Humans Humans and and

MinibeastsMinibeasts

Questions to think Questions to think about...about...

What effect does human behaviour What effect does human behaviour have on mini beasts and their have on mini beasts and their habitat? habitat?

How can humans help with making How can humans help with making sure that the natural habitats of mini sure that the natural habitats of mini beasts are not destroyed? beasts are not destroyed?

Your task:Your task:

Make a brochure, Make a brochure, pamphlet or poster pamphlet or poster that shows how that shows how humans can help humans can help care for the natural care for the natural habitat of habitat of minibeasts and the minibeasts and the environment they environment they live in.live in.

Where do minibeasts Where do minibeasts live?live?

We can find We can find minibeasts living in minibeasts living in all sorts of all sorts of environments environments including:including: Around buildingsAround buildings In gardensIn gardens In ponds and In ponds and

streamsstreams

Around buildingsAround buildings Have you noticed ladybirds, spiders, moths and Have you noticed ladybirds, spiders, moths and

butterflies living in window frames and window butterflies living in window frames and window sills? Some small minibeasts also live on the walls sills? Some small minibeasts also live on the walls of buildings.of buildings.

Minibeasts also live outside buildings under pot Minibeasts also live outside buildings under pot plants, under cracks in the ground and behind plants, under cracks in the ground and behind guttering pipes.guttering pipes.

If you move further away from the If you move further away from the buildings and look for creatures in the buildings and look for creatures in the grass and topsoil, you will find ants, grass and topsoil, you will find ants, earthworms, millipedes and centipedes. earthworms, millipedes and centipedes.

In GardensIn Gardens

In gardens, you might find long grass, In gardens, you might find long grass, wildflowers, shrubs, trees, rotting logs, wildflowers, shrubs, trees, rotting logs, large stones and rocks, and sometimes a large stones and rocks, and sometimes a pond. You might find many different small pond. You might find many different small animals living their according to the animals living their according to the season.season.

Rotting logs provide an excellent habitat Rotting logs provide an excellent habitat for many minibeasts. Some beetles need for many minibeasts. Some beetles need rotting wood to provide food for young rotting wood to provide food for young grubs as soon as they are hatched. Both grubs as soon as they are hatched. Both slugs and snails like the moist conditions slugs and snails like the moist conditions in the damp ground beneath a log.in the damp ground beneath a log.

If you lift the moss on rotting logs, If you lift the moss on rotting logs, you may be able to find tiny spiders you may be able to find tiny spiders and larvae. Some slugs live under and larvae. Some slugs live under stones and are never exposed to stones and are never exposed to light. If you dig gently in the soil light. If you dig gently in the soil under stones, you might be able to under stones, you might be able to find earthworms and flatworms. find earthworms and flatworms.

Ponds and StreamsPonds and Streams Ponds and streams Ponds and streams

are home to many are home to many creatures. Many creatures. Many species can be found species can be found in the mud layer at in the mud layer at the bottom of a pond. the bottom of a pond. At the edge of the At the edge of the pond you might find pond you might find mosquitoes, and mosquitoes, and many insects might many insects might be found in flower be found in flower heads.heads.

Sometimes, you might find Sometimes, you might find a a

variety of creatures on the variety of creatures on the

surface, such as pond surface, such as pond skaters,skaters,

beetles and water spiders. beetles and water spiders.

Care must be taken near water and Care must be taken near water and when dipping in ponds. To avoid when dipping in ponds. To avoid disturbing the animals, study them in disturbing the animals, study them in their natural habitats without their natural habitats without removing them. This is best done removing them. This is best done using the appropriate equipment. using the appropriate equipment. Nets can be used to capture Nets can be used to capture creatures living in ponds and creatures living in ponds and streams. streams.

Pollution Pollution

Humans can effect the Humans can effect the habitats of minibeasts habitats of minibeasts and other animals and other animals through pollution. through pollution.

In some cases wildlife In some cases wildlife populations have populations have suffered severe losses suffered severe losses or even faced or even faced extinction due to extinction due to pollution.pollution.

What is pollution?What is pollution?

Pollution occurs when the natural environment Pollution occurs when the natural environment becomes contaminated with harmful substances as a becomes contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human actions. consequence of human actions.

