How to Catch and Release Bugs

Find Bugs to Catch and Release

• 1

  Look under rocks and boards. Ants, termites and crickets, as well as other bugs, can be found in such locations.

• 2

  Search near streams and ponds for dragonflies, true bugs, flies and certain beetles. Some bugs can be found in the water, as well.

• 3

  Check under loose bark and inside logs for termites and ants. Beetles, such as tiger beetles and bark beetles, are also found in these locations.

• 4

  Find grasshoppers, flies, leafhoppers and plant bugs on and around plants. Spittlebugs, aphids and beetles can also be found on and around plants.

• 5

  Scour dumps and manure piles for flies, roaches, earwigs and beetles.

• 6

  Look indoors for centipedes, beetles, roaches, silverfish, flies and termites. You may also find moths and ants indoors.

Start Capturing Bugs

• 7

  Purchase or borrow an insect net.

• 8

  Obtain a collecting jar (a jar with a lid).

• 9

  Secure paper and a pen or a pencil.

• 10

  Secure a hammer and a very thin nail.

• 11

  Hammer the nail into the lid of your collecting jar to make a hole. Repeat to make three or four small holes for air.

• 12

  Use the insect net to capture insects.

• 13

  Transfer your captured insects into your collecting jar.

Observe Your Bugs

• 14

  Find a comfortable place to sit and observe your bugs.

• 15

  Check to determine whether you caught insects or other types of bugs. Insects generally have six legs and three body parts.

• 16

  Look closely at your collecting jar to determine whether you caught any spiders. They generally have eight legs, two fangs and two feelers.

• 17

  Count the legs of the bugs you captured. Bugs with more than eight legs may be arthropods, such as millipedes or centipedes.

• 18

  Record your observations using your pen and paper.

Release Your Bugs

• 19

  Turn your collecting jar on its side.

• 20

  Unscrew the lid and allow your bugs to crawl or fly out.