FAQ school projects

Many people are confused about the difference between a bee and a wasp, and most people don't realize that some flies look very much like a bee or wasp. Here is a group identification exercise that I do when I’m asked to speak to master gardeners, older kids, and other groups about bees and pollination.
Time: About 30 minutes. Materials: You will need: For every 3 - 5 participants "Mystery boxes", each with pinned specimens of 9 hymenoptera and one syrphid fly. Recommended specimens: Honey bee, Bumble bee, Sweat bee, Solitary bee (your choice), Orchard bee, Leafcutter bee, Syrphid fly, Bald-faced Hornet, Yellow Jacket wasp, Paper wasp Hand lens ID worksheet pencil or pen For each participant a copy of the "Which is it?" handout. Optional A box of identified insect specimens for comparison, including some not in the mystery box. Field guides to the insects Internet access
What to do: Divide the group into teams of 3 to 5 people and give each group a “mystery box” with hymenoptera and syrphid fly(s). Here's what my mystery box looks like (click to see more detail):
	Prepare the appropriate number of mystery boxes in advance. Try to have the same insects in the same order in each box, so the answers apply to all of the boxes. Each group also gets one copy of the ID_worksheet, a hand lens, and a pencil. Each participant gets a copy of the “Which is it?” handout. Tell everyone that the order of the insects is from left to right, top row and then bottom row, 1 to 10. Give the groups about 20 minutes to read over the "Which is it?" handout and figure out which insect is which. While the groups are working, you move around and listen to what they say, give suggestions, encourage them to look at the box from a different group if they can’t see an appropriate character on a specimen in their own box, etc. But mostly, let them think it through on their own. This also gives them a little time to interact with each other, and keeps them awake and active. About 5 minutes before the end of the exercise, or when most of the groups seem to be nearly finished, announce to the class that they should try to finish the task in 5 minutes (or 3 minutes or whatever). Any group that gets through the exercise early can fill out the page titled “What’s wrong with these images”.
When the groups are finished, have them read out their responses one at a time. If a group has made a mistake, be sure they have a closer look at the specimens so they see the appropriate characters. Also at that time, run through some possible answers to the “What’s wrong with these images” exercise (second page of the ID_worksheet.) See also the Bee Identification Chart.

Is it a Bee? An Identification Activity

Is it a Bee?
An Identification Activity