When is the last time that you went bug hunting? This is a great activity that can be done anywhere; in your backyard, at the neighborhood park, or even in the closet you haven't cleaned in a while. We use the generic term "bugs", but really mean all types of insects such as:
Dragonflies and Damselflies (Order: Odonata)
Earwigs (Order: Dermaptera)
Grasshoppers and Crickets (Order: Orthoptera)
Praying Mantids (Order: Mantodea)
Mayflies (Order: Ephemeroptera)
Ants and bees (Order: Hymenoptera)
Butterflies and moths (Order: Lepidoptera)
Beetles (Order: Coleoptera)
Flies and mosquitoes (Order: Diptera)
(Hopefully, the entomologist in the group will forgive us for leaving off the cockroaches and sucking lice).
Grab a backpack, notepad, and magnifying glass
Head to an open space, hiking trail, or even your backyard
Observation is the key to finding really cool specimens. Look under rocks, stumps, and tree bark. Remember to look, but don't touch our little crawly friends. 🪲
Download and print the attached worksheet to find native bugs around Colorado Springs! Leave the bugs be, don’t harm them, mark them on the list when you find one! Don’t forget your magnifying glass!
Did you know that Colorado has over 500 species of birds? If entomology doesn't excite you, maybe ornithology is your thing. Like bug hunting, bird hunting is easily done in your backyard, in an open field, or at the park down the street. Other great locations include:
Bear Creek Nature Center
Garden of the Gods Park
Fountain Creek Regional Park
Red Rock Canyon Park
Also check out this resource: https://www.visitcos.com/blog/pikes-peak-birding-trail/
Download and print the attached worksheet to find native birds around Colorado Springs! Don’t forget your binoculars!
