Skip to content
Insect Explorer

Insect Explorer

Learn science while having fun outside! The insect collecting net is ideal for collecting flying insects without hurting them. The bug viewer provides a great temporary container for captured bugs. Transparent on all sides, little scientists can observe the bugs from different points of view. The grid on the bottom allows for easy size comparison, while the magnifying glass on the lid shows a close-up image of the specimen.

What you'll need:

  1. An insect collecting net (BI0140A)
  2. A bug viewer (BI0270)
  3. Notebook and pencil

bug viewer with magnifying lid   insect catching net

Start Exploring!

  1. Get your field guide ready. You’ll need the collecting net, bug viewer, notebook, and pencil. You can even use a digital camera to take a picture of your bugs!
  2. Think about where you can find bugs. Look among flowers, on trees, in the grass, under rocks and logs, get creative!
  3. When you go exploring, capture each bug and gently place them in the bug viewer. Carefully look at them from each side. Record information about each bug in your notebook and keep it as you "bug collection".
  • Where did you find the bug?
  • How big is the bug?
  • What does their underside look like?
  • Do they have wings?
  • How many body parts do you see?
  • How many legs does it have?
  • What color is the bug?
  • Did the magnifying glass show you a detail you couldn’t see with your naked eye?

Identify the bugs in your collection:

  1. Using the information you recorded in your notebook try to identify what bugs you found.
  2. Look for characteristics of different bugs in books (libraries have great resources) or online (for example bugguide.net). Ask your parents to help you!
Previous article Celebrating Pi on 3/14 and All Year Round!