|
Tuesday, 12 August 2008 |
www.royensoc.co.uk
Insects are by far the most
diverse and ecologically
important group of animals in our
environment, with hundreds of
species to be found in almost
every garden. Although some
insect species have the potential to
be garden pests, most are harmless
or beneficial. The royal
entomological society has an
online guide to help pick out some
of the insects that you are likely to
see, share some of the amazing
facts that entomologists have
uncovered about them, and
suggest ways that you can help
maintain insect biodiversity in your garden.
Other sites of interest to insect enthusiasts include www.buglife.co.uk, where Europe’s
largest invertebrate conservation organisation strives to encourage people to get to know their
insect neighbours a little more intimately. They are actively engaged in saving Britain’s rarest
bugs, slugs, snails, bees, wasps, ants, spiders, beetles and many more fascinating little creatures,
and present their conservation projects on their site, as well as practical tips on how to make a
hotel for bees or hibernation facilities for other insects.
Children may be inspired by the national Insect Week website –
www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk: a host of ideas and information about the commonest insect
species are presented in a colourful, child-friendly format. It is easy to miss the little things in
life and these sites do a splendid job of changing the way we look at beetles, mites and
other invertebrates.
|
