Best science education insect kits according to redditors
We found 7 Reddit comments discussing the best science education insect kits. We ranked the 5 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 7 Reddit comments discussing the best science education insect kits. We ranked the 5 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
This is what I use currently but I plan on making one of [these this year] (https://youtu.be/GsE77b4tn30)
I went to a Vo-Ag high school where we had an entomology class for river and stream management (yes, we went on fishing field trips!!). We would go to the local tail waters with a net like this and would stick it in the water down stream of us and kick around the rocks and let everything flow in to the net. Then we would put the insects in vials like these, which allowed us to study them. You can even fill them with formaldehyde and bring them with you to make a permanent collection. If you used the links to buy those items you’ll save a ton of money that you can spend on tying materials etc. That’s just my 2 cents.
Edit to add: this net is more suitable
Nice hair; great shot.
If interested in looking at bugs, you can purchase an 'aspirator' to vacuum up the really tiny ants and bugs and mite and whatnot into a collection tube. I usually put a small amount of ethanol in bottom of the tube to just straight-away preserve the bugs. The aspirators typically look like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Carolina-Biological-Supply-Company-Aspirator/dp/B005VDNICI
There are a lot of different options if you think the mouth operated one is too weird, as you can see here:
https://www.bioquip.com/Search/WebCatalog.asp?category=2700&prodtype=1
Also would want some tweezer to move things around, just some fine ones that you get at the pharmacy or general store will work.
Other stuff... a lot of leaves and plants with tiny features are interesting to look at (especially lit from underneath)... ferns and mosses and whatnot are cool. Sand can also be rad, very different from different beaches or areas; sometimes its just a pile of amazing, fully-formed, miniature shells.
The bucket looks too short on that one, but this one which was in the "Customers who viewed this item also viewed" part looks exactly like my daughter's. Thanks!
Get something like this. There great for flipping rocks and logs. The sturdier one you get the heavier you things can move. This will help keep you out of reach of any western rattlesnake, scorpions, spiders, rodents, whatever the hell else you got up there. Can be used for digging as well.
https://m.lowes.com/pd/Corona-Extendable-7-in-Carbon-Steel-Multipurpose-Garden-Hand-Tool/3031679?cm_mmc=SCE_PLA-_-LawnGarden-_-LawnAndGardenTools-_-3031679:Corona&CAWELAID=&kpid=3031679&CAGPSPN=pla&store_code=2683&k_clickID=a3e9d552-5f4b-4aed-8f80-04c44ad6e0eb&gclid=CjwKEAjw7J3KBRCxv93Q3KSukXQSJADzFzVSN7MjtS-3BfLUjrnV0jX4gYlkvTscAnI8QbclntBPdxoCDzHw_wcB
Don't put your hands where you can't see.
Be up uphill or out of the way so nothing rolls over you when moving stuff.
Lift things towards you (pull the rock toward you with a tool "opening" it away from you.) this will block critters under it from tagging your feet.
Several different sizes of deli containers with small holes put in them for storage (or plastic vials). You can use med-lrg ones for culturing if that is something your also interested. I recommend it.
search the web for different kinds of insect nets, aquatic insect nets (sturdier netting), beating stick and sheet, and when you get lazy traps and lights (I like funneled pit traps)
Aspirator like this ( https://www.amazon.com/Carolina-Biological-Supply-Company-Aspirator/dp/B005VDNICI ) are great for collecting smaller bugs.
Check out places like bioquip.com, stuff is to expensive, its good for ideas. Everything can be made or improvised cheaply.
Try a ton of collection places you will learn hot spots for activity, day-night cycles and season can change everything.
if you live in a community that has irrigation or a park with it, open the irrigation boxes.
be careful try not to (or get caught) trespassing. Folks are suspicious of a weirdo wandering and poking at things, tell the your an amateur entomologist and show them some bugs you just caught. They will usually just write you of as some harmless nerd.
If you feel the need carry mace/bear mace, for hostile animals/people go ahead.
PHONE WITH SIGNAL! and/or a partner if going anywhere you can get your ass lost!
Some of this is probably overkill for Oregon, I'm in AZ its hard to find stuff that won't envenomate you and I used to wander in the desert a lot, without a partner. (don't do that)
This bug viewer jar for $4.62
Yay bugs!
What kind of dead stuff do they like?
Creepy Critters?
Insects?
Mammals?
Reptiles?
Sea Creatures?
Skeletons?
Skulls?