There are an average of 1.4 billion insects for every person on in the world. Looking around, you might not see any, but you would definitely notice if they weren’t here at all! Insects work as janitors and farmers, they provide food and clothing, and they’re even used in medicine.
How many bugs can you find in your yard? Take the Bug Badge challenge to find out.
To earn your badge, complete ONE activity for each section. Then, log your experience using the link at the bottom of the page.
Section One
Life under Logs – Though they may not look it, logs are a popular home for bugs and other critters. The decaying log provides food for animals like pill bugs and beetles, and it keeps the soil moist for worms and centipedes. Take a trip into your yard, local park, or TLC preserve to look for logs. Roll the log to discover what lives underneath. Here is a helpful guide for identifying invertebrates, courtesy of Starflower Foundation.
Note: Roll logs towards you to prevent unwanted animal encounters. When finished, gently return the log to its original position.
Bugs at Night – Observe bugs at night. Use a light source such as a lantern, flashlight, or porch light to attract the bugs. Alternatively, use string to make a clothes line and hang up a white sheet or pillowcase. Shine your light source on the sheet and observe the type of bugs that show up. How many types of bugs did you see?
Watch Wild Kratts – Watch Wild Kratts – Insects and Critters, available on YouTube.
Section Two
Draw a Bug – Draw a bug that you like or saw outside. Include its habitat, food, and one predator. Alternatively, use natural materials (twigs, leaves, etc.) from outside to sculpt a bug.
Write a Poem – Write a poem about a bug you saw or learned about in the first activity. Make it as long or as short as you want.
Build a Bug Hotel- Bug hotels are an easy way to attract pollinators to your garden. It also gives them a place to hibernate during winter. Bug hotels can be as simple or intricate as you’d like, and they can be made from items you already have laying around
Gather a large plastic bottle (2L soda bottles work well), sticks, leaves, pine cones, rocks, and other natural materials. With adult supervision, cut the ends off the plastic bottle. Then, cut your bottle in half creating two cylinders. Stuff your cylinders with the natural materials you collected. Make sure you pack it tightly so they don’t fall out easily. Your hotel is complete! Place it outside for bugs to use.
