This week Trail Mommas headed to Lake Crabtree County Park to learn all about the tiny but mighty creatures that play a huge role in our ecosystems—insects!

What Makes an Insect an Insect?

Not every small, crawling animal is an insect. During our program, the kids learned to look for the main features that define an insect:

• Six legs (three pairs)
• Three body parts (head, thorax, abdomen)
• Antennae to sense their environment
• Compound eyes made up of many tiny lenses for detecting movement and light

Many insects also have wings, though not all do.

We compared insects to other animals like spiders (which have eight legs and two body parts) to practice spotting the differences. To test our knowledge, we played an exciting round of “Insect or Not?” The kids laughed and learned as they sorted creatures into two groups—real insects like beetles, butterflies, and grasshoppers versus other critters like worms, spiders, and centipedes. This game was a fun reminder that appearances can be tricky, and it takes observation to know what you’re looking at!

With our new skills, we set out on an Insect Safari around the park. The children became detectives, searching for insects and the signs they leave behind, such as:

• Chewed leaves – evidence of hungry caterpillars and beetles
• Silken webs – built by spiders (not insects, but still fun to spot!)
• Pollinators at work – bees and butterflies visiting flowers
• Exoskeletons and shells – left behind as insects grow and molt

Every discovery brought questions and “aha!” moments, showing just how much life exists when we slow down and look closely. We found Milkweed Assassin Bugs, Milkweed Bugs and even a Red Spotted Admiral Butterfly.

Insects may be small, but they are essential to healthy ecosystems. They:

• Pollinate plants, helping flowers, fruits, and vegetables grow
• Recycle nutrients by breaking down dead material
• Provide food for birds, fish, and other animals

By teaching kids to appreciate insects, we nurture curiosity and respect for the natural world around them.

✨ Another great day of learning and adventure with Trail Mommas—reminding us that even the smallest creatures can teach the biggest lessons!