Entomology

Entomology is an interest of yours if you’ve ever chased butterflies or caught ladybugs to get a closer look at them. You’ve been attracted to the largest group of organisms on earth – insects – and the 4-H entomology project may be just for you.

Entomology, Level 1

Learn about insects, their behavior and their life history. As you learn about the parts of insects, you’ll discover different ways of collecting insects, observe their behavior and differences, learn how insects communicate, how they see, about their habits, how to control them and how they move.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

This level may take up to three years to complete. You must complete a minimum of seven activities and participate in two entomology project leadership experiences each year (such as giving a demonstration, participating in a judging activity, taking a tour, exhibiting your project, or attending a workshop).

MATERIALS

M Teaming with Insects, Level 1, BU8440

Entomology, Level 2

You’ll have fun assembling proper collecting equipment, locating places where insects can be found, collecting insects at night and learning how to pin and label. Discover how insects use color to communicate, understand what insects eat and see how they develop and grow. You’ll build an extractor and a separator, learn how to read insect control labels and explore careers in entomology.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

You’ll need to complete a minimum of seven activities and participate in at least two leadership experiences. The level may take up to three years to complete.

MATERIALS

M Teaming with Insects, Level 2, BU8441

Entomology, Level 3

You may need additional resources to complete some of the activities in this level. Learn how to raise mealworms with different amounts of food, observe a colony of ants, manipulate bee behavior, organize an insect club, make an identification key that others can use and explore how insects detect different odors. You’ll plant a butterfly garden, raise mosquitoes in a rearing chamber and find and prepare a spider’s web for display.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

Complete a minimum of seven activities and two leadership experiences each year (such as giving a demonstration, participating in a judging activity, taking a tour, exhibiting your project or attending a workshop). This level may take up to three years to complete.