Insect Study Merit Badge

Free Resources and Answers

Time: 2–4 weeks
Difficulty: Moderate
Setting: Outdoor observation, indoor study
Best For: Scouts interested in insects, nature, science
Hands-On Level: Moderate
Eagle Required: No

Download a printable one sheet overview of the Insect Study merit badge.

The Insect Study merit badge helps Scouts learn about the small creatures all around them. Insects are easy to find in almost any outdoor setting. You will spend time watching them and learning how they live. You will also learn how to stay safe when working around insects like ants and bees.

This badge is very hands-on. You will observe live insects and study their body parts. You will learn how they grow and change. You will also compare different types of insects. A scrapbook or collection helps you keep track of what you find.

You will also learn why insects matter. They are part of the food chain and help plants grow. You will see how they affect people in different ways. You will also learn how to protect their habitats. This badge helps you notice more when you are outdoors.

The requirements for this merit badge were updated effective January 1, 2025.

Download the Insect Study Merit Badge Requirements

Insect Study Merit Badge Merit Badge Pamphlet

Insect Study Merit Badge Printable Requirement Check Off Sheet

Checklist for All Merit Badges

Help with Answers for Insect Study Merit Badge Requirements

Find specific helps for some of the merit badge requirements listed below. Some of these resources will just give the answers. Others will provide engaging ways for older Scouts to introduce these concepts to new Scouts.

• Requirement 1: Safety
• Requirement 2: Anatomy
• Requirement 3: Life Cycles
• Requirement 4: Observation and Analysis
• Requirement 5: Social Insects
• Requirement 6: Ecology
• Requirement 7: Insects and People
• Requirement 8: Conservation
• Requirement 9: Careers and Hobbies
• More Resources

Requirement 1a: Ants And Bees Safety

What You Need To Do
Learn the main hazards from ants and bees. Know how to avoid them and what to do if there is a problem.

Helpful Tips

• Watch the ground for ant mounds and nests.
• Look for bee activity before you get close.
• Wear long sleeves and pants when you can.
• Stay calm if insects are near you.
• Move away slowly instead of running or swatting.
• If a bee stings you, scrape out the stinger right away.
• Wash the area and use a cold compress.
• Get help fast if there is trouble breathing or swelling spreads.

Leader Tips

• Take Scouts outside to spot safe and unsafe areas.
• Show how to move calmly around insects.
• Demonstrate how to remove a stinger.
• Review when to get adult or emergency help.

Requirement 1b: Bites, Stings, And Allergic Reactions

What You Need To Do
Learn how to prevent and treat insect bites and stings. Understand how to respond to a serious allergic reaction.

Helpful Tips

• Wear closed-toe shoes and avoid strong scents.
• Stay away from nests and hives.
• Bring a simple first aid kit on outings.
• Wash bites and stings with soap and water.
• Use ice to reduce pain and swelling.
• Use cream or medicine for itching if needed.
• Watch for signs like trouble breathing or dizziness.
• Call for help right away if symptoms are severe.

Leader Tips

• Review basic first aid steps with Scouts.
• Ask if any Scout has known allergies.
• Make sure emergency plans are clear.
• Have first aid supplies ready during activities.

Requirement 2a: Insects And Other Animals

What You Need To Do
Learn what makes insects different from other animals. Focus on their body structure and key features.

Helpful Tips

• Check for three body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen.
• Count the legs and make sure there are six.
• Look for a hard outer shell instead of bones inside.
• Check for antennae on the head.
• See if the insect has wings attached to the thorax.
• Compare to animals like dogs or birds with backbones.
• Notice that insects do not have fur, feathers, or scales.

Leader Tips

• Use simple side-by-side comparisons.
• Show examples of insects and non-insects.
• Point out body parts clearly.
• Keep the focus on a few key traits.

Requirement 2b: Insects, Spiders, And Millipedes

What You Need To Do
Learn how insects are different from spiders and millipedes. Focus on legs, body parts, and features.

