Bugs on bushes

Need to identify minibeasts lurking among the stems and leaves of plants? WildID Bugs on bushes fold-out guide has been used by generations of visitors to FSC Field Centres.

The guide uses a simple flow chart to help you sort and identify the creatures you discover. You’ll meet:

Animals with no legs:

• Snails and slugs gliding on a trail of slime
• Earthworms tunneling through the soil
• Insect larvae of many kinds, including caterpillars and beetle grubs

Animals with jointed legs:

• Crustaceans, such as woodlice, scuttling under bark and stones
• Insects, from bugs and beetles to flies and wasps
• Spiders weaving webs to catch their prey
• Mites creeping on leaves and stems

But the guide is not just for identification. It also supports hands-on scientific investigations at KS1 and KS2.

• Identify which animals you’ve found
• Food chains and food webs: from producers to herbivores and carnivores, omnivores
• Constructung pyramids of number and biomass

Exploring minibeasts helps us understand the delicate balance of ecosystems. Each tiny creature plays a role, whether recycling nutrients, pollinating plants, or as food for other animals.