My daughter and I went insect hunting!
By eileenleyva
@eileenleyva (27560)
Philippines
July 17, 2010 5:45pm CST
I can't believe it but my daughter's Science teacher required each student to preserve 150 insects for their class. So, complete with net and vials, my daughter and I went up and down our sloping streets late yesterday afternoon in the hope of catching rare insects. We did catch a fly, a grasshopper and two ladybugs, after turning four corners and poking on wild grass. We were in the process of transferring our catch from the net to the vials when the mobile security guard asked us what we were doing. When we said we were insect hunting for a science project, he simply said Ma'am, the insects come out in the morning. So we went home. Even insects have to rest.
4 people like this
17 responses
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
18 Jul 10
My kids had to do that too when they were in school....so we did alot of collecting. Last night for the first time I saw lightening bugs out. Last year I helped my granddaughter catch some but we released them again...so they would be with their families! LOL
2 people like this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
18 Jul 10
jill, I have some trivia. Insects belong to the R Strategy. That means when they multiply, they leave their offsprings to live by themselves. Humans belong to the K Strategy. We take care of our offsprings.
@ET28LV (1890)
• Latvia
18 Jul 10
I do not know about insects whose we can see on the morning no I know some, but many of them is living in the nights. They like a light every night in my room I seen them, because my window is openef and light turned on when I watch tv. I have seen night buterfly, gasshopper and others. Does you doughter need them in biology. It is interesting to investigate them and learn something new. Take care, Have a nice day!
2 people like this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
18 Jul 10
I did feel like Tom Sawyer when I was holding the net on my shoulder. Glad my fellow villagers were inside their homes cooking or watching the news.
I also see some fluttering termites circling the light post at night. And they do invade me sometimes.1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161546)
• United States
18 Jul 10
Do they have to ber unique, one hundred fifty different insects? That is a large number. Some will be nocturnal, some will be out n the morning. Just as we have some early birds and some night owls. I suppose if you set up a light as a lure in the evening you would draw in quite a few.
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
18 Jul 10
I was arguing with my daughter about what will be the consequences for the ecosystem. She told me that insects are diverse and, according to her textbook, there are about 900 species. So catching some 150 insects will not harm our world.
My daughter is hoping to get some unique ones just so she could get a good grade. But all the projects will be given to the university for insect identification and future studies.
For all intents and purposes, I felt good about the activity. I feel that I am a part of Science research.
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
6 Aug 10
The butterflies and the dragonflies are kissing the bright colored flowers. The field is a delight to see in the morning. Even the gentle wind toss the reeds and the scared moths had no choice but cower in my net. I did let them go... free!
@dav20b (507)
• United States
19 Jul 10
Wow that sounds like pokemon go hunt those bugs just joking.I think it is cool since the kids get to go on a feild trip see new things and see many kinds of bugs just like a camping trip.Its much better than staying in the class all the time.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
21 Jul 10
Field work is always exciting. Even parents get to learn, ha ha!
@Nickfyoung (323)
• Australia
18 Jul 10
After church, go to the park for a picnic. Lay out your blanket on the grass and unpack all your food. You will have plenty of insects arrive before you can start eating.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
18 Jul 10
hi wow 150 insects thats going to take some doing but should be
really interesting too. I bet you were a bite startled by the security
guard but at least he did not give you any guff. Hope you two are
able to find that many insect. I suppose there really are more than'
number but its just the matter of finding them. Now katydids and
praying mantis you will likely see on tree branches and some
destructive bugs in your garden if you have one. But what of some
of the meaner ones like the tomato green hornworm, he is big and
green and ugly too. he loves to eat green tomato leaves and nice
ripe red tomatoes too.All I can say is I wish you luck and am glad
I do not have to handle them, lol lol. lol
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
18 Jul 10
Hi Hatley, those are really good tips about where to go looking, huh! I did forget about that praying mantis. Now you got me all excited. Now I want to see if can find a chameleon, too.
@Gorillafootprints925 (3586)
• United States
17 Jul 10
You should set up a trap at night because most bugs are nocturnal, and most of them are attracted to light.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
17 Jul 10
True! The whole class is actually going on a field trip in the mountains. The teacher will show them how to set a light trap.
1 person likes this
@Angelgirl16 (2171)
• United States
18 Jul 10
Hi,
What a cute story. I think you are a good mom to go out trying to catch insects for your daughter's science project. I don't know if I could have been as brave. I don't like to handle any insects or lizards (I have one in my house right now). I probably would have asked another relative or friend if they would help her. And I probably would have missed out on sharing a beautiful life experience with her, which you didn't. You're a good mom.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
20 Jul 10
Hi Angel, the most that I can do is to touch the wings of a dragon fly. But my daughter, she allows the bugs to crawl on her palms. The only creepy thing for her is the cockroach. But she had learned not to be afraid of it anymore.
I am sure you are a good mom, too, Angel. It is just probably not your cup of tea. Perhaps you are hands on when it comes to other fields, like arts, or music, or dance.
@yresh12 (3212)
• Philippines
18 Jul 10
Hi eileen!!
That must be pretty fun and exciting looking for insects like that. Wow insect hunting is a rare case and it is a nice excursion. Mother daughter bonding is very sweet. having fun and giving your daughter quality time to know you and her better is very effective to keep the communications open.
The project? 150 insects is totally insane. That is a pretty hard project. I hope you get all of those requirements soon., ^^
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
20 Jul 10
Thanks yresh, the project actually is a unique addition to my good memories box. Insect hunting was not my thing. I love nature but I didn't want to poke into the bushes and intrude into the ladybugs' world. Believe me, I felt foolish bending. It was as if somebody was watching my butt.
@tinym8 (420)
• United States
18 Jul 10
Hi Eileen,
When I was in college I had to catch a lot of insects with a net also. I had my fiance (my present husband) help me. He looked sooo funny running around in a field with the net held high over his head trying to catch some flying insects! lol
They had to be all different when I was catching them. It was fun, though. I imagine your daughter and you will have a lot of laughs while trying to accomplish this. Enjoy it! (That is a lot of insects, though)
1 person likes this
@suraj14u452 (102)
• India
18 Jul 10
ha.... ha.... its great !! that insect too have to take rest!!! i never thought of it at all
@Blogger101 (139)
• United States
18 Jul 10
Fry the bugs in a light trap! Omg bugs are like smaller bugs, they are all the same.
@GardenGerty (161546)
• United States
18 Jul 10
Do they have to ber unique, one hundred fifty different insects? That is a large number. Some will be nocturnal, some will be out n the morning. Just as we have some early birds and some night owls. I suppose if you set up a light as a lure in the evening you would draw in quite a few.
@coffeeshot (3783)
• Australia
19 Jul 10
So y ou have to help your daughter kill 150 insects for a school project? That doesn't make sense to me. I don't understand how killing is learning.
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
21 Jul 10
My elder daughter said the same thing. But the professor contended that the insect world is so diverse. Research is still in the process of identifying. The students are pretty careful not to catch the same specie. If the net catches two bugs of the same kind, the other one is to freed.
I understand your sentiment. My family had also stopped using insecticide for cockroaches and mosquitoes. We don't even disturb ant trails now. In the laboratories, the students only use 1 set of cat bones to study. There is a law prohibiting usage of guinea pigs and cats for anatomical study. The students are limited to what the university provides.