Helpful Tips

• Count the legs: insects have 6, spiders have 8, millipedes have many.
• Look at body parts: insects have 3 sections, spiders have 2, millipedes have many segments.
• Check for antennae: insects and millipedes have them, spiders do not.
• Watch movement: spiders crawl quickly, millipedes move slowly with many legs.
• Look at the body shape: millipedes are long and rounded.
• Check the eyes: insects often have large compound eyes, spiders have simple eyes.
• Use a field guide to confirm what you see.

Leader Tips

• Provide clear photos or real examples.
• Have Scouts count legs and body sections.
• Focus on one difference at a time.
• Reinforce by repeating observations.

Requirement 2c: Parts Of An Insect

What You Need To Do
Learn the main parts of an insect. Be able to point them out and name them.

Helpful Tips

• Find the head and look for eyes, antennae, and mouthparts.
• Find the thorax in the middle of the body.
• Check that all six legs attach to the thorax.
• Look for wings attached to the thorax if present.
• Find the abdomen at the back with no legs.
• Notice the abdomen is often longer and softer.
• Practice labeling these parts on pictures and real insects.

Leader Tips

• Use labeled diagrams for practice.
• Let Scouts point and name parts out loud.
• Repeat with different insects.
• Keep the focus on head, thorax, and abdomen.

Requirement 2d: Major Insect Orders

What You Need To Do
Learn how to tell major groups of insects apart. Focus on key features for each group.

Helpful Tips

• Look for hard wing covers to spot beetles.
• Look for scaled wings and bright colors to spot butterflies and moths.
• Check for one pair of wings to identify flies.
• Look for narrow waists and two pairs of wings in bees and wasps.
• Check for large jumping legs to identify grasshoppers and crickets.
• Look for piercing mouthparts in true bugs.
• Use simple charts to match what you see with each group.

Leader Tips

• Start with common groups like beetles and butterflies.
• Use clear visual examples for each order.
• Have Scouts match insects to groups.
• Keep explanations short and focused.

Requirement 3a: Butterfly And Grasshopper Life Cycles

What You Need To Do
Compare how a butterfly and a grasshopper grow and change. Focus on the stages in each life cycle and how they are different.

Helpful Tips

• List the four stages of a butterfly: egg, larva, pupa, adult.
• List the three stages of a grasshopper: egg, nymph, adult.
• Butterflies have a pupa stage and grasshoppers do not.
• Look at the larva of a butterfly and compare it to the adult.
• Look at a grasshopper nymph and see how it looks like a small adult.
• Watch how a caterpillar changes shape completely.
• Notice how a grasshopper slowly grows wings over time.

Leader Tips

• Use simple charts to compare the two life cycles.
• Show pictures of each stage side by side.
• Help Scouts focus on the number of stages.
• Reinforce the idea of complete vs incomplete change.

Requirement 3b: Raise An Insect

What You Need To Do
Raise an insect that goes through complete metamorphosis. Watch it change from larva to adult.

Helpful Tips

• Start with a larva like a caterpillar.
• Keep it in a container with air holes.
• Give it the same food it eats in nature.
• Clean the container and remove waste often.
• Watch for signs it is ready to form a pupa.
• Leave it alone while it is in the pupa stage.
• Observe the adult when it emerges.
• Return the insect to where it was found if allowed.

Leader Tips

• Help Scouts choose a safe and common species.
• Review local rules before collecting insects.
• Check that containers are safe and clean.
• Encourage simple notes or drawings during the process.

Requirement 4a: Leave No Trace And Outdoor Code

What You Need To Do
Use Leave No Trace and the Outdoor Code while studying insects. Follow these rules during observation, collecting, and identification.

