbone. Instead, a very strong skin covers
them. As a spider grows, it sheds its skin. Tiny hairs, which
help the spider, sense its surroundings cover the skin and legs
of a spider.
Most spiders have eight eyes. But, even with all these eyes, spiders
have very poor eyesight. Spiders spin silk using their spinnerets,
which are located at the end of their abdomen. Most spiders live
for only a few years. Tarantulas, however, can live up to 30 years
or more!
Spiders lay eggs. Once these eggs are hatched, the mother spider
usually does not stay with her babies.
Most spiders are helpful to us. They eat many harmful insects.
Only a few spiders are poisonous to people.
Explain to your children that many spiders spin webs in order
to catch their prey. A spider has spinnerets that are attached
to the base of its abdomen. At the tip of each spinneret is an
area that contains the spinning tubes. From these tubes the spider
produces a liquid silk that dries and hardens into silk-like threads.
A spider begins its web by attaching a main thread that supports
the whole web. The next portion is the web's outside lines called
the foundation lines. Then the spider spins threads from the center
of the web like the spokes of a bicycle. Finally, it spins sticky
threads in a circular pattern around the spokes in order to trap
insects. (Note: Not all spiders spin their webs using this specific
pattern, but it is the most common.) When insects fly into the
web, they become stuck and cannot escape.
Black Widows
Black Widow spiders exist in every state in the United States,
as well as in Canada, but are mainly found in the southern United
States. The body of a female Black Widow is about one inch (38
cm) long and has a jet-black color with a red mark shaped like
an hourglass on the underside of its abdomen. The male is only
one fourth the size of the female. While the males are thought
to be harmless, the females can inject a deadly poison.
Brown Recluse Spiders
Brown Recluse spiders at one time lived exclusively in the south
central United States. Today, they can be found almost anywhere.
They are mainly active at nighttime and can be found under rocks,
furniture, or any undisturbed area. They are about one-half inch
(1.3 cm) in length, brown, and have a dark violin-shaped mark
on their backs. Their bite is harmful to people, but seldom deadly.
Jumping Spiders
While many spiders are active at night, Jumping spiders are diurnal,
which means they are active in the daytime. The have excellent
eyesight, which helps them as they jump, out from their nest and
leap on their prey.
Scorpions
While scorpions are not spiders, they are in the same arachnid
family. They have eight legs, just like spiders. While scorpions
do have a painful sting, very few scorpions are actually deadly.
The smaller the scorpion the more poisonous it is. The only deadly
scorpion in the United States is yellow or yellowish-brown and
has two black stripes on its back.
Tarantulas
Tarantulas are the largest spiders in the world. You can find
them in South America and throughout the southwestern United States.
Male tarantulas can live approximately ten years, while some female
tarantulas have lived more than 25 years in captivity. Each time
they get too big for their skin, they shed their skin (molt) to
create a new larger one. Male tarantulas molt 15 times before
reaching adult size.
Water Spiders
Believe it or not, Water spiders actually live underwater in ponds
or lakes. They build bell-shaped silk nests and then fill their
nests with air. Water spiders travel to the surface of the water
for air and then return to release the air into their nest.
Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders are very common throughout the United States. They
live in fields, under rocks, in burrows, and near ponds and marshes.
They hunt in a variety of ways, but will most commonly run after
their prey. A pregnant Wolf spider carries a cocoon full of eggs
with her. When the spiderlings hatch, they crawl up onto their
mother's back and ride along with her until they can survive on
their own.
Granddaddy Long Legs
Your children will be interested to know that while a Daddy Long
Legs is an arachnid, it is not really a spider. It is in the order
Phalangida. It has eight legs like a spider, but its body is different.
It has one oval shaped body part and only two eyes that are toward
the back of the body rather than in the front. Daddy Long Legs
eat insects and plant juices and they do not spin webs.
Spider Facts
Be certain your children have been introduced to these spider
facts before starting the science activities:
Spiders have two body parts.
The head and thorax are one part.
The abdomen is the other part.
Spiders have eight legs.
Some spiders are little.
Many spiders have eight eyes.
