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Smith, an entomologist, correlates the presentation with issues that the teachers are required to teach in their curriculum.“I want the students to gain a real interest in entomology...who knows these kids may be future ‘bug guys’ themselves,” Smith said.
As director of Rid-a-Pest’s Morehead facility, Smith contacted all Carteret County elementary schools and was invited to present to Newport Elementary, Beaufort Elementary, Harker’s Island Elementary and Bogue Sound Elementary. The presentation included a brief powerpoint presentation about “smart insects.”
“I really wanted the students to learn about insects from a difference perspective,” Smith said. “They were intrigued to learn just how smart insects are because they can communicate and defend themselves from predators through mimicry, camouflage and warning coloration.”
The classroom forum was divided into four hands-on learning centers where students were allowed to rotate and learn through participation. Centers included:
1) Live termites that follow red lines drawn on paper by the children. The termites will follow the line because it mimics the scent pheromones they use to follow other termites to their colony.
2) Insect collections ranging from common to rare. Included are “dead leaf” mantids as well as butterflies, metallic beetles and flies.
3) Live tobacco horn worms donated by the Insectary at North Carolina State University, including the complete life cycle of the bright, unique caterpillar; children can actually hold each life cycle.
4) Digital microscope/computer where children can view worker termites
Rid-a-Pest presented the students with a free coloring book and the teacher’s with two pest books to be used in their science centers.