Kids' Activities: Cheap Homemade Bug Jar

Kids of all ages have a great fascination for bugs, insects, spiders, and all other sorts of creepy crawlies. Unfortunately, the pickle jars we may be tempted to give them for toting these fellows are usually made of breakable glass. Purchased child-safe bug houses are expensive. With these plans, you can create an inexpensive bug keeper from a large plastic peanut butter jar.

Buy peanut butter in a 4 or 5 pound jar for this project. When the peanut butter has all been used, clean the jar well in hot sudsy dishwater. Soak it and scrub with a plastic scrubber to remove all traces of the label. Pay special attention to any molding in the plastic and get every speck of peanut butter washed out. Around the top of the jar you may find remnants of the foil seal that topped the peanut butter. This foil can be scraped off with a paring knife. Clean the plastic lid of the jar well also. When the lid has dried, place it on a scrap piece of board or plywood.

Using an electric drill with a small drill bit, make holes in the lid. Drill the holes in a simple design depicting a butterfly or insect, or in the shape of the child's initial. If desired, you may just put the holes in the lid at random. This jar will be large enough and clear enough to allow viewing of any small creature a child (or parent) happens to catch. If you happen to find a chrysalis or cocoon, this jar will make a great place to keep it until the butterfly or moth emerges. A cocoon is the covering in which a moth passes through its pupal stage, and a chrysalis is a similar pupal case for a butterfly. You can tell the difference easily because a chrysalis has a definite shape with points around the top, while a cocoon is a rough oval shape. If you find a lime green chrysalis with metallic gold points, you have found the home of a future Monarch butterfly.

You can also place a caterpillar in the jar and see if it will form a chrysalis or cocoon. Place a supply of leaves from the plant where you found the caterpillar in the jar with the caterpillar. The green, yellow, and black caterpillars that are found on dill plants will often make chrysalides in a jar. In time they hatch into black swallowtail butterflies. Keep a moist cotton ball in the jar with the chrysalis, and check it frequently so you don't miss the miracle!

In the fall, wolf spiders occasionally find their way into homes. You (not the child) can catch one by placing the open bug jar over the spider and scooping it inside with the lid. Let your child examine the spider with a magnifying glass. Look at the spider's face and you will see 8 eyes! When your child has had a good look, you can safely release the spider in a grassy area away from the house. A praying mantis is one insect that can actually be kept as a pet. It will want to eat insects or small bits of hamburger, and can be trained to eat from a child's hand. A praying mantis will not bite a child, but will devour harmful garden bugs, so be sure to release it in an unsprayed garden area.

Aquatic creatures can be kept in the bug jar as well. In the spring, look in creeks for tadpoles. Keep them in pond water and feed them a little fish food. With a little luck they will live long enough for your child to witness rear legs beginning to grow and the tail getting smaller. If you happen to find a bullfrog tadpole, however, it may take several years for the metamorphosis to take place. If it seems to be taking more than a week or two to see some change in the tadpole, release it and look for another variety.

Children (and parents) can learn many things about small animals by examining them up close. They can do this safely and inexpensively with a homemade bug jar.