Minibeasts!

My challenge this week is to find as many different types of minibeasts as you possible can!

Where to find minibeasts

Minibeasts live in all sorts of habitats. Many prefer dark, damp spots in gardens and woods, so this is a good place to start your hunt. Encourage children to use their best detective skills to track creatures down:

• Peek under large stones and logs to find woodland and millipedes.
• Peer into the cracks in tree bark and deadwood to find beetles and spiders.
• Poke your nose into long grass to see ants and grasshoppers.
• Look closely at leaves to discover caterpillars and ladybirds.
• Keep your eyes peeled after rain – can you spot slugs, snails and worms.

Lots of creepy crawlies live in trees and shrubs. Lay a piece of white cloth, such as an old sheet or pillow case, under a tree or bush and gently shake the branches. You’ll be surprised how many tiny creatures fall out.

Remember – bugs are very tiny, so be careful if you pick them up and always put them back where you found them.

You'll need to use the identification chart below to identify your minibeasts, so that you know how many different ones you have found.

Have fun!

Mr Alfieri