Ants
There are over 1,400 species of ants. They are social insects
and live in colonies. Most ants have antennae through which they
acquire information about their surroundings. They communicate
with each other by releasing odors in the air or by laying down
a scent trail. They also vibrate their bodies when they are excited.
The antennae of other ants can pick up both the odors and the
vibrations.
Ants usually leave a scent trail as they move about. This is why
you see a line of ants moving in both directions between a food
source and the colony. An ant can carry 450 times its own weight.
If you could do the same, you could carry a bus! However, if an
ant were the size of a human, its exoskeleton would weigh so much
that it would not be able to move.
Read about Ants A good nonfiction book to share is Ant Cities
by Arthur Dorros. After reading this book, use the reproducible
of an anthill to discuss the information the children have learned.
Ants live in communities called colonies. An ant colony can have
as many as one million ants. Some ants are one inch (2.5 cm) long.
Every ant colony has a queen ant whose job is to lay eggs.
Interesting Cricket Facts
. The cricket's ears are located on the front legs, just below
the knee.
. A cave Cricket found in Nigeria has antennae several times longer
than its body.
. A desert-dwelling cricket has propeller-like feet that enable
it to disappear straight' down into the sand in a matter of seconds.
Shelter
CRICKET HABITAT - Crickets can be housed in an aquarium or other
container with a tightly fitted, ventilated lid. (Do not use a
paper or cardboard housing, as the crickets will chew through
it.) Provide water in a shallow dish filled with cotton balls.
Change the water regularly. Crickets will eat almost anything.
You can supply them with fresh fruit and vegetables as well as
grains. Crickets can be purchased at most pet stores. There is
a lot to observe when watching a cricket habitat. Have your children
view their eating and drinking habits, as well as the jumping,
chirping, and moving-their-antennae behaviors.
CRICKET CONDO - Provide shelter for several crickets by stacking
several layers of egg carton cups on the bottom of the container.
Temperature: Maintain a temperature of 75 - 85' (24 - 290 C) by
placing a 40 to 60 waft bulb six to twelve inches above the container.
Food and Water: Crickets will eat dry dog food and bits of fruit.
Water can be provided with a wet sponge or in a covered bottle
with a wick protruding. Don't leave an open container of water
in the cage or the crickets will drown.
Grasshopper
Grasshoppers are insects. They have six legs and they chirp in
different ways. Some grasshoppers rub a back leg against one wing.
Some grasshoppers click their back legs together in the air. Some
rub their front wings together. When a grasshopper hatches, it
looks like a worm but it very quickly becomes a nymph. The nymph
hops and looks more like the adult grasshopper. The nymph molts
several times before becoming an adult.
PUT TOGETHER GRASSHOPPER - Color, cut and brad together.
Cicada- Male cicadas make loud buzzing sounds by vibrating two
drum-like membranes on their abdomens. Cicadas lay their eggs
in slits they cut into tree twigs. When the eggs hatch, the nymphs
drop from the tree and burrow into the ground. They can stay underground
for as long as 17 years before they emerge as adults. To stay
alive, they eat the juices from tree roots.
Praying Mantises
Praying mantises are the only insects that can turn their heads
around backwards to look behind them. Mantises eggs are laid in
a papery egg case. The eggs are laid in the fall and hatch in
the spring.
PRAYING MANTIS HOME - A small glass jar with a ventilated lid
makes a great home for praying mantises. Prop a stick inside the
jar for the insects to suspend themselves from when shedding skin.
An ample supply of food (small insects) should be given to your
praying mantis to avoid cannibalism. They will eat even insects
as large as themselves. No water is necessary unless the home
is kept heated. Praying mantises can often be ordered through
local gardening centers.
Cockroach
A cockroach is an insect. It has a head, a thorax, an abdomen,
and six legs. When a baby cockroach hatches from an egg it looks
like a small adult (nymph). The nymph molts many times over several
months before it becomes an adult. Some adult cockroaches have
wings and others do not. Most cockroaches live under logs or stones
or in trees. They eat garbage, human food, and dead insects. They
carry diseases and are considered pests.
