Critter Care HealthWISE

Insects in the Classroom The following arthropods are used in the Insect modules: CricketsAnts Sow Bugs MealwormsFlies

Critter Comfort Living things need: Living things need: Air Air Food Food Water Water Shelter Shelter Some of these critters need water to drink, others just require a moist environment. If fruit or vegetable is used as the food source, it must be removed every other day to prevent mold growth which could lead to the death of the organisms.

Critter Release Due to the problem in many areas with non-native invasive species, there may be laws regarding the release of insects and other species into the wild. Due to the problem in many areas with non-native invasive species, there may be laws regarding the release of insects and other species into the wild. If you obtain the specimens from the wild, you may release them back to that same environment. If you obtain the specimens from the wild, you may release them back to that same environment. If you obtain the specimens from a biological resource facility, do not release them into the environment. If you obtain the specimens from a biological resource facility, do not release them into the environment. Critters should NOT be given to the students to take home as this generally results in environmental release. Critters should NOT be given to the students to take home as this generally results in environmental release.

So, what do you need to do? Remember, you can only release organisms back to their original habitat. Remember, you can only release organisms back to their original habitat. Some make great gecko food! Some make great gecko food! Insecticide also works, just don’t tell the students or use it in front of them. Insecticide also works, just don’t tell the students or use it in front of them. Critters also die from old age, however, many breed and leave offspring which starts your entire problem over again. You may prevent this by keeping them in the refrigerator or separating the organisms individually. Critters also die from old age, however, many breed and leave offspring which starts your entire problem over again. You may prevent this by keeping them in the refrigerator or separating the organisms individually.

Helpful Hints Children enjoy looking at critters with magnifying lens. Placing the organisms in see-through containers helps with observation Lowering the temperature of the containers will slow their movement Cool the container holding all of the critters before transferring them to smaller observation containers.

Difficult Questions Most children have great empathy for animals and may be distressed or concerned if a critter dies. Most children have great empathy for animals and may be distressed or concerned if a critter dies. Acknowledge their concern and let them know that living things have life spans. Some trees are hundreds of years old. A fly on average lives 15 – 30 days for it’s entire life cycle. All living things eventually die. Acknowledge their concern and let them know that living things have life spans. Some trees are hundreds of years old. A fly on average lives 15 – 30 days for it’s entire life cycle. All living things eventually die. Be careful about discussions of when Dear Aunt Myrtle or Fluffy died. Everyone will want to share their pet story with the class and your lesson will be forgotten. Be careful about discussions of when Dear Aunt Myrtle or Fluffy died. Everyone will want to share their pet story with the class and your lesson will be forgotten.

Even More Difficult Questions No doubt about it! Insects do copulate and not always on your schedule. No doubt about it! Insects do copulate and not always on your schedule. This means that students may see something that you had hoped not to teach. This means that students may see something that you had hoped not to teach. Most likely, children at this age will be concerned that the two organisms are fighting. Most likely, children at this age will be concerned that the two organisms are fighting. It is okay to say that this is normal behavior and this happens in order for eggs to be laid. It is okay to say that this is normal behavior and this happens in order for eggs to be laid.

Websites instructions.htm 20instructions.htm 20instructions.htm 20instructions.htm

Crickets Obtain from pet shops Obtain from pet shops Must be kept in hard plastic cage/container with air, but small holes to prevent escape Must be kept in hard plastic cage/container with air, but small holes to prevent escape Food: fish flakes (purchase at a pet food store) Food: fish flakes (purchase at a pet food store) Water: use a bottle cap or shallow lid for fresh water daily Water: use a bottle cap or shallow lid for fresh water daily Clean cricket containers frequently! They do emit an odor that becomes fiercer with age. Clean cricket containers frequently! They do emit an odor that becomes fiercer with age.

Ants You must capture the queen if you want to keep a colony of ants. You can capture a few ants to observe and release them after the lesson. The following website has all the information needed to collect and care for ants:

Sowbugs and Pillbugs Can be found in garden soil, especially under rocks, wood or wood chips Can be found in garden soil, especially under rocks, wood or wood chips Slices of raw fruit provide nutrition Slices of raw fruit provide nutrition Require hiding places in the cage Require hiding places in the cage Moist environment needed Moist environment needed

Mealworms Mealworms are the larval stage of darkling beetles (Tenebrio molitor) Mealworms are the larval stage of darkling beetles (Tenebrio molitor) They can be kept in bran or oatmeal. A slice of apple can provide moisture. They can be kept in bran or oatmeal. A slice of apple can provide moisture.

Flies Fruit flies or house flies are easily obtained from the wild with bait such as ripened fruit, manure, or molasses. Fruit flies or house flies are easily obtained from the wild with bait such as ripened fruit, manure, or molasses. Due to the environment flies prefer, students should not touch them. Due to the environment flies prefer, students should not touch them. Can be kept in a small container with a sugar mixture Can be kept in a small container with a sugar mixture Unless you want to teach a lesson in reproductive processes, you may want to provide each student with a single fly. Unless you want to teach a lesson in reproductive processes, you may want to provide each student with a single fly.

This is fun! Arthropods are an interesting phylum to study in the classroom. Most children will call all of them bugs. You can correct this misconception in the HealthWISE activities. Get them past the “eww” factor and appreciate that these living organisms share many characteristics of the human organism. Arthropods are an interesting phylum to study in the classroom. Most children will call all of them bugs. You can correct this misconception in the HealthWISE activities. Get them past the “eww” factor and appreciate that these living organisms share many characteristics of the human organism.