We’re going on a bug hunt!
Transcript of We’re going on a bug hunt!
We’re going on a bug hunt!
What you will need
• AGooglemapofyourschoolgrounds• Clipboards• Pencils• Spottersheets(seelinksattheendofthis
document)• Recordingsheet• Collectingjars/potswithlids• Magnifyingglasses• Ifavailable–sweepnets,trays,whitesheet
Before you start
1. UsingaGooglemapoftheschool,identifyareasthatcanbesurveyedandlabelthemA,B,C,Detc.
2. Decidehowlongyouwillspendsurveyingeacharea(dependsonhowmuchtimeisavailableandhowmanyareasarechosen).We’dadviseatleast15minutesperarea.Identifyalogicalordertosurveythemintoreducelossoftime.Explaintothestudentsthatthisistomakeitasclosetoafairtestofwhichareaisthebestforinsects.
3. Decidewhatlevelofidentificationyouaregoingtodo–intogroupsordowntospecies(timeandaccuracyareworthconsidering).
4. Brieflydescribethetechniquesanddeterminewhichoneswillbeused(seebelow).Dividethetaskstospecificgroupsifnecessary.Ensureeachgrouphastherelevantequipmentandrecordingsheets/clipboard/pencil.
5. Askstudentstopredictwhattheywillfind,andwhichareawillbebestorworstfornumberandvariety.
Abug hunt is an excellent way of building skills around scientific enquiry. The following guide
gives some pointers on how to run one on your school grounds.
We’re goingon a
bug hunt!
Figure 1 Pitfall trap
Techniques
1. Habitatsurvey–identifythetypeofhabitatthatismostcommoninthearea(refertoresource1)
2. Log/stoneturn–studentsturnoverlogs/stonescarefullyandrecordwhatisseenunderneath.Ensurethatthelog/stoneisputbackasthese are our insects homes.
3. Tree/hedgebeating–thisisausefultechniqueforseeingwhatlivesinatreecanopy.Layoutawhitesheetortraybeneaththetreeorhedge.Onestudentbeats/shakesabranchtoseewhatfallsontothesheet.Othersidentifyasquicklyaspossible–theinsectsarelikelytoflyorrunawayfast!
4. Sweepnets–theseareagreatwaytosurveylonggrasses.Youcanbuythemormakeyourownwww.lostladybug.org/files/SweepNet09.pdf Studentsmovethroughlonggrasssweepingthenetbackwardandforwardtoseewhatfallsin.Usepotstogentlycollectandidentifywhatisinthenet.
5. Pitfalltrap–ifyouwanttocreateatrapforcrawlinginsects,thesecanbedonethedaybefore(butnotleftlonger).Digasmallpotintotheground(yoghurtpot)andthenplaceacoupleofstonesandaraisedlidoverthetoptostopraingettingin.Passinginsectswillfallintothetrapandcanbeidentified(andreleased)thenextday.
Conducting a Bug Hunt
During the survey
1. Studentsrecordtheareaontheirsheetsandthemainhabitatinit.
2. Startthetimerandsetthestudentstorecordwhattheyfindontheirrecordingsheets.
3. Givetimewarnings.Moveonandrepeat.
After the survey
1. Studentsreflectonwhattheyhavefoundandhowitcomparestowhattheyhadpredicted.
2. Usedatatocreategraphs/resultsanddrawconclusionsaboutinsectstypes,number,varietyandlocation.Whatdoesittellusabouttheschool?
3. Wherearethebestandworstplacesonsite?Howcantheybeimproved?
Phot
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Phot
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Safety considerations
Itisalwaysimportanttocheckthesitebeforeidentifyingareasyouwillsurvey.Doawalkoveronthedaytoremovehazards.
Risk assess the areas for hazards such as water, sharps or stinging plants. Be aware that some of the “bugs” bite and sting!
Weatherwillaffectresultssignificantly–warm,drydayswillproducemorethancoldwetdays,soconsiderthisintheplanning.
Use the Wildlife Trust’s handy spotter sheets herewww.wildlifewatch.org.uk/spotting-sheetsandsearchfor:
• Bees• Beetles• Caterpillars• Damselfliesanddragonflies• Ladybirds• Moths• Shieldbugs• Snails• Spiders• Woodlandbutterflies• Otherunidentifiedminibeasts
Conducting a Bug Hunt
Ants Beetles Butterflies,caterpillars&moths
Bees&wasps
Millipedes Centipedes Grasshoppers&crickets
Flies
Bugs Worms Mites Earwigs
Snails Woodlice Spiders Damselflies&Dragonflies
Slugs Other
Survey Recording Sheet
Area Habitat