Moths
Silkworms
You can keep silkworms in a round, square, or rectangular cake
pan. The smooth sides prevent escape. Cut apart cardboard egg
cartons and prop them in the pan. This gives the silkworms a place
to spin their cocoons and lay their eggs later on. Silkworm larvae
will only eat Mulberry leaves, so be sure you have this food source
before obtaining your silkworms. They eat a lot each day and do
not require any water. When the silkworms hatch, the Silkworm
moths will live for only three or four days because they do not
have mouths. After the Silkworm moths lay their eggs, harvest
them (but try not to directly touch them), place them in a sealed
plastic bag, and store them in a refrigerator. The eggs will hatch
shortly after being removed from the cool temperature. (Note:
Only remove them from "cold storage" when you have fresh
Mulberry leaves available for them to eat.)
Dragonflies
A dragonfly can have a wingspan of 5.5 inches (14 cm). Dragonfly
nymphs eat insects, tadpoles, and even small fish. They can fly
as fast as 30 mph (50 km/h).
Pill Bugs
Pill bugs are not bugs at all, they are crustaceans which live
in damp, dark places such as under rocks, leaves and rotting logs.
They are also known as sow bugs or rolly pollies. They get this
nickname because of the unique way they project themselves. They
have a series of slightly curved plates on its back which allow
them to roll into a ball when it is frighteded or it they are
becoming too dry.
PILL BUG HOME - To keep some in the classroom: in a small gold
fish bowl, cover the bottom with 1 inch of potting soil. Place
some dead leaves or flowers or other decaying plant material.
Spray the container everyday with water to keep it moist. Cover
the container with plastic wrap, be sure to poke some air holes.
To encourage greater activity cover the container with black construction
paper. You could make individual habitats using margin tubes.
Questions to ask the kids
17. What color are they?
18. How many legs do they have? (Usually 7 pairs)
19. How many platets do they have? (Usually 13 plates)
20. Do they have any antennae? If so how many?
21. What are the things on the rear of the Pill bug? (Cerci, they
are probable used for sensing.)
Creepy Crawlies
What is an insect?
I. Gather your children together and explain to them that they
will be learning more about bugs. Encourage them to name as many
different kinds of bugs as they can. Record all of their responses
on a chalkboard or chart paper. Before observing bugs, ask the
children to tell you what they might see the bugs do, how the
bugs will act, and what will they notice about bugs' bodies.
2. Show your children the pictures of the three reproduced insects
- explaining that these are only some of the many insects that
live in the world around us. These are the ones we most often
see. Point out or remind them that an insect's body is divided
into three different parts; they have six legs; two feelers; and
some have wings. Explain that a lot of other bugs are not insects
because they do not meet this description.
More Insect Information
An insect's feelers are called antennae. They come in all shapes
and sizes. The antennae help some insects taste and enable others
to smell.
Some insects have enemies and escape by flying away. Others, like
grasshoppers, have powerful hind legs and are able to leap very
high. Still others burrow into the ground to get away.
All insects start life as eggs. After the eggs hatch, however,
the insects mature in many different ways. Most insect young look
very different from their parents. A butterfly, for instance,
goes through four growth stages. It starts life as an egg, which
hatches into a caterpillar. As it eats, it grows and grows. Soon
it sheds its skin and grows a larger skin covering. When it is
fully grown, it turns into a pupa, protected by a hard shell or
a bundle of silken threads called a chrysalis. The adult butterfly
later emerges from its "home" as an adult. This is called
complete metamorphosis.
Not all insects go through four growth stages. Grasshoppers, for
example, go through only three. Just like other insects, they
start life as eggs. These eggs hatch into nymphs. Young grasshoppers
look like smaller versions of their parents but have no wings.
They most or shed their skin as they get bigger and finally become
winged adults. This is called incomplete metamorphosis.
Questions, Questions
Your children may have on-going questions about bugs throughout
the unit. Have the children share their questions with you and
their classmates as you write the questions on chart paper decorated
with a border using bug stickers or clip art. If appropriate,
have the children determine how they might go about finding the
answers. For those that may not have any questions, ask them to
write or share about what they have learned.
