Prydain Little Nature Explorers
Creep, crawl, flutter and buzz! Meet some amazing minibeasts, learn easy insect facts and play a quick guessing game.
An insect is a small animal with six legs, three body parts and usually two antennae. The three body parts are the head, thorax and abdomen. Many insects have wings, but not all of them do.
Look carefully in gardens, parks and woodland. How many of these tiny creatures can you spot?
Honeybee
Honeybees visit flowers to collect nectar and pollen. They help many plants grow by moving pollen from flower to flower.
Amazing fact: Bees tell each other where food is by dancing!Butterfly
A butterfly begins life as a tiny egg, becomes a caterpillar and then changes inside a chrysalis.
Amazing fact: Butterflies taste with their feet.Ladybird
Ladybirds are small beetles. Many have bright red or orange wing cases covered with black spots.
Amazing fact: Their bright colours warn hungry animals to stay away.Ant
Ants live together in busy colonies. They use their antennae to smell, touch and share messages.
Amazing fact: Ants can carry things much heavier than themselves.Beetle
Beetles have hard front wings that protect the flying wings underneath. They come in many shapes and colours.
Amazing fact: There are more known kinds of beetle than any other animal group.Grasshopper
Grasshoppers have powerful back legs for jumping. Some make chirping sounds by rubbing parts of their bodies together.
Amazing fact: A grasshopper can leap many times its own body length.Firefly
Fireflies are beetles that can make a cool glow inside their bodies. They flash to communicate with other fireflies.
Amazing fact: Their natural light is called bioluminescence.Luna moth
The luna moth is a large, pale-green moth with beautiful tails on its back wings. It is found in North America.
Amazing fact: Adult luna moths live for only about one week.Read the clue, choose an insect and see if you are right.
Tap each question to reveal the answer. No peeking!
1. How many legs does an insect have?
Six. Count them: one, two, three, four, five, six!
2. Is a spider an insect?
No. A spider is an arachnid and has eight legs.
3. Which insect begins life as a caterpillar?
A butterfly or moth. This amazing change is called metamorphosis.
4. Which insect can glow in the dark?
A firefly. Its glow helps it communicate.
5. What do insects use antennae for?
They use antennae to sense things around them, including smells, touch and movement.
Love bugs and minibeasts? Explore the Types of Insects Educational Entomology Science Bug Lovers T-Shirt, featuring a collection of fascinating insects in an educational design. It makes a fun choice for young nature fans, budding entomologists, science lovers, teachers and families.
This child-friendly insects page can support early science learning at home, in an EYFS setting or in a Key Stage 1 classroom. Encourage children to count six legs, name colours, copy insect movements and compare wings, antennae and body shapes. These simple activities build observation, vocabulary and communication skills.
Try an insect safari: Take a pencil and paper into the garden or park. Look under leaves, beside flowers and near logs without disturbing the creatures. Draw each minibeast you find, count its legs and decide whether it is an insect.
Stay safe: Watch insects gently from a little distance. Do not touch unknown insects, nests or hives. An adult should always supervise outdoor minibeast hunts, and everyone should wash their hands afterwards.
Are all insects bugs?
People often call every tiny crawling creature a bug. In science, however, “true bugs” are one special group of insects with particular mouthparts.
Why are insects important?
Insects pollinate flowers, recycle natural material, improve soil and provide food for many birds and other animals.
Where do insects live?
Almost everywhere! Insects live in gardens, forests, ponds, grasslands, deserts and even snowy places.
