InsectFun3

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR HOME AND SCHOOL

Mini butterfly garden. Butterflies are attracted to many different

types of flowering plants. You can attract butterflies (and other

insects such as bees, flies and beetles) by planting a special

flower garden. A butterfly garden need not be big - it could be

planted in a window box, an old wash tub or any other suitable

container. You can also create one in your yard at home.

Choose from any of the following flowers: asters, bergamot,

coneflowers, ox-eye daisy, milkweed, butterfly weed, phlox,
chrysanthemum, marigold, zinnia, dahlia, geranium, golden

rods, impatiens, violets, fireweed, thistle, or yarrow. Sow the
seeds according to the package directions. Place the garden

or garden container in a sunny spot. More butterflies will be
attracted if you put out a butterfly table - a platform on which

you put pieces of sliced fruit (apples, pears, plums, peaches

or banana). Waterscope For Aquatic Insects. You will need a

half gallon milk carton or a large fruit drink can, a plastic bag

or piece of plastic big enough to cover the end of the carton

or can, scissors or a can opener and two elastic bands.

Remove both the top and bottom of the milk carton or juice

can. Put the plastic over one end of the container and smooth

it over the sides. Put the two elastic bands over the plastic,

one near the top and one near the end of the plastic, to hold

it in place. To use the waterscope, place the end of the

container with the plastic in the water. The plastic will act

as a lens to help you see beneath the water's surface.

TALK ABOUTS

(2) How can you find insects ? (look up, look down, look all
around ... then look again; look under things and look in the
air; look in water; look on plants; and look around animals).

RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTS

Publications:

Danks, Hugh. The Bug Book. New York: Workman Publishing.

Dunn, Gary A. A Beginner's Guide to Observing and Collecting
Insects. Young Entomologists' Society. Lansing, MI. 1994.

Dunn, Gary A. Caring for Insect Livestock. An Insect Rearing
Manual. Young Entomologists' Society. Lansing, MI. 1994.

Stokes, Donald W. A Guide to Observing Insect Lives. Boston:
Little, Brown and Co. 1983

Tekulsky, Matthew. The Butterfly Garden. Boston: Harvard
Common Press. 1985

Ant Farming. Ant communities are fascinating
to watch and you can study them at home with
the aid of an ant farm. Ant farms are easy to
make and maintain. You will need a large glass
jar, a piece of cardboard (bigger than the mouth
of the jar), a pan, soil and ants. Fill the jar with
a damp sand/soil mixture and place the jar in
the pan. Fill the pan with 1/2 to 1 inch of water.
The water-filled pan acts as a moat to keep the
ants from wandering away from the farm. To

populate the farm, gather several dozen ants
from a local ant nest. Try to include a queen

or some other reproductive ants (those with
wings) if you can, or the farm won't last too
long. Cut a small hole in the center of the piece
of cardboard and set it on top of the jar. Feed
the ants honey, pieces of fruit, egg, or peanut
butter. Don't overfeed, and periodically remove
any excess food.

MINIBEAST MUSEUM TEACHER'S TOWER
RESEARCH LIRARY

GARDEN GAZEBO YOUTH CENTER ABOUT
Y.E.S.

This educational resource was prepared by
The Young Entomologists Society, 6907 West
Grand River Ave., Lansing MI 48906-9131,
phone/fax 517-886-0630, e-mail
YESbugs@aol.com.

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