Our printable minibeast hunt is a fun and simple activity that encourages kids to get up close and personal with nature and the good news is, with over 25,000 different types of minibeasts in the UK alone the chances of spotting some are high.
We are all meant to be naturalists, each in his own degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant & animal life and to care for none of these.
Charlotte Mason.
What is classed as a minibeast?
The scientific term for minibeast is ‘inverterbrate’, a creature without a backbone. Slugs, spiders, worms, beetles and ants are just a few of the creatures found in the UK that are classed as minibeasts.
Free Minibeast hunt PDF
Download our activity sheet and see how many you can find. It might not be easy though! These little creatures are good at hiding and camoflauging themselves to avoid detection.
Before you head out on your walk, be sure to check out our fun minibeast facts below.
Fun minibeast facts for kids
To help children learn a little more about the different minibeasts they are searching for we have put together an interesting fact about each one.
Are snails born with a shell?
Yes, snails are born with a shell that is soft and transparent. The baby snail eats the egg that it hatched from as it is full of calcium and this helps harden the shell.
Do all bees sting?
No, not all bees sting. In a bee colony there are three types of bees
- Queen bee
- Worker bee (female)
- Drone (male)
A queen bee has a smooth stinger that allows her to sting multiple times without dying but this does not happen often as she rarely leaves the hive.
The worker bee has a barbed stinger which they only use when feeling threatened or in pain.
The drone bee does not have a stinger because his only job is to mate with the queen.
If you cut a worm in half, will two worms grow back?
No, if you cut a worm in half, two worms will not grow back. However if the worm is cut just below the clitellum (the raised band seen on a worm) then it can regenerate a tail.
To find out more about click here
What do you call a group of ladybirds?
A group of ladybirds is called a ‘loveliness’.
Do all spiders make webs?
Not all spiders build webs. The most common use a spider has for producing silk is to make eggs sacs to protect their eggs.
How do butterflies taste things?
Butterflies have taste buds on their feet which means they can taste a flower and find out if it is edible the moment they land on it.
What is the relationship between ants and aphids?
Ants and aphids have a very special relationship. Aphids are a common pest that feed on the sap of plants to produce a substance called honey dew which they secrete. Ants love to drink this honey dew and will ‘milk’ the aphid by stroking its back.
To watch a short, fascinating video on ‘How ants farm and milk aphids’ click here
Why is a shield bug also called a stink bug?
The shield bug gets its nickname ‘stink bug’ because when it feels threatened it will release a foul smell as a defense mechanism.
How long does a fly live?
A house fly has a short life span of around 28 days, however in that time a female fly can lay up to 500 eggs.
Download our free printable minibeast scavenger hunt for kids
We hope you have enjoyed learning a little bit more about some of the minibeasts that live amongst us. Did you already know most of the fun facts that we wrote about or were some new to you? Let us know in the comments.
Additional minibeast themed acitivities
Free to download, Realistic bug and insects colouring pages from Natureinspiredlearning
Love this scavenger hunt! Thank you for taking the time to put it together. I love that you can use it during more than one season.
This looks so fun! I can’t wait to use it with kids. Great way to get them outdoors and teach them about nature at the same time.