Scout for an insect from this month's list and snap a photo of it before it scuttles or buzzes off.
To spot this month: Ladybirds and other beetles, grasshoppers and crickets, caterpillars and butterflies, bees, dragonflies and damselflies
What difference does it make?
Insects are vital for pollinating our food. And they are nature's recyclers too - without them it would be game over.
What do you need?
- Phone with a camera
- An insect from this month's list
- The Wildlife Trusts' excellent invertebrate guide https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates
- Bug viewer pot (optional)
Match time
Head outdoors and start hunting for insects! Look on flowers, on and underneath leaves, in sheltered patches of long grass and under stones and logs (take care when you lift them up).
Once you spot an insect, snap a photo. If you can get yourself into the photo, even better but we know that can be a challenge! Only pick up an insect if you can do so safely and without damaging it. It's sometimes best to pick insects up with a leaf and pop the insect into a bug viewer pot to look at, if you have one. The Wildlife Trusts have a really good, free guide to help you identify your insect https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates
Upload that photo and score your goal! Only insects from this month's list will count but you can do this activity weekly so make sure you go out scouting again next week too.