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Minibeasts We did some research on minibeasts….. Knockconan NS 2010 Worms Myriapods (centipedes/ millipedes) Insects Crustaceans (woodlice) Minibeasts! Arachnids (spiders) Molluscs (slugs and snails) All of these creepy crawlies can be called minibeasts! What do minibeasts have in common? They do not have a backbone (spine) They are called invertebrates (Like all mammals we have a backbone so we are called vertebrates) They have an outer body skeleton. As well as keeping the body solid, it also helps to protect them from harm. How to identify a minibeast • Use a ‘key’ or a wildlife book • Count the legs and follow this rule: 0 legs = Worms, slugs and snails 6 legs = insects 8 legs = spiders 14 legs = woodlice More than 14 legs = centipedes and millipedes Snails • Snails live in damp places, among plants and under stones • They are molluscs • In very dry weather snails pull their bodies inside their shells and the slimy mucus forms a plug. • There are about 8,000 different species (types) of millipede. • They live in the soil and feed mainly on rotting plants. • Some can curl into balls! • Millipedes have two pairs of legs on each segment but most have about a hundred legs (despite their name meaning “thousand legs!) • Centipedes are good hunters. They come out at night and feed on animals such as slugs, woodlice and earwigs. • They kill their prey with poison! • Giant centipedes which over 30cm long live in rainforests. • Caterpillars are the young of butterflies and moths. • They feed on leaves. • When a caterpillar is fully grown it becomes a pupa. • Earwigs eat small flies or plants. • The pincers on their abdomen are for grasping their prey and defending themselves. • There are many species of fly. • The larvae (young) is known as a maggot. • Flies have one pair of wings, and a second very small pair called halteres, to help them balance. • Bees feed on pollen and nectar. • This is then turned into honey for the larvae (the young) • Different bees have different jobs. • Drones are males whose only job is to mate with the Queen. Then they die. • The Queen lays eggs. • Worker bees who are undeveloped females, find food and look after the young. Dragonflies • Dragonflies and damsel flies live near water. • Their young, called nymphs, live in the water. • They are predators and eat small insects, tadpoles and small fish Beetles • There are more species of beetle than there are of plants or any other animals. • Beetles have hard wing cases and their bodes are divided into three sections; head, thorax and abdomen. • Ladybirds are small beetles. • There are different species of ladybirds which have different numbers of spots. • The 13 spot ladybird is thought to be extinct. Mosquitoes • Mosquitoes are blood sucking flies. • Some mosquitoes carry the fatal malaria disease. • They are not thought to be harmful in Ireland. Worms • Earthworms live in soil all over the world. • Some grow to over 3m long • They have segmented bodies with bristles to help them grip the soil and move along. • Earthworms eat rotting matter and soil and they help to aerate the soil so gardeners and farmers love them! Spiders • Spiders are arachnids. • They eat flies and other insect pests. • Some spiders can be deadly. • Spiders in Ireland are harmless Where can you find minibeasts? Lots of places! soil leaf litter rotten logs under stones and bits of wood on trees and bushes How do you find minbeasts? You have to look very carefully! Many minibeasts use camouflage to protect themselves This means they try to look like part of their habitat (the place where they live) Be careful Be gentle If you pick up a minibeast remember to put it back where you found it