Look around and you’ll find bugs everywhere! From hot and humid rain forest habitats to snowy mountain ranges and just about everywhere in between, it turns out there’s an estimated 10 quintillion (10,000,000,000,000,000,000) bugs on earth. These creepy, crawly critters actually make up as much as 80 percent of the species on our planet! And they’re older than dinosaurs. That’s right, bugs have been around for roughly 350 million years. Compare that to humans: we’ve only been around for 300,000 years.
Bugs are amazing. They pollinate our crops, help monitor water quality, produce ingenious materials humans use like silk and honey, and some can even be cooked up as tasty, nutritious snacks! Ant, beetle, stick bug or butterfly, every bug has its own unique traits and habits.
Keep scrolling to learn about different kinds of insects, scientists who study them, and the impact they have on the environment with the videos, games and activities below.
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Learn All About Bugs
Bugs Song | Sesame Street
Grades PreK-K
Dragonflies, fireflies, beetles, and more bugs take center stage in this catchy song. This song can help children learn about different kinds of insects.
Water Bugs and Water Quality | Spot on Science
Grades 3-8
A bug in your water? It might be a good thing! Join Margaret in Spot on Science to learn how counting water bugs helps scientists track water quality.
Dare to Taste Bugs? | Serving Up Science
Grades 6-12
Crunch into a culinary adventure with Chef Junior Merino as he whips up delicious dishes featuring edible insects! Explore the history of insect consumption and a world of sustainable, protein-packed cuisine.
What Makes a Bug a True Bug? | What’s Bugging You?
Grades 6-12
Not all bugs are true bugs! Join entomologist Dr. Art Evans as he breaks down what makes a real “bug” in the insect world.
These Carnivorous Worms Catch Bugs by Mimicking the Night Sky | Deep Look
Grades 6-12
Step into the glowing world of New Zealand’s Waitomo Caves, where bioluminescent worms put on a starry show to lure their next meal!
Ask An Entomologist!
Incredible Insects | Hands-On Science
Grades K-5
Dr. Giebink, better known as Bruce the Bug Guy, showcases a variety of incredible insects in display boxes. Watch as he invites kids in the audience to interact with live insects like moths, Madagascar cockroaches, and giant millipedes.
Scientist Profile: Entomologist
Grades 3-5
This DragonflyTV segment introduces Dr. Betty Faber, an entomologist who studies the complexities of cockroaches. Here, she discusses her research on how cockroaches have managed to survive for more than 250 million years.
Spider Biologist | Great Job!
Grades 6-8
Some consider Dr. Todd Blackledge a real-life Spiderman. A professor at the University of Akron, he is immersed in the study of spiders – and their extraordinarily powerful webs. Look on as Dr. Blackledge locates webs in the wild, then, follow him back to his lab where he demonstrates how to extract spider silk from a live spider, and test its strength.
Forest Entomologist | Georgia Forests II
Grades 9-12
Kamal Gandhi is a forest entomologist at the University of Georgia. Gandhi studies organisms, like insects that live in the forests, and their population and community aspects.
Activities, Books & More!
Make a Dragonfly | Dinosaur Train
Grades PreK-K
Did you know dragonflies have been around since the time of the dinosaurs? Watch, learn, and build your own dragonfly with this fun activity from Dinosaur Train!
Family Activity: Is It an Insect? | Elinor Wonders Why
Grades PreK-K
Let’s learn how to identify an insect! Use what you learned to find the insects hiding among other bugs in a picture. Then follow the directions to make your own field guide to insects and take it with you on an insect hunt!
Archerfish Bug Rush Game
Grades K-2
Ready, set, splash! Take aim with Wild Kratts’s Archerfish Bug Rush game and learn how archerfish use their amazing skills to catch bugs.
Bugs | Reading Rainbow Stories
Grades K-5
Learn about all sorts of bugs—what they look like, their habits, and where they live—with a read aloud of the book Bugs! LeVar Burton explains why it’s important to study bugs and insects, and how reference books help us identify bugs.
How to Find Bugs with “The Bug Chicks” | Science Around Cincy
Grades 3-8
Kristie and Jessica from The Bug Chicks teach us the best places to find bugs! Watch as they uncover bugs in Cincinnati. Then make your own bug net or insect pitfall trap to capture and study the bugs living in your own backyard.