Insect Collection Task

Insect collections are an excellent way to introduce classification and scientific method to students. It is important to remember two principles when asking students to collect insects as part of their curriculum:

• Classification should be undertaken to Order level only. Any further classification is very difficult, even at tertiary level learning.
• Collections should be undertaken during the warmer months of the year when insects are more likely to be found.

The task supplied here involves providing a simple collection of a range of 10 insects. The Orders required are named and students are allowed to choose which particular insect they collect.

Alternatives for a collection list may be considered, dependaning on whether resources, such as the following are available:

• A butterfly, dragonfly or cicada survey in the local area.
• A survey of insects of a particular plant such as wattle or eucalypt.
• A collection of aquatic insects from a dam, creek or pond.
• A survey of pest insects in a rural area.