BROOKINGS – This summer Sanborn, Aurora and Jerauld-Buffalo counties 4-H members were able to take part in a two-part series entitled, “Creepy Crawly What… A Bug?”
4-H youth were able to learn about entomology, the study of insects, and use that knowledge to create an insect collection.
Insect collections for first year participants need to include 15 different insects from a minimum of three different orders.
“Last year, the project was piloted in Sanborn County. We are excited to extend the project to all four of the counties I work with this year, with the help of a grant provided by the SD State 4-H Leaders Association,” said Audra Scheel, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor for Sanborn, Aurora and Jerauld/Buffalo counties.
Creepy Crawly Overview
Day 1: Youth learned what an insect is, how an insect develops, how insects are classified and where to look for them. Youth were instructed to put their insects into plastic containers and then into the freezer.
“Make sure you give your mom a heads up!” Scheel reminded participants.
Day 2: Youth brought their frozen specimens to the workshop and Amanda Bachmann, SDSU Extension Pesticide Education & Urban Entomology Field Specialist, taught them how to correctly pin and label the insects.
“Connecting with the outdoors and slowing down to look at the space around us is something I think we take for granted,” said Scheel. “The 4-H youth did a great job collecting insects; it is fun to see what they find.”
Twenty-three youth participated in the two-day event. Scheel hopes to expand the event in 2017. “Each year more insects can be added to collections. I’m excited to see everyone’s collections at Achievement Days,” she said.
To learn more about 4-H programming, contact your local SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor.

Keaton Fridley, Sanborn County 4-H member, with his bug collection.