Minibeasts

We did some research on minibeasts…..

Knockconan NS 2010

Minibeasts!

All of these creepy crawlies can be called mini-beasts!

Insects

Arachnids (spiders)

Crustaceans (woodlice)

Myriapods (centipedes/millipedes)

Molluscs (slugs and snails)

Worms

What do minibeasts have in common?

They do not have a backbone (spine)

They are called invertebrates(Like all mammals we have a backbone so we are

called vertebrates)

They have an outer body skeleton. As well as keeping the body solid, it also helps to protect them

from harm.

How to identify a minibeast

• Count the legs and follow this rule:

0 legs = Worms, slugs and snails

6 legs = insects

8 legs = spiders

14 legs = woodlice

More than 14 legs = centipedes and millipedes

• Use a ‘key’ or a wildlife book

Snails• Snails live in damp places, among plants and

under stones• They are molluscs• In very dry weather snails pull their bodies

inside their shells and the slimy mucus forms a plug.

• There are about 8,000 different species (types) of millipede.

• They live in the soil and feed mainly on rotting plants.

• Some can curl into balls!

• Millipedes have two pairs of legs on each segment but most have about a hundred legs (despite their name meaning “thousand legs!)

• Centipedes are good hunters. They come out at night and feed on animals such as slugs, woodlice and earwigs.

• They kill their prey with poison!

• Giant centipedes which over 30cm long live in rainforests.

• Caterpillars are the young of butterflies and moths.

• They feed on leaves.• When a caterpillar is

fully grown it becomes a pupa.

• Earwigs eat small flies or plants.

• The pincers on their abdomen are for grasping their prey and defending themselves.

• There are many species of fly.

• The larvae (young) is known as a maggot.

• Flies have one pair of wings, and a second very small pair called halteres, to help them balance.

• Bees feed on pollen and nectar.• This is then turned into honey for the larvae (the

young)• Different bees have different jobs. • Drones are males whose only job is to mate with

the Queen. Then they die. • The Queen lays eggs. • Worker bees who are undeveloped females,

find food and look after the young.

Dragonflies• Dragonflies and

damsel flies live near water.

• Their young, called nymphs, live in the water.

• They are predators and eat small insects, tadpoles and small fish

Beetles• There are more

species of beetle than there are of plants or any other animals.

• Beetles have hard wing cases and their bodes are divided into three sections; head, thorax and abdomen.

• Ladybirds are small beetles.

• There are different species of ladybirds which have different numbers of spots.

• The 13 spot ladybird is thought to be extinct.

Mosquitoes• Mosquitoes are

blood sucking flies.• Some mosquitoes

carry the fatal malaria disease.

• They are not thought to be harmful in Ireland.

Worms• Earthworms live in soil

all over the world.• Some grow to over 3m

long• They have segmented

bodies with bristles to help them grip the soil and move along.

• Earthworms eat rotting matter and soil and they help to aerate the soil so gardeners and farmers love them!

Spiders• Spiders are

arachnids.• They eat flies and

other insect pests.

• Some spiders can be deadly.

• Spiders in Ireland are harmless

Where can you find minibeasts?

leaf litter

rotten logs

under stones and bits of wood

on trees and bushes

soil

Lots of places!

How do you find minbeasts?

You have to look very carefully!

Many minibeasts use camouflage to protect themselves

This means they try to look like part of their habitat

(the place where they live)

Be careful

Be gentle

If you pick up a minibeast remember to put it back where you found it