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Bugs and Backyard ButterfliesBy KRISTEN STERNBERG Although many insects can be helpful to humans and other animals, there are many that can be major pests as well. They not only annoy us on a personal level, causing discomfort with their bites or stings, but they also affect our environment in significant ways. Insects destroy resources and crops and spread disease among plants and animals. In reality, though, only a few hundred insect species really "bug" humans, even though there are more insects on earth than any other creature.
Over one million insect species have already been classified, and scientists believe that there are many more that haven't been named yet! Bugs make up close to 95% of all animal species found on the planet. They can be amazingly different in size, shape and behavior, but all have four things in common. They are made up of 1) three body parts (a head, thorax and abdomen), 2) six legs, 3) two antennae and 4) an outside skeleton. If a creature doesn't have all these characteristics then it's not an insect. (Most, but not all, insects also have one or two pairs of wings.) One bug doesn't eat much. Taken as a whole, however, insects are essential in breaking down and recycling plant and animal matter. They're beneficial (good) in other ways, too. Insects are a major food source for many creatures, including other insects. Animals that eat insects include frogs and toads, lizards, moles, birds, bats and spiders. Bug-eating animals are called "insectivores" (the suffix -vore means "eater"). Bees are useful to humans through production of honey, and they pollinate citrus and other blossoms. Insects are currently used to produce silk, wax and other products. At one time, specialists experimented with controlling insects through the use of pesticides. We now know that such experiments can have devastating effects. An example is DDT, a pesticide once widely used to kill insects that preyed upon crops. Shortly after DDT was sprayed over much of the U.S., numbers of American bald eagles and other birds of prey began to decline. When ingested (eaten) by the birds, DDT caused their eggs to have such thin shells that the babies couldn't survive. The use of DDT has been banned in this country, and researchers continue to work to come up with safe ways of controlling insect pests. A person who studies insects is called an entomologist. Entomologists examine social behavior, flight physics, migratory habits and eating patterns. They also study how bugs' bodies work, how they learn and even how they might be used in medicine or other areas that can benefit humans. There's a lot to be learned from insects, and they can be fascinating to watch. Ants perform endless, interesting chores, fireflies twinkle magically in the twilight and butterflies emerge from their cocoons in colorful splendor. More than 15,000 different kinds of butterflies are known to exist, and they are some of Earth's most admired--and least-understood--insects. Monarch butterflies, for example, travel thousands of miles in seasonal migration. Students all over North America help to track them on their journey by reporting monarch sightings and examining their behavior. From their metamorphoses (changes) from caterpillar to cocoon to butterfly, to their migratory patterns, butterflies hold many mysteries. You can bring butterflies to your own backyard by planting flowers they are attracted to and even building a butterfly house. Take a look at a recent News-Journal article for some tips and techniques on butterfly gardening. Then, check out the newspaper activities and web links provided below for more fun and learning. Try these interesting activities using The Daytona Beach News-Journal 1. Insects are an important part of food webs for many animals (and some plants, too!). Skim recent issues of The News-Journal for photos and illustrations of animals and plants of all kinds. Clip all that you find. Arrange your animals in a food web, using as many of your clippings as possible. (For a sample food web, click on the link.) You may also choose to draw additional creatures or plants. On a poster-sized sheet of paper, glue the web that you created. Display your work in a prominent place so that others can learn. (Sunshine State Standards SC.F.1.2.2, SC.G.1.2.1, SC.G.1.2.2, SC.G.1.2.4, SC.G.1.2.5)
2. Many fish depend upon insects for their survival, and Central Florida is renowned for its fishing opportunities. Use The News-Journal to find and read articles on fishing lore. If possible, arrange a fishing trip on your own or with friends or family members. (Sunshine State Standard FL.A.1.2.2, SC.F.1.2.2) 3. The News-Journal recently published several stories about butterfly gardens, some of which are open to the public. You can find information about one such garden by reading the newspaper article about the Butterflies and Bloomers garden. Plan, if possible, to visit a butterfly garden with a friend. Later, arrange to give an informal presentation about what you saw and learned during your visit. (Sunshine State Standards FL.A.1.2.2, SC.B.2.2.1, SC.G.1.2.3, SC.G.1.2.4, SC.G.1.2.6, SC.G.1.2.7) 4. Farming (agriculture), tourism and recreation are areas in which insects sometimes adversely affect human activities or interests. Newspaper stories about these issues are published routinely. Use The News-Journal to find three examples of how insects or products made by insects, are used to make people's lives safer, healthier or more comfortable. Can an insect be both harmful and helpful? (Sunshine State Standards SS.B.2.2.2, SS.D.1.2.1) 5. The News-Journal regularly publishes news, stories, advice and tips on gardening. Features typically include how to attract certain insects and repel (keep away) others. Consult the paper routinely and clip out any interesting information you find. If possible, enlist the help of family members to start a small garden of your own. (Sunshine State Standards SC.F.1.2.2, SC.G.1.2.3, SC.G.1.2.4, SC.G.1.2.6, SC.G.1.2.7) A copy of Florida's Sunshine State Standards can be found at intech2000.miamisci.org. Check out these links to learn more
Get ready for some fun at this site hosted by the University of Kentucky. Try your skills at identifying the mystery bug and find insect stories, fun and games. www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/ythfacts/bugfun/bugfun.htm View the life cycle of a monarch, from caterpillar to butterfly, at this entertaining site. Its information, links and graphics may amaze you. www.muohio.edu/dragonfly/cycle/index.htmlx You'll find some cool activities by following the next link: Imagine creating your own butterfly, making a butterfly mobile or planting a butterfly garden. www.eduscapes.com/42explore/butter.htm Witnessing the antics of fireflies (sometimes called lightning bugs) can be fascinating. For more about fireflies, visit this site from Ohio State University, with interesting links to "Firefly Facts" and "Firefly Fun." IRIS.biosci.ohio-state.edu:80/projects/FFiles/ A virtual insect world awaits you, and it's all in 3-D. www.ento.vt.edu/~sharov/3d/3dinsect.html Want to know more about how to attract insects to your garden? Visit this interesting site for information on gardening and beneficial bugs. www.gardenersnet.com/atoz/insect.htm The Newspaper Association of America’s website offers links to many newspapers in the U.S. and around the world, which may contain additional news stories about this topic. To access the newspapers at the site, select a state. Click on the "Internationals" button to view choices from other countries. The Daytona Beach News-Journal NIE Program, published June 10, 2002 |
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