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Insect Architects

Activity

How Bugs Build Their Homes and Choose Materials

Go on a nature walk to find insect homes. How do different insects build their homes? What materials do they use? Where do they choose to build?

Science Seed

Some insects create homes in ways that can be destructive, like pine bark beetles, which harm forests, and termites, which damage wooden structures. However, many insects build nests that are beneficial, such as silk-producing caterpillars that spin silk for their protective cocoons. Insects in Houston also build homes from materials like mud (such as mud dauber wasps), leaves (like leafcutter ants, which use leaves to cultivate fungi for food), and resins (such as sawflies, which use tree sap). These insects play important roles in their ecosystems, from pollination to soil health!

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore Billy Reagan K-8 Education Center

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

This project was made possible by HEB.