Some forms of pollution can kill wildlife, they are Some forms of pollution can kill wildlife, they are known as toxic pollutants. Examples include some known as toxic pollutants. Examples include some types of chemicals, oil, toxic metals, and acid rain.types of chemicals, oil, toxic metals, and acid rain.

Other forms of pollution can affect wildlife by changing Other forms of pollution can affect wildlife by changing or destroying their habitat. Examples include the or destroying their habitat. Examples include the destruction of grasslands and swamps.destruction of grasslands and swamps.

Food ChainFood Chain

What happens, if for example, we kill all the spiders?What happens, if for example, we kill all the spiders?

What eats spiders?What eats spiders? Birds, snakes, frogs, toads, lizards, beetles, centipedes, Birds, snakes, frogs, toads, lizards, beetles, centipedes,

wasps, and bigger spiders like to eat them. wasps, and bigger spiders like to eat them.

Why spiders are good?Why spiders are good? Even though they can bite, spiders are our friends. They eat Even though they can bite, spiders are our friends. They eat

more insects than birds do, especially yellow flies, which more insects than birds do, especially yellow flies, which really bite people a lot. Spiders don’t see very well. If you really bite people a lot. Spiders don’t see very well. If you stay more than a foot away from them, they can’t even see stay more than a foot away from them, they can’t even see you, and they certainly can’t bite you. If a spider gets on you, and they certainly can’t bite you. If a spider gets on you, the only thing it wants to do is get off. Don’t squash you, the only thing it wants to do is get off. Don’t squash him; just flip him off. He may eat the bug that was going to him; just flip him off. He may eat the bug that was going to sting you tomorrow! sting you tomorrow!

Environment – Environment –

how can you help how can you help protect it?protect it?

The following slides include ideas to The following slides include ideas to help reduce the threats to our help reduce the threats to our environment. environment.

Ideas to HelpIdeas to Help Avoid using chemical Avoid using chemical

sprays in the garden - sprays in the garden - some of these can be some of these can be poisonous to wildlife.poisonous to wildlife.

The use of pesticides and The use of pesticides and herbicides contribute to a herbicides contribute to a reduction in minibeasts. If reduction in minibeasts. If you have a garden at you have a garden at home, you could home, you could transform it into a mini transform it into a mini nature reserve for nature reserve for wildlife. The same could wildlife. The same could be done in your school be done in your school grounds. grounds.

It's best to let the birds eat It's best to let the birds eat the cabbage-munching the cabbage-munching caterpillars, the hedgehogs caterpillars, the hedgehogs and toads deal with the and toads deal with the lettuce-loving slugs and the lettuce-loving slugs and the ladybirds dine on the ladybirds dine on the greenfly!greenfly!

Creating a wildlife Creating a wildlife garden:garden:

2. Make a wildflower meadow. 2. Make a wildflower meadow. Wildflower plants and seeds Wildflower plants and seeds may be bought from garden may be bought from garden suppliers and, if planted suppliers and, if planted correctly, a colourful meadow correctly, a colourful meadow will result, attracting birds, will result, attracting birds, butterflies and other insects.butterflies and other insects.

1. Make a pond. Even a small pond will 1. Make a pond. Even a small pond will attract frogs and toads etc. Birds and attract frogs and toads etc. Birds and foxes may use it for drinking.foxes may use it for drinking.

3. Provide logs and stones and allow a few autumn 3. Provide logs and stones and allow a few autumn leaves to remain lying around. These provide leaves to remain lying around. These provide shelter for minibeasts.shelter for minibeasts.

4. If your garden is big enough, you could plant a 4. If your garden is big enough, you could plant a tree. Always grow native trees such as oak, ash or tree. Always grow native trees such as oak, ash or birch - these attract more insects than foreign birch - these attract more insects than foreign trees.trees.

Brainstorming ActivityBrainstorming Activity

What effect does human What effect does human behaviour have on mini beasts behaviour have on mini beasts and their habitat? and their habitat?

Think about, when for exampleThink about, when for example We lift up a log?We lift up a log? We dig up plants?We dig up plants?

The EndThe End