The Bug Game

June 4, 2020
Climate Change  Food Security 

Some bugs play a crucial role in protecting crop yields and biodiversity. Some bugs just want to cause problems

Through plant science, we can protect the crops and ecosystems that our bug heroes need to keep doing their amazing jobs. Meanwhile, we can stop bug thugs from causing devastating yield losses across the world, for example through crop protection products and resistant biotech crops.

Below, we’ve created these cards to help you get to know these bugs a little better.

Print out the cards here and check out some other educational resources down below!

Insect Activities with Families

After you play the bug cards with your friends, it’s good to spend some time with your family! Here are a few activities you and your family can enjoy—both outside in nature and in the comfort of your living room.

Bug Scavenger Hunt

Take your young kids outside with this handy bug scavenger hunt checklist. We’ve provided you some illustrations of common insects and creepy crawlers. When the weather is nice, see if you can find them in your backyard, garden, or out in a park.

Some of these insects may not live in your part of the world, so be sure to check in advance which ones you are likely to find. Put on your Sherlock cap and grab a magnifying glass—it’s up to you to find them! You can download the scavenger hunt sheets (as well as other bug activities) from MyMommyStyle.com.

Coloring Sheets

Facing a rainy day? Consider printing out some coloring sheets to color or paint with your family. Find a nice, quiet place to take these sheets of pollinators such as bees and butterflies and let your creativity flow! You’ll want to make sure you have lots of vibrant colors so you can color the flower petals as well. Image provided courtesy of Bayer.

You can also download coloring sheets from Grow the Rainbow.

Backyard beehive

Looking for a more long-term activity? Check out these instructions on how to build your own backyard “bee hotel” beehive! Not only is this activity great for bonding with your family and learning about how honey bees live and work, this is also a great way to help the bee population thrive.

You can find instructions here from the Royal Horticultural Society on the materials you’ll need and how to build a “bee hotel.” You can share your progress building and caring for the beehive on social media. Tag CropLife International in your pictures—we would love to see your progress!

Plant a bee-friendly garden

To complement your backyard beehive, it’s a good idea to plant some flowers nearby to encourage the pollinators to come along! From proper flower-spacing to providing a water source for bees to drink from, these steps from Martha Stewart will guide you through planting a garden that bees and other pollinators will keep coming back to! Be sure to research the appropriate flowers for your geographic region, so that you plant safe, native flowers.