Little Critters Enjoy Bugmania

Local families spent a sunny afternoon on safari at the weekend. Armed with nets, trays, magnifiers and identification keys our intrepid explorers dipped the canal and met an army of caddisfly larvae all camouflaged in their disguise as a blade of grass. There was also a large population of snails - good news for the fish, which is good news for the heron and kingfishers (not such good news for the fish!)

On the meadow they saw a range of butterflies and caught a variety of flies, spiders and froghoppers in their sweep nets.

The river and canals both had Mayfly larvae in them, which is very good news as they only survive in unpolluted water.

Finally in the woods our minibeast hunters discovered wood lice (granny greys), pill millipedes, worms, slugs and other delightful creatures all doing their bit do maintain nature's balance in the woods.

Back in the cool of the Riverside Centre they made bug masks to take home with them.

A big thanks to the Environmental Education Service at Dare Valley Country Park, Aberdare for loan of their equipment.