Bug Catching

Bug Hunting

How long it’ll take:

20 minute minimum, with potential to last long depending on engagement and extensions

What the goal is:

Campers will be able to catch and identify insects.

What the objectives are:

• Catch insects

• Identify insects

• Demonstrate LNT in regards to catching insects
  

What you’ll need (materials):

• Catching tools like small nets, spoons, tweezers, etc.

• Bug viewer box and/or magnifying glass

• Common insects of Colorado or California guide

• (Optional) empty containers to hold bugs in

• (Optional) Insect identification mobile app like Picture Insect - Bug Identifier (Android) or Insect Identification (Apple)

What you’ll do:

Environmental Briefing

• Stinging or biting insects

• Habitat hazards (like poison ivy or stinging nettles)

• Insect allergies, if applicable

Fun Facts about insects

• Insects make up about 80% of living species on Earth.

• Scientists think there are about 10 quintillion (10,000,000,000,000,000,000) insects alive at any given time!

• It’s estimated that there are more than 200 million insects for each human on the planet!

• In the United States, there are about 91,000 described species of insects, and another 73,000 undescribed species of insects!

• Most insects fall into one of four categories: beetles, flies, ants/bees/wasps, and moths/butterflies.

• Although the term “bug” is used loosely to describe small crawly critters, technically a true bug is a small insect characterized by having tough forewings, no teeth, and a straw-shaped mouth called a stylet used to suck juices from plants. Beetles are examples of true bugs, but bees, ticks, or spiders are not!

Finding Insects

You’re going on a bug hunt! Catching insects can be like hide-and-seek, and the bugs know the best places to hide! Ask your campers where they think the best bug hiding places might be, then put your predictions to the test! Insects are likely to be hiding in places like…

• In and around plants, flowers, bushes, grass, and trees

• Under rocks, logs, loose bark, leaves, boards, and other debris

• Inside of or under rotting logs and branches

• At the edge of, on the surface of, or in water sources like ponds and rivers
  

Catching Insects

There are many ways to catch insects! Use a tool like a small net, large spoon, empty container, or even your hands to gently scoop up insects. Place them carefully in a bug viewing box or a properly sized container (don’t forget the air holes!). Use the magnifying box or a magnifying glass to observe the bugs. Depending on the age of the campers, make observations like size, color, body parts, texture, movement, habitat, food, and more! Use the art, science, or game extensions below to tailor your insect experience to your campers’ interests.

Identifying Insects

Use the Common Insects of Colorado or California field guide to identify the insects caught. Consider using an insect identifier mobile app like Insect identification mobile app like Picture Insect - Bug Identifier (Android) or Insect Identification (Apple).

(Optional): LNT element? Debrief Ideas? Extension?

LNT Elements

• 1: Plan Ahead and Prepare - What should you bring? Where will you search for insects?

• 2: Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces - Stay on the trail while bug hunting.

• 4: Leave What You Find - Look and admire but leave them in their homes when you’re done.

• 6: Respect Wildlife - Handle insects gently.

Debrief Ideas

• Name three different types of insects you found today.

• Name a few good places to find insects! Did different bugs live in different habitats?

• Compare and contrast some of the insects found today - what was the same and different about them?

Extension Ideas

• Scavenger Hunt! Choose a theme, and hunt for various types of insects! You may choose to look for only a specific type of insect, like beetles, flying insects, or ants. Or maybe you choose a rainbow scavenger hunt, looking for insects of all different colors. Feeling competitive? Set a timer and find as many different types of or amount of insects as you can!

• Field Guide! Make a field guide for each type of insect you find, or for your favorite type of insects. Refer to the Make a Field Guide activity for directions on setting up your book. Consider adding the following information to your field guide:

  • Picture

  • What kind of insect is it?

  • Give it a nickname!

  • What does the insect look like? Include color, size, and body parts like legs or antenna.

  • What is the insect doing (behaviors)?

  • Where was it found/what is its habitat?
    

• Insect Art!

  • Draw a picture of your favorite insect! Get up close and personal by drawing the details of the insect, or check out the big picture by drawing the insect in its habitat.

  • Make an insect nature mural using materials from nature like leaves, rocks, moss, bark, or sticks. Recreate an insect you caught today, or design your own!
    

• Make a terrarium! Make a mini habitat for the insect in an empty container. Try to have your habitat mimic the insect’s natural habitat. Does this insect live in the grass, under leaves, in a tree, etc. Make sure to include air holes in the container so the insect can breath!
  

• Read Along! Start or end your bug catching adventure by reading an insect book together (especially with younger campers). Check out The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Diary of a Spider, The Bugliest Bug, and tons more age-appropriate books!
  

• Additional extension ideas for future development…

  • Movement game like hide and seek or camouflage