Scouting For Insects With Kids
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ in a Minute
Episode Archive
Episode #54 | Original Air Date: May 14, 2020
Related Resources
- Ask IFAS: Scouting for Insects, Use of Thresholds, and Conservation of Beneficial Insects on Tomatoes
- Ask IFAS: Guide to Collecting and Maintaining Live Arthropods for Classroom Display in Florida
- Ask IFAS: Kids in the Woods
- Ask IFAS: Insects: Friend or Foe? Color and Learn!
Transcript
Most kids love learning about creepy crawlies, so teaching kids that are old enough to scout for insects can be a fun summer activity.
Put together a kit that includes a small hand lens, a glass jar, and an insect field guide.
Wander around the yard with the kids, encouraging them to check all parts of the plants, including the undersides of the leaves.
Use the jar to capture the insects you find to allow the kids to inspect and identify them.
Talk about the differences between harmful and beneficial insects and explain safe ways to dispose of insect pests.
By teaching kids to scout for insects, you’ll nurture future gardeners!
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ in a Minute is a production of the University of Florida’s Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program, IFAS Extension, and WUFT-FM in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
