With the cooler weather approaching, comes the creeping of the bugs. They are finding their way into our nice warm home.  While I don’t really enjoy having Box Elder bugs, Ladybugs, Hornets, Wasps, Spiders, and other unidentifiable creatures creeping into my house… I must say this is a prime time for learning more about what bugs us!

My three boys have been capturing all the creepy crawlies they can see.  We have a clear plastic box that houses all their latest finds.  Don’t worry, there are plenty of airholes… and leaves (for the creatures to hide under)… and bits of leftover lunches (we can’t let the bugs go hungry, can we?)… and bottle caps of water (in case the bugs get thirsty).

My youngest son wondered why the bugs are all suddenly coming into our house. (I just love young inquisitive minds)!  My middle son told him it was because bugs are hungry before winter and Mom serves good food.  (Lovely child).  My oldest son told him it was because bugs are looking for a nice warm place to spend the winter, and then told him that bed bugs really exist, and that HIS bed would be perfect for all the bugs!  (I don’t think so).  Isn’t it amazing how a simple act such as bugs coming into our house can elicit educational discussions… and science experiments?  (You gotta love those teachable moments).

With all the bugs captured in our plastic box, it was time to investigate their differences and similarities.  Out came the bug viewers and magnifying viewers. We wanted to get a close-up view. 

We discovered that Ladybugs really love soggy raisins!  With a magnifying glass, we watched them eat and eat.  It really is fascinating to watch a bug eating, up close and personal.  My oldest son decided to calculate the amount of raisins each Ladybug could eat – raisin to bug ratio.  (Hey!  Isn’t this a math lesson)?  My middle son was amazed by the symmetry of the bugs – he sees patterns in everything.  (Sounds like an art lesson).  My youngest son wanted to know how big each bug was, and was eager to measure them.  (Another math lesson). 

We were unable to identify some of the bugs that are finding their way inside our house.  Thank goodness for bug identification books.  We were able to identify that the creepy large beetles on our window sills are Stink Bugs!  Ugh!  (The boys thought these were the greatest find… and NO! You cannot hide them in your Dad’s shoes)!

Since we had so much fun today analyzing the creepy crawlies inside, we decided to head outside to see if we could capture some ants for an antquarium.  Perhaps we can watch the industrious critters all winter long. 

…For lunch today, I froze plastic flies into ice cubes and put the ice cubes in my kids water glasses.  Who says you’re too old to have fun!?!?

JayDee 

Make sure to check out all the fun educational products in our store!  Escapade Direct — Expect adventures.

Beetle Alphabet Book

Icky Bug Alphabet Book

Bug Drawing Book

Usborne Big Bug Search

Creepy Crawlies

Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America

Professor Noggin’s Insects and Spiders Game

Designs for Coloring, Insects and Spiders

Backyard Bug Mazes

MicroTREK Science Kit

Magnifying Viewer

World’s Best Bug Viewer