Glossary of Terms
Abdomen - the third section of an insect's body
Antennae - part of an insect's head that is used to smell, taste,
or touch
Arachnid - the name for an insect-like creature with two body
parts (a head/thorax and an abdomen), eight legs, and no antennae
Camouflage - coloration or markings that help a creature blend
in with its environment
Chrysalis - the hard case that covers a butterfly in the pupa
stage
Cocoon - a silk case where the moth larva changes into an adult
Colony - a group of insects that live together in a nest
Complete metamorphosis - a four-stage life cycle (egg, larva,
pupa, adult)
Exoskeleton - an outside skeleton that supports an insect's body
Incomplete metamorphosis - a three-stage life cycle (egg, nymph,
adult)
Larva - the second stage (worm-like) of complete metamorphosis
wherein the insect young looks very different from the adult
Life cycle - stages in an animal's life from birth to death
Mimicry - coloration or markings on a creature, which make it
look like a foul-tasting or poisonous creature.
Molts - sheds its skin.
Nymph - the second stage of incomplete metamorphosis wherein the
young looks like a small adult
Predator - a creature that kills another creature
Prey - a creature that is attacked by another creature
Pupa - the third stage of complete metamorphosis wherein the larva
enters a protective case for changing into an adult
Spinnerets - tubes at the end of a spider's abdomen that produce
silk for spinning webs
Thorax - the second section of an insect's body between the head
and the abdomen
Insect Facts
. All insects have three body parts.
. All insects have six legs.
. All insects have two feelers (antennae).
. Some insects have wings.
. Scientists who study insects are called entomologists.
DO MANY INSECTS LIVE ON OUR SCHOOL GROUNDS? - Give your
children the opportunity to explore the school grounds for bugs.
Before exploring the school grounds for bugs, ask children to
name the bugs they think they might find. Ask the children to
tell where they might be able to find different kinds of bugs.
When the children are outside, encourage them to look in upper
corners of the school building, on bushes, in trees, and under
rocks. (Be sure to tell the children not to touch any bugs they
find.) Materials: magnifying lens (one for each child) Clipboard,
paper and pencil. Directions: Take your children outside, armed
with magnifying lenses, to look for insects. Bring a clipboard,
paper, and pencil to record the insects your children find as
they announce them to you. Have the children use the magnifying
lenses to observe the bugs and count the legs, antennae, wings,
and other parts to determine if the bug is truly an insect.
Note: Be sure to tell your children not to harm the insects when
they find them. They should never touch the insects unless you
or another adult has given them permission to do so.
Before participating in the Bug Experiments, have the children
predict the outcomes.
CAMOUFLAGE AND MIMICRY - Explain to your children that insects
come in many different colors. Have your children predict the
colors of bugs. For example, are all ants black? Are all bees
yellow?
Camouflage
Many insects use camouflage as a means of protecting themselves.
Their coloring and behavior help them to blend in with their surroundings
so they go unnoticed. For example, the Tree Moth is camouflaged
to blend in with the bark of a tree.
Stick insects are long slender bugs that actually look like sticks.
They move slowly at night, but during the day they hang completely
still on branches. It is virtually impossible to tell the insect
apart from the branch to which it is clinging.
Protective Coloration
Many insects are colored brightly to warn predators that they
are poisonous or have a foul taste. Monarch butterflies are bright
orange and black. If eaten, they can poison their predators-killing
them or causing severe vomiting. After learning this lesson, animals
often keep their distance. Ladybugs are also brightly colored
beetles that have a foul taste. While they feast on aphids throughout
the day, birds don't bother them because they know that ladybugs
are not a tasty treat.
Mimicry
Mimicry is used by many insects-not to hide from their predators-but
rather to frighten them away.
A Viceroy butterfly has coloring that is very similar to the
Monarch butterfly. The Viceroy mimics the Monarch to make predators
think it is also poisonous and foul tasting. Viceroys are actually
harmless but their coloring states otherwise.
The larva (caterpillar) of the Tiger Swallowtail butterfly has
an interesting way of frightening predators away. Each caterpillar
has large eyespots on its back. When a predator approaches, the
caterpillar rears up to look like a snake with big eyes.
Some insects use sounds and behaviors to frighten away their
predators. For example, some insects making buzzing sounds like
bees. Others flap their wings in a manner that makes them resemble
less desirable insects.