Download BBC Breathing Places Schools Who`s that minibeast?

Who’s that minibeast
Slug:
– It might be hard to tell them apart, but there are more than
30 different types of slug in the UK.
– Usually seen April to November, slugs love to live in dark, damp
places under stones and logs or in soil, which keeps them moist
and slimy.
– Slugs are a popular meal with lots of wildlife, including hedgehogs,
many birds, foxes and beetles.
Snail:
– Found all over the UK, snails carry a hard shell on their back and
move along on one long, slimy foot.
– A snail retracts into its shell to hide when in danger.
– The feelers on a snail’s head help it to find leaves to eat.
Worm:
– Worms have existed for a staggering 600 million years.
– A worm can live for up to 10 years.
– You can find worms all over the UK, all year round. They usually live
in the top 30cm of soil.
– Worms’ bodies are covered in little ridges and have tiny hairs on,
which help them to move through soil.
Woodlouse:
– There are 35 to 40 species of woodlice in the UK. Woodlice like
to hide in cracks in walls, under stones and in compost heaps.
– Woodlice belong to the crustacean family and are related to lobsters
and crabs – even though they don’t live in the sea!
– Woodlice can live for 3 or 4 years.
1. Term 2 Who’s that minibeast?
BBC Breathing Places Schools
Spider:
– There are 640 species of spider in the UK.
– Many spiders feed on small insects and are commonly found on
bushes and other vegetation in woodland, gardens and parks.
Millipede:
– There are over 50 species of millipede in the UK.
– Millipedes can be found under stones and logs, in leaf litter
and damp, shady places.
– Millipedes eat dead and living vegetation.
– The most recorded number of legs found on a single millipede is 750!
Centipede:
– There are 44 different species of centipede in the UK.
– Centipedes have at least 15 pairs of legs and a body of
2-3cm in length.
– They’re nocturnal and love the dark, so you can find centipedes
by lifting up stones or logs or by digging in the ground.
Grasshopper:
– Seen May to October, most grasshoppers like to live in long grass.
They are herbivores and some species only eat grass.
– The male grasshopper uses its back legs to rub against its wings and
make noise to attract females.
– Grasshoppers’ legs are really powerful and they can use them
to jump away from danger.
Lacewing:
– There are 18 species of lacewing in the UK.
– Pretty lacewings are mainly green in colour, seen in the UK
April to October.
– Lacewings are 2-3cm long and have two pairs of transparent
wings with fine veins which make them look like lace –
which is how they got their name.
Beetle:
– There are plenty of different beetles to look out for in many shapes
and colours – around 4,000 different species in the UK alone!
– Most beetles can fly but are usually found on plants or on
the ground.
– Some are predators, some eat plants and others are parasites.
– Beetles like various habitats. Nocturnal species prefer to look for
food in the dark.
2. Term 2 Who’s that minibeast?
BBC Breathing Places Schools
Ladybird:
– There are 46 different types of ladybird in the UK, usually seen
March to October.
– These colourful bugs are actually a type of beetle.
– Underneath their bright outer shells are hidden wings.
Earwig:
– There are four species of native earwig in the UK plus two that
were introduced.
– The earwig lives under stones, in compost heaps or, any small,
dark crevice.
– Earwigs can be seen all year round in the UK but, in the summer,
they like to live in places high off the ground.
Butterfly:
– There are 56 species of butterfly in the UK.
– Butterflies have an interesting life cycle (from caterpillars to beautiful
butterflies) and they are a very good early warning sign of changes
in the environment.
Moth:
– Over 2,400 species of moth have been recorded in the UK.
– Moths have a reputation for coming out at night, but there are over
100 different types of day-flying moth.
– Moths are vital for pollinating flowers and also a favourite food
for birds.
Caterpillar:
– Caterpillars are the larvae of butterflies, moths or sawflies.
– The hungry caterpillar eats all day long for weeks until it’s time
to turn into a chrysalis and eventually a butterfly, moth or sawfly.
Ant:
– There are over 50 species of ant in the UK.
– Ants can be found all over the garden, all year round.
– Some species are vegetarian, some are carnivorous and some
eat both meat and vegetation.
Bee:
– There are many different types of bee including bumblebees,
honeybees and solitary bees.
– Bees are brilliant pollinators and some species are essential
for pollinating specific plants.
– Bees can be found in gardens, meadows and parks –
anywhere with flowers or blossom.
3. Term 2 Who’s that minibeast?
BBC Breathing Places Schools
Wasp:
– There are about 350 species of wasp in the UK. Most are solitary
and cause no bother to humans at all.
– Wasps may not be your favourite insect, but they’re good for
gardens. They provide insect pest control and help pollinate flowers.
– Social wasps are the ones you are most likely to see – and worry
about getting stung by. Even they are useful – for clearing up fallen
fruit and carrion.
Fly:
– From bluebottles to greenbottles, horseflies to hoverflies, there are
nearly 7,000 known species of fly.
– Flies are an important source of food for birds and other minibeasts.
Crane fly:
– The crane fly is part of the fly family and there are around 300
species in the UK, seen June to October.
– Commonly known as ‘daddy-longlegs’.
– Crane flies are found in fields with short grass, but also inside houses
during the summer when attracted to bright lights at night.
Aphid:
– Blackfly and greenfly are the most common species, and there
are over 500 species found in the UK.
– We know aphids as pests because they can destroy garden plants,
but aphids are an important part of the food chain and help to keep
a natural balance in the garden.
– Aphids are an ant’s best friend: ants stroke them to encourage the
secretion of honeydew, which they feed off. In turn, ants protect
aphids from predators such as ladybirds.
4. Term 2 Who’s that minibeast?
BBC Breathing Places Schools