Site of the Week
Bug Club
The Bug Club is dedicated to young entomologists everywhere, so if you’re into insects, or want to “cuddle a Cockroach, stroke a Stick Insect or hug a Harvestman” as the introduction puts it, then this is the website for you.
The club, part of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society (AES), aims to educate as well as entertain. It’s important to know what you’re doing before you rush out and put a caterpillar in a jar, so be sure to peruse the Bug Pets section to learn about what your invertebrate companions will need. The AES website http://www.theaes.org has a similar section if you want even more information.
You’ll also find an insect identification key - a list which guides you through by asking simple questions like ‘does the specimen have wings?’ - so that you can work out for yourself what creepy crawlies you have in your back garden. Unfortunately, not all the questions are this straightforward, and you’ll need to know a bit about insects already if you want to use the key properly.
If you want to take your interest further, you can find out all you’ll need to know about joining the Bug Club in the Membership section. Selected parts of the club’s newsletter are available on the site, including articles, and a crossword to print out. The site also has a huge links section, so just about every area of interest is covered. Even if you don’t feel quite ready to snuggle up to a scorpion or canoodle with a caterpillar, there’s plenty to keep you occupied.
Richard Northover
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