Bug Science for Kids. Exploring Insect Life Cycles

Squirmy Family Fun

Summer and Spring are great times for bug science and activities for kids that teach about the life cycle of insects. Here are some simple and rather inexpensive ideas.

BUTTERFLIES:

Classrooms often raise butterflies and this is something you can easily do at home if you wish. Butterfly kits and Pavilions can be purchased usually for about 20 to 30 dollars. You get about five caterpillars and everything you need to raise them to butterflies. You can also acquire caterpillars from your own yard and watch them as they go through their stages.

SILKWORMS:

These are not for squeamish moms, but are fascinating for kids. Raising silkworms is easy. They are slow moving and can be kept in an uncovered box, because they do not try to escape. The larvae (caterpillars) grow very fast, they spin a cocoon and then emerge as moths. Even the moths are slow moving. You can purchase your first batch of silkworm eggs and then when the adult moths lay eggs, store them in the refrigerator for next year.

MEAL WORMS:

This is a very cheap and easy way to observe the life cycle of an insect. You can buy meal worms in a pet store for just a few dollars. They are usually sold as food for reptiles. Put them in a jar with a little bit of uncooked oatmeal and a small slice of potato (they use this for water). Soon the meal worm will form a pupa and then in a few weeks will come out as a beetle. There are many websites for more instructions on raising meal worms.

PRAYING MANTIS:

You can purchase praying mantis egg cases at most nurseries for under 10 dollars. They are about the size of a small walnut and contain a few hundred eggs. Put the egg case in a jar with netting secured across the top (this is very important), then put it in a sunny place. It may take a few weeks, but when the eggs hatch it is an event! Hundreds of tiny, fully formed mantises stream out at once. You can then release them out into your garden. Holes that you poke yourself or those in standard bug containers are too large. If you don't use netting across the top you will end up with countless, minuscule mantises scurrying across your tabletop and a house full of shrieking kids (Been there; done that!).