Today, we’re going on an exciting adventure to learn about insects! We’ll be using some cool tools to catch and study these tiny creatures. First, we’ll check out some insect traps that have been set up in the field. Then, we’ll use nets to sweep through the grass and see what we can find. These methods are easy and fun, and you can try them in your own backyard or at school!
Insect traps are simple to make and don’t cost much. They help us discover what kinds of insects live around us. When we check the traps, we might find all sorts of bugs, like millipedes and beetles. One interesting beetle we might see is the carrion beetle, which has yellow hairs on its back. To attract insects to the trap, we use things like chicken liver, which has a strong smell.
Next, we’ll use nets to catch insects. These nets are made of canvas, and we sweep them through the plants as we walk. It’s important to be gentle so we don’t damage the nets. After sweeping, we dump the contents onto a sheet to see what we’ve caught. It’s a bit like being a scientist in the field!
One of the tools we use is called a “pooter” or an aspirator. This tool helps us collect insects without touching them. You put the rubber end to your lips and suck in sharply, which pulls the insects into a container. Don’t worry, there’s a grate to stop them from getting into your mouth!
As we explore, we’ll find all sorts of insects. There might be crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, and even caterpillars that look like bird droppings to avoid predators. These caterpillars will eventually turn into beautiful butterflies called swallowtails.
Insects live in many different places. For example, a polypore fungus is a great home for beetles that eat fungus. Inside the fungus, we might find various insects, including tiny maggots. It’s like a whole ecosystem in one spot!
Sometimes, we might spot larger insects, like a wasp-like creature on a plant called goldenrod. We can try to catch it using different types of bags. If it’s too big for the pooter, we use a container instead.
Exploring the world of insects is a fun and educational experience. By using simple tools like traps, nets, and pooters, we can learn a lot about the tiny creatures that live all around us. So, grab your gear and start your own insect adventure!
Gather materials like a plastic container, some bait (like fruit or chicken liver), and a small piece of mesh. Set up your trap in your backyard or school garden. Check it after a day to see what insects you have caught. Record your findings in a journal, noting the types of insects and their characteristics.
Use a homemade or store-bought insect net to sweep through grass and bushes. Be gentle and careful as you collect insects. Once you’ve caught some, carefully place them on a white sheet to observe. Draw or describe the insects you find in your science notebook.
With the help of an adult, create a simple pooter using a small jar, two straws, and some mesh. Practice using it to safely collect small insects. Once you’ve collected some, observe them under a magnifying glass and note their features. Discuss with your classmates what you discover.
Explore different areas around your home or school to find insect habitats. Look under rocks, in the soil, or on plants. Identify the types of insects you find and the habitats they prefer. Create a map of your exploration, marking where you found each type of insect.
Start an insect observation journal. Each day, spend some time observing insects in your area. Draw pictures, write descriptions, and note any interesting behaviors. Share your journal with your class and discuss the diversity of insects you have observed.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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What we’re going to do is I’ve got some insect traps set out in the field, and we’re going to pick up the traps, take out the insects that are in there, reset the traps, and then we’re also going to do some sweep netting. This involves using nets that you walk through the field with, sweeping back and forth, and then dumping the contents onto a sheet to see what you’ve collected. All of these methods for collecting insects are accessible to anyone.
It’s really inexpensive to set up the traps, and you can discover what insects are living in your backyard or around your school. I want to show how easy it is for everyone to feel like a scientist and explore the diversity right in their own environment. I’m really glad to be here, so thank you.
The aerial nets, like the one we have, shouldn’t be swept through dense vegetation as they can get damaged. These are canvas nets, and you’ll walk through the plants, sweeping as you go.
Okay, so here’s the trap.
– Are those worms?
– No, they’re millipedes.
– It’s full of insects!
– Yes, those are all dead insects and millipedes.
– That’s a tea strainer.
– Yes, and that is a carrion beetle. This one is called Nicrophorus tomentosus, named for the yellow hairs on its back.
This chicken liver is three days old, so be prepared for the smell.
– Wow, that does have a strong odor.
This is what attracts the insects to the trap.
I collected a lot of bees.
– That’s a lot!
Yes, we’ve seen quite a few over the last couple of days. These bees are a bit different from the usual ones, but they are important for pollination.
Oh! Go ahead and try to catch one.
– I got quite a few bugs!
Great!
– Look at that!
There are two dead mice in here, and most of the insects are centipedes. You have something called a “pooter” here.
– A pooter?
Yes, or an aspirator. The term comes from German, where “poot” means to aspirate.
What you do is take the rubber end, put it to your lips, and suck in sharply. This will pull the insects into the container, and a little grate prevents them from getting into your mouth.
– Good to know!
You put this under where you’re going to beat the vegetation. Just hit the tree gently to dislodge the insects.
Now take a look at what we’ve collected.
– Whoops!
There are little crickets and grasshoppers.
– I got one!
That’s a good-sized spider.
– Yes, it is!
Sometimes you find larger insects, and sometimes smaller ones.
We can move on to another tree.
– I have lots of spiders and bugs in here!
Now we’re going to collect them in alcohol.
This is a caterpillar larva, which looks a lot like bird droppings.
– It does!
This is by design, as it helps them avoid predators. They will grow into larger caterpillars before they pupate.
These are swallowtails, the beautiful butterflies you might see.
– Great!
This is a mantis egg case.
– Oh!
It resembles a hard mass, and inside can be dozens to hundreds of mantises.
– Really?
Yes, they are carnivorous and will eat each other if they are not careful.
This is a type of true bug, related to stink bugs.
– Oh, I see!
He has full wings, indicating he is a fully grown adult.
This polypore fungus is an excellent habitat for beetles that eat fungus.
– Interesting!
Inside, we can find various insects, including Staphylinids and little maggots.
– Wow!
This is an entire ecosystem within the fungus.
– Look at that!
There’s a large wasp-like insect!
– Oh, that’s intriguing!
He’s on the underside of that goldenrod.
– I see him!
Let’s try to catch him.
– There he goes!
Oh no! Something else flew out.
– Where did he go?
I see him over there.
– That’s a honey bee!
No, there he is!
– Do you have the container?
Yes, I do.
That’s why we have different types of bags.
– Why didn’t you just use the pooter?
He wouldn’t fit in the pooter!
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This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains a focus on the educational content.
Insects – Small animals with six legs and usually one or two pairs of wings. – Insects like bees and butterflies are important for pollinating flowers.
Traps – Devices used to catch animals, often for study or relocation. – Scientists set traps to safely capture and study different types of insects in the forest.
Nets – Tools made of mesh used to catch flying insects or fish. – We used nets to catch butterflies in the garden for our biology project.
Beetles – A group of insects with hard shells and wings hidden underneath. – We found several colorful beetles under the rocks during our nature walk.
Caterpillars – Larval stage of butterflies and moths, often seen crawling on leaves. – The caterpillars were munching on the leaves, preparing to become butterflies.
Ecosystems – Communities of living organisms interacting with their environment. – The pond ecosystem includes fish, frogs, plants, and insects all living together.
Habitats – Natural environments where plants and animals live. – The rainforest is a habitat for many unique species of animals and plants.
Pooter – A small device used by scientists to collect insects without harming them. – We used a pooter to gently collect ants for our science experiment.
Adventure – An exciting experience or journey, often involving exploration. – Our adventure in the national park taught us a lot about different animal habitats.
Explore – To travel through an area to learn more about it. – We decided to explore the forest to discover new plants and insects.