Helpful Tips

• Learn more about the 7 principles of Leave No Trace here.
• Learn more about the Outdoor Code here.
• Stay on trails or firm ground.
• Leave plants, rocks, and logs in place.
• Handle insects gently and for a short time.
• Return insects to the same spot after study.
  Carry out all trash and gear.
• Use a flashlight instead of a fire at night.
• Keep noise low and avoid disturbing habitats.

Leader Tips

• Review Leave No Trace before going outside.
• Model good behavior during activities.
• Remind Scouts to return insects safely.
• Keep the focus on respect for nature.

Requirement 4b: Observe 20 Insects

What You Need To Do
Find and record 20 different live insects. Include at least four different insect groups.

Helpful Tips

• Visit different places like grass, trees, and water edges.
• Look under leaves, logs, and rocks.
• Watch flowers for bees and butterflies.
• Check lights at night for flying insects.
• Use a guide to identify each insect group.
• Write down where each insect was found.
• Take photos or make quick sketches.

Leader Tips

• Encourage Scouts to explore different habitats.
• Help with basic identification tools.
• Check progress toward 20 insects.
• Keep safety and respect in mind.

Requirement 4c: Insect Scrapbook

What You Need To Do
Make a scrapbook of the 20 insects you found. Include images and names for each one.

Helpful Tips

• Use one page or section per insect.
• Add a photo or drawing for each one.
• Write the common name for each insect.
• Add the scientific name if you can find it.
• Include where you found the insect.
• Group insects by similar types.
• Keep pages neat and easy to read.

Leader Tips

• Show a simple example page.
• Help Scouts organize their work.
• Check for clear labels and details.
• Encourage sharing with the group.

Requirement 4d: Insect Roles In Nature

What You Need To Do
Pick eight insects from your scrapbook. Identify the role each one plays in nature.

Helpful Tips

• Look for insects that visit flowers for pollination.
• Find insects that break down dead plants or waste.
• Identify insects that eat other insects.
• Look for insects that are food for birds or animals.
• Check for insects that help spread seeds.
• Find insects that dig and move soil.
• Match each insect to one main role.

Leader Tips

• Give simple examples of insect roles.
• Help Scouts connect insects to their environment.
• Keep the focus on one role per insect.
• Use discussion to check understanding.

Requirement 5a: Social And Solitary Insects

What You Need To Do
Learn how social insects and solitary insects live. Focus on how they work, communicate, and survive.

Helpful Tips

• Look for insects living in groups like ants or bees.
• Find insects living alone like butterflies or grasshoppers.
• Check for different roles like queen and workers in a colony.
• Look for shared tasks like building and gathering food.
• Notice that solitary insects do all tasks on their own.
• Look for communication like trails or group movement.
• Compare group living versus living alone.

Leader Tips

• Use simple examples like ants and butterflies.
• Show pictures or short videos.
• Ask Scouts to compare behaviors.
• Keep the focus on group roles and independence.

Requirement 5b: Observe An Ant Colony

What You Need To Do
Watch an ant colony in a formicarium. Identify the queen, workers, and the different chambers.

Helpful Tips

• Look for the largest ant to find the queen.
• Watch smaller ants moving through tunnels as workers.
• Find areas where eggs and larvae are kept.
• Look for sections with stored food.
• Find areas where waste is placed.
• Watch how ants move between chambers.
• Follow worker ants to see their jobs.

Leader Tips

• Provide a working ant farm if possible.
• Guide Scouts to find the queen first.
• Point out different chambers clearly.
• Encourage careful and quiet observation.

Requirement 5b: Study A Beehive

What You Need To Do
Study a beehive and find key parts. Identify the queen, brood, and honey storage.

Helpful Tips

• Look for the queen with a longer body.
• Find brood cells with eggs and larvae.
• Count larger queen cells on the comb.
• Look for capped honey cells with wax covers.
• Check how full each frame is with honey.
• Watch worker bees moving and caring for the hive.
• Keep a safe distance and wear protection.

Leader Tips

• Work with an experienced beekeeper.
• Review safety before starting.
• Help Scouts identify parts of the hive.
• Keep the activity controlled and supervised.

