19th - 25th June Insect Week

Insect Week

19th - 25th June

Insect Week is observed every year in the last full week of June. This year, it takes place from June 19 to 25. It’s a one-of-a-kind event for those who are fascinated by insects and entomology and is run in the UK by the Royal Entomological Society. Their website is amazing. Look at the winners of the photography competition. 

Insects are an important part of the earth’s ecosystem. They are a vital source of food for birds, fish and animals. In addition, they pollinate crops and plants and break down plant and animal matter. Over one million species of insects have been discovered and described, but it is estimated that there may be as many as 10 million species on earth. Scientists estimate that insects make up to 90% of all species of animals on the planet and more than half of all living things.

All insects have:

1. Six legs.
2. Three body sections (head, thorax and abdomen)
3. Pair of antennae.
4. Compound eyes.
5. Most have wings.
6. Three or four stage life cycle (egg, larva or nymphs, pupa and adult)

Insects can be found in every habitat on earth from hot deserts to snow-covered mountains, some such as termites and ants live in large colonies. Others, like the praying mantis and some bees and wasps, are solitary only coming together to mate.

Year 1 at school do a unit of inquiry bases on minibeasts and most of the animals they actually look at are insects. They focus on butterflies, ants and bees, but cicadas, stick insects and beetles are also popular, so the library has an abundance of books to satisfy these budding entomologists.

Talking of entomologists...start with these picture book biographies

• The Bug Girl  by Margaret McNamara and Sophia Spencer

Real-life 7-year-old Sophia Spencer was bullied for loving bugs until hundreds of women scientists rallied around her. Now Sophie tells her inspiring story in this picture book that celebrates women in science, bugs of all kinds, and the importance of staying true to yourself. 

• Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist by Christine Evans 

Back in 1881, when Evelyn Cheesman was born, English girls were expected to be clean and dressed in frilly dresses. But Evelyn crawled in dirt and collected glow worms in jars. When girls grew up they were expected to marry and look after children. But Evelyn took charge of the London Zoo insect house, filling it with crawling and fluttering specimens and breathing life back into the dusty exhibits. 

• Summer Birds, the Butterflies of Maria Merian by Margarita Engle

In the Middle Ages, people believed that insects were evil, born from mud in a process called spontaneous generation. Maria Merian was only a child, but she disagreed. She watched carefully as caterpillars spun themselves cocoons, which opened to reveal summer birds, or butterflies and moths. Maria studied the whole life cycle of the summer birds, and documented what she learned in vibrant paintings.

• The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science by Joyce Sidman

One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly. 

The following insect books are quite recent and you may not have seen them.  Check them out!

• Pollination: How my Garden Grows by Christopher Cheng

• Wonderful Wasps by Katrina Germein

• Butterflies for Kids, A Junior Scientist's Guide by Lauren Davidson

• Insects for Kids, A Junior Scientist's Guide  by Sharman Johnston

• The Butterfly and the Ants  by Kate McCabe

• Searching for Cicadas by Lesley Gibbes

• The Girl Who Loves Bugs  by Lily Murray and Jenny Lovlie