Spring is a great time of year to learn about minibeasts and their life cycles. Minibeasts are fascinating creatures that you've probably seen in the garden, in parks, and maybe even indoors. Minibeasts have incredible life cycles, sometimes completely transforming between stages.
What are minibeasts?
Minibeasts are basically small invertebrate animals (without a backbone). Examples of minibeasts are spiders, slugs, beetles, butterflies, earwigs, and many more. Did you know that Britain has more than 25,000 known species of invertebrates?
Properties of invertebrate animals.
Since invertebrates do not have a skeleton, they are usually soft and bend easily, which makes them quite vulnerable. Some species have a shell to live in, like a snail, or a harder outer skeleton (exoskeleton) that protects their soft body.
Why are Minibeasts useful?
Some Minibeasts are decomposers. They feed on dead leaves and other debris, releasing nutrients into the soil that plants can easily absorb.
Bees, butterflies and moths spread pollen, which fertilizes flowers.
Minibeasts are an important part of the food chain and are consumed by birds and other small mammals.
Minibeast life cycles
Butterfly life cycle
What is metamorphosis?
Did you know that butterflies and moths have four separate stages in their life cycle, each of which is very different and serves a different purpose? Between stages, there is a distinctive change in the animal's body structure, which we call metamorphosis.
The egg
The egg is small and round; the female butterfly attaches it to a leaf or stem on or near the food.
Caterpillar
The caterpillar, also known as the larva, looks a bit like a small worm and often has stripes and spine-like hairs. Caterpillars grow very quickly and shed their skin several times along the way.
The chrysalis
The Chrysalis or Pupa is the stage where the structure of the caterpillar breaks and the structure of the adult Butterfly or Moth is formed.
butterfly or moth
This is the adult stage, butterflies are much more mobile than caterpillars and also mate and lay eggs.
Minibeast life cycle activities
Make your own butterfly spinner wheel
We made a spinning wheel to illustrate the life cycle. You can make your own by following the instructions below or use my handy template.
Materials
Two cardboard circles, one smaller than the other.
Barrette
Felt pens
Instructions
Cut a window in your smallest circle.
Draw the life cycle in the largest circle.
Secure with a pin.
Minibeasts and their life cycles.
Butterfly life cycle
Buggy and Buddy have a great time butterfly life cycle paper plate.
We love this pantler butterfly life cycle from Mama Señorita too.
Remember, I have fun edible butterfly life cycle activity too! Fruits, vegetables and even sweets are great ideas for each stage.
Ant life cycle
This ant life cycle craft It's just lovely from Stir the Wonder.
Easy Bug House
Did you know that you can make a easy insect house Using just an empty drink bottle and some sticks? This one from Red Ted Art looks great.
Homemade worm
TO homemade worm It's a great way to learn about worms. As the worms move, you will see the layers of soil and sand mix together.
Frog life cycle
Use my handy template to create your own frog life cycle roulette.
Don't forget to check out my other one. spring science ideas.
Last updated on April 26, 2024 by Emma Vanstone
