Ask An Entomologist: Insects In The Classroom
October 22nd, 2006 by Kelley
Jamie:
I am making isopod igloos with my pre schoolers and was wondering if you have some pictures to show these interested little ones. Let me know if there are any other critters the children might enjoy.
Isopods are cool. They’re arthropods, but not insects. They are scavengers and breathe with gills.
As far as other insects to use in the classroom that are almost effortless to maintain, I think the Painted Lady Butterfly would be a great example for little kids to watch. You can order PL Butterfly kits from Carolina Biological Supply (see here). This gives children the opportunity to watch butterflies througout each life stage (larvae, chrysalis, and adulthood). The kits provide enough food to see the larvae through adulthood.
Also, while poking around on the web, I found this great site that has listed a plethora of different lesson plan ideas that involve insects.
Hi again,
THis comment has nothing to do with the above. I was poking through your photos section again, and could not find a way to post comments there. Regarding your dipteran photo entitled “who am I”, my instinctive response - not really based on any concrete character, just overall gestalt - is that it is a Dance Fly, family Empiidae. See
http://bugguide.net/node/view/6578
I referred your dipteran page to Herschel Raney, a writer and fly enthusiast from Arkansas. He’s a whiz at Asilids and rapidly gaining in Syrphids and Bombyliids. Hopefully he’ll be in touch with IDs for you.
Cheers,
Josh
Thanks Josh,
I forget how quick Bug Guide can be if you have time to just sift through the pics. Thanks for the heads up. I also look forward to hearing what Herschel has to say about my robber flies.
I had a feeling it was a long-tailed dance fly, just haven’t had the time to really sit down and go through it. Sure enough though
Always,
Kelley