Process
Insects have been around for millions of years!
Let's refresh our memories on insects.
Click on the insects below!
Now let's see if you can remember the parts of an insect!
Check out these movies!
Now it is time for us to explore the world of insects! Print out this worksheet in order to help you on your journey.
Mealworms
Here is a fun brain maze game! See how many levels you can complete!
How are your mealworms? Are they growing? What changes have you observed? I know that some of you may have some concerns about holding your mealworms. Here is a little video that demonstrates that there is nothing to worry about!
Here's a fun game called worm. Click on the link below and tell me what you think!
Waxworms
Let's not forget that Waxworms, Mealworms and Silkworms are different from regular worms. Can you find out why? Check out this site on Herman the Worm and see if your can find any differences?
The Adventures of Herman the Worm.
Here are a couple of good books if you are going to the library!
Diary of a Worm (Hardcover)
by Doreen Cronin (Author), Harry Bliss (Illustrator) "Mom says there are three things I should always remember: 1. The earth gives us everything we need..."
How to Eat Fried Worms (Paperback)
by Thomas Rockwell (Author) "HEY, Tom! Where were you last night?..." (more)
Key Phrases: fifteen worms, fish fish fish fish fish, eating worms, George Cunningham
Would you like to eat fried worms?
Go ahead and give it a try!
Be a WORMSLINGER
Alright you singers out there....are you ready for WORM-E-OKE?
The Worm Family (Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Awards (Awards)) (Hardcover)
by Tony Johnston (Author), Stacy Innerst (Illustrator)
Are you a Bookworm? Let's see!
Here is a fun word game.
Milkweed Bugs
Now it's time to hunt for some bugs! Do you know the difference between a pollinator and a preditor is? Find out by clicking on The Great Bug Hunt!
Silkworms
Have you ever silk-ed?
Try this game it's really hard but lots of fun!
Butterflies
Hey kids, here is a fun math maze, see how many butterflies you can find!
Would you like to see what is happening in a butterfly lab?
Check out this Butterfly Cam.
This is Butterfly Anatomy! Pretty Cool Huh?
Here is a really cool way to do jigsaw puzzles!
First try the 12 piece and then try the 88 piece!
Crickets
Here is some more info on crickets! Listen to the sounds of crickets!
Have you ever heard of the Chinese Cricket Culture? Read on for more info!
Ants
Argentine Ant Carpenter Ant Fire Ant Odorous Ant
Pavement Ant Pharaoh Ant Thief Ant
Time for
Help Archibald find food to feed the colony!
Have you seen the Ant Bully? Play
Did you ever wonder what it would be like to live in an ant farm? Try being an ant and work your way through this maze!
Bees
Take a moment to check out this bee cam! It shows a live image every 15 seconds!
More fun bee games!
Here is a funny story! The Bees Knees
BUZZZZZ OFF....Try BUMBLE NUMBERS
Mosquitos
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We usually say that we've been bitten by a mosquito, but this isn't completely true. Mosquitoes don't bite - female mosquitoes suck our blood. Male mosquitoes feed on plant nectars. Recently, mosquitoes have been getting lots of attention because they can spread a dangerous virus called West Nile.
Earwigs
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Here is some Insect trivia...using Braille!
This is a fun way to learn a little about the Braille alphabet while learning some insect trivia!
Grasshopper
Here's a good book!
By Toni Morrison and Slade Morrison
Illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre
Praying Mantis
Here is a fun online crossword puzzle....time to test your knowledge, once again!
Walking Stick
Click on the picture below if you would like more information on walking stick bugs as pets!
Wasps
Would you like to learn a song and some poetry about insects! The insect song is my new fav!
Fly
Here is a fun book you can make about the Old Lady that Swallowed a Fly!
 The housefly tastes with its feet, which are 10 million times more sensitive to sugar than the human tongue. |
Aquatic Insects
Um....have you ever been a waterbug? You can say yes after you play this game!
Would you like to float like a Dragonfly? Try out this game!
How about a quiz! Click on the link below to test your knowledge on Dragonflies and Damselflies!
Termites have lived longer than the dinosaurs and continue to eat their way through all the wood they can find. Termites are 24/7 bugs, which means they eat non-stop — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They have hard, saw-toothed jaws that help them to eat lumber, wallpaper, plastics and fabric make of plant fibers. These pests cause up to $2 billion of damages per year. There are four different groups of termites: dampwood, drywood, underground and mound builders. Dampwood termites like to live and feed in very moist wood. Drywood termites can survive in very dry conditions and do not need moisture or soil. Underground termites are very common and live and breed in soil. Mound builders live in Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia and parts of South America, and are able to build large earthen towers 25 feet or higher.
Beetles
Try this game with a friend!
Time to play...
You've heard of Build a Bear...Now try Build a Bug!
Here is a game that you may need a little help with at first!
Try to feed Billy the Bug!
Yes, that's right fireflies are beetles!
Did you remember that there are over 300,000 types of beetles in the world!
Here is a printable book...It's the Orkin Activity Bug Book!
Click on the Magic School Bus and let's take a guided tour!
Um.....here's a different recipe, read the ingredients carefully!
(from Audubon Institute: Eating Insects, http://www.auduboninstitute.org/html/eatbugs.html)
CHOCOLATE CHIRPIE CHIP COOKIES
by Kathy Gee and Julie Stephens
2-1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 12 oz bag chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup dry roasted crickets
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In large bowl, combine butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla; beat until creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually add flour mixture and insects; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded measuring teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
If you liked that recipe here are some more! Oh yeah they were on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno!
Photo © National Broadcasting Corporation, 1993
Recipes compliments of Kathy Gee and Julie Stephens
(pictured above with Jay Leno) and the Iowa State University Entomology Club.
Insect Recipes
Bug Blox
Banana Worm Bread
Rootworm Beetle Dip
Chocolate Chirpie Chip Cookies
Crackers and Cheese Dip with Candied Crickets
Mealworm Fried Rice
Corn Borer Cornbread Muffins
Chocolate-Covered Grasshoppers