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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