Lost Ladybug Project: Media Guide

Ladybug Background Information

Videos

National Geographic. (2017, May 26). First-Ever Look at the Intricate Way Ladybugs Fold Their Wings National Geographic.

  • A one-minute video with a fascinating look at ladybug wings.

The Dodo. (2020, February 18). The Stunning Life Cycle Of A Ladybug The Dodo

  • A three minute video providing a close up look at the life cycle of a ladybug.

The World Safari. (2014, March 17). Ladybugs Come In Many Different Colors.

  • A brief overview of various ladybug species.
  • Clarify at 0:53 that it is more accurate to say that ladybugs exhibit diapause rather than hibernation as the video suggests.

Website

National Geographic Partners, LLC. (2021). Ladybug. National Geographic Kids.

  • Kid friendly website for students to learn about ladybugs.
  • Other organisms can be explored in addition to ladybugs.

Readings

Agricultural Research Service, USDA. (2000, October 30). The Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle. USDA Agricultural Research Service. 

  • Short article describing background information about the Asian ladybug and how it has spread throughout the United States.

The Lost Ladybug Project. (2020). All About Ladybugs. The Lost Ladybug Project. 

  • Short article providing an overview of background information about ladybugs.

Searching for and Identifying Ladybugs and Other Insects

App Tool

The iNaturalist app uses image recognition to help students identify living organisms (plant, animals, etc.) Get started here: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app

Video

Ample Wise. (2019, November 27). types of ladybird: popular coccinellidae species, including harmonia axyridis – asian lady beetle -1 [Video]. YouTube. 

  • A four minute video about identifying different ladybug species throughout the world.

Reading

Rhoades, H. (2021, February 21). Tips to Attract Ladybugs to Your Garden. Gardening Know How.

  • Kid friendly authentic text about plants to keep in a garden that will attract ladybugs and general garden upkeep recommendations for attracting ladybugs.

Book

Eaton, E.R., & Kaufman, K. (2007). Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company.

  • A reference guide that can be used throughout the year as students search for ladybugs and identify various insects along the way. 392 pages.

Website

Iowa State University of Entomology. (2021). Welcome to BugGuide.net! BugGuide.Net. 

  • Website students can explore as they identify ladybugs.

North Carolina Native Plants

Interactive Guide (teacher use)

Glen, C.D. (2018). Native Plants, Chapter 12. In: K.A. Moore, and L.K. Bradley (eds). North Carolina State Extension Gardener Handbook. Published. http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/12-native-plants> 

  • Guide for understanding native plants in North Carolina.

Reading

Moorman, C., Johns, M., Bowen, L. T., Brham, R., Connors, J., Perry, J., Randall, J., & Vidra, R. (2017). Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants. North Carolina State Extension-Urban Wildlife. Published. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/landscaping-for-wildlife-with-native-plants 

  • Article about how landscaping with native plants supports wildlife. 

Yoest, H. (2017, June 29). A Guide to Native Plants in North Carolina. Our State. https://www.ourstate.com/native-plants-in-north-carolina/ 

  • Short summary and pictures of six plants native to North Carolina.

Insect Facts

Books

Gleason, C. (2015). National Geographic Kids Everything Insects: All the Facts, Photos, and Fun to Make you Buzz (Illustrated ed.). National Geographic Kids.

  • Vibrant photographs with insect facts and descriptions. Non-fiction, 64 pages. 1020L.

Honovich, N., & Murawski, D.A. (2013). Ultimate Bugopedia: The Most Complete Bug Reference Ever (National Geographic Kids) (Illustrated ed.) National Geographic Kids.

  • Non-fiction book of bug photographs with interesting facts about bugs. 272 pages. IG1010L.

Publishing, D.K. (2015). Everything You Need to Know About Bugs (Everything You Need Know) (Illustrated ed.). DK CHILDREN.

  • Illustrated non-fiction book with insect facts, descriptions, and identification supports. 80 pages. IG940L.

Video

NPR [Krulwich Wonders]. (2010, July 15). Animation: Travel the Invisible Highway [Video]. NPR. 

  • Approximately three minute video about how flying insects travel in the atmosphere.

Organism Roles

Food Webs: Crash Course Kids: Crash Course Kids #21.2. (2015, August).

  • Four minute video describing how food webs model energy flow through ecosystems.

Fabulous Food Chains: Crash Course Kids #7.1. (2015, April).

  • Three minute video describing what a food chain is and how it models energy flow in an ecosystem.

Study Jams – Food Chains. (2015, April).

  • Four-minute cartoon video describing the relationships between producers and consumers in food chains.

Feed Me: Classifying Organisms – Crash Course Kids #1.2. (2015, March).

  • Three minute video describing how different types of consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores) get their energy.

Book

Patent, D.H., Hartman, D., & Hartman, C. (2008). When the Wolves Returned: Restoring Nature’s Balance in Yellowstone (First ed.) Bloomsbury USA Childrens. 40 pages.

  • Narrative nonfiction picture book explaining the impact of predator prey relationships on various organism populations in Yellowstone National Park over time.

Readings

Food Pyramid. [Lesson Plan Resource]. North Carolina Wetlands.

  • Page 2 of linked PDF document. Describes food pyramid relationships in North Carolina Wetlands.

The Lost Ladybug Project. (2020). All About Ladybugs. The Lost Ladybug Project.

  • Short article providing an overview of background information about ladybugs.
  • “What do ladybugs eat?” section provides details about ladybug prey.

Entomologist Biographical Information

Book

Harrington, J.N., & Iii, T.T. (2010). Buzzing with Questions: The Inquisitive Mind of Charles Henry Turner (Illustrated ed.). National Geographic Kids.

  • Biographical read aloud about entomologist Charles Henry Turner with a focus on asking questions. 48 pages. 1010L.

Reading

Kampmeier, G. E. (2011). Great Women in Entomology. American Entomologist, 57(4), 202–204. 

  • Great article for teacher background knowledge.

Interactive Guide

The diverse entomologist guide offers an opportunity for students to explore examples of historic, recent, and aspiring entomologists. Discussion questions lead students to consider entomology as a career.

Other Resources of Interest

Books

Beckendorf, E. (n.d.) Dylan and Jamie and the Lost Ladybug Project (L. Allee, R. Smyth, & J. Losey, Eds.). http://www.lostladybug.org/learning.php [Click Dylan & Jamie and the LLP]

  • Simple flip book that can be printed or viewed online that provides an overview of the Lost Ladybug Project.

Kelly, R., & Gallagher-Cole, M. (2021). Florence The Data Scientist and Her Magical Bookmobile. BookBaby.

  • Fiction read aloud about a young girl who collects and analyzes data. Great book for modeling the collecting and analyzing data as a practice. 32 pages.

Reading

Lallanilla, M. (2013, April 24). 72,000 Ladybugs Released in Mall of America. Livescience.com.

  • Current event article about the release of ladybugs inside the Mall of America back in 2013 as an alternative to using pesticides to reduce aphids in the mall.

Grant opportunities (website):

North Carolina Farm Bureau. (2021). AITC-Grants and Awards-North Carolina Farm Bureau. 

  • Grants available to NC teachers for agricultural related projects. 

Whole Kids Foundation. (2021, August 18). Changing the Way We Feed Our Kids. 

  • Annual grant opportunities for school gardens.