Requirement 6a: Insects In The Food Web

What You Need To Do
Learn how insects are part of the food web. Show how they are eaten by other animals and how they affect the balance of nature.

Helpful Tips

• List insects that eat other insects like dragonflies or ladybugs.
• List animals that eat insects like fish, birds, and bats.
• Match insects to animals that eat them.
• Include insects that break down dead plants and animals.
• Add insects that control pests by eating them.
• Use a simple food chain to show connections.
• Draw arrows to show who eats what.

Leader Tips

• Use simple food web diagrams.
• Give examples with local insects and animals.
• Help Scouts build one food chain first.
• Keep the focus on clear connections.

Requirement 6b: Insects As Pollinators

What You Need To Do
Learn how insects help plants grow by pollination. Show how they move pollen from one flower to another.

Helpful Tips

• Watch insects visiting flowers for nectar.
• Look for pollen on the legs or body of bees.
• Follow insects moving between flowers.
• List plants that need insects to make fruit.
• Include insects like bees, butterflies, and beetles.
• Connect pollination to seeds and fruit growth.
• Draw a simple diagram of pollen moving between flowers.

Leader Tips

• Use real flowers or pictures to show parts.
• Point out where pollen is found.
• Use simple examples like bees and flowers.
• Keep the explanation clear and visual.

Requirement 7a: Bees, People, And CCD

What You Need To Do
Learn how bees and people help each other. Learn what colony collapse disorder is and how it affects food.

Helpful Tips

• List foods that depend on bees like apples and almonds.
• Connect bees to pollination and plant growth.
• List products from bees like honey and wax.
• Describe CCD as worker bees leaving the hive.
• List causes like pesticides, mites, and habitat loss.
• Connect fewer bees to fewer crops.
• Link pollination to fruits, seeds, and food supply.

Leader Tips

• Use simple food examples Scouts know.
• Show how pollination affects meals.
• Keep CCD causes short and clear.
• Focus on why bees matter to people.

Requirement 7b: Alternatives To Insecticides

What You Need To Do
Learn ways to protect crops without using insecticides. Know the pros and cons of each method.

Helpful Tips

• Rotate crops to break pest life cycles.
• Use helpful insects like ladybugs to eat pests.
• Plant certain crops together to repel pests.
• Cover plants with nets or row covers.
• Check crops often to catch problems early.
• List one good point and one drawback for each method.
• Match each method to the type of problem it solves.

Leader Tips

• Give real examples of each method.
• Keep pros and cons simple and balanced.
• Help Scouts match methods to situations.
• Encourage clear and short answers.

Requirement 8a: Insect Migration

What You Need To Do
Learn the migration route of an insect like the monarch butterfly. Learn the challenges it faces and ways to help.

Helpful Tips

• Map the monarch path from Mexico to the United States and Canada.
• Include the return trip back to Mexico in the fall.
• List plants needed along the route like milkweed and nectar flowers.
• List problems like habitat loss and weather changes.
• Include dangers from pesticides and loss of food plants.
• Connect fewer plants to fewer butterflies.
• List actions like planting milkweed and avoiding chemicals.

Leader Tips

• Use a simple map to show the route.
• Connect migration to seasons.
• Give clear examples of challenges.
• Focus on actions Scouts can take.

Requirement 8b: Endangered Insects

What You Need To Do
Learn about one threatened or endangered insect. Learn the challenges it faces and ways to help.

Helpful Tips

• Pick one insect like the rusty patched bumblebee.
• List where it lives and what it needs.
• List threats like habitat loss or pollution.
• Include effects of climate changes on survival.
• Connect fewer insects to changes in ecosystems.
• List ways to help like planting native flowers.
• Include avoiding pesticides and protecting habitats.

Leader Tips

• Help Scouts choose a clear example.
• Keep research simple and focused.
• Guide Scouts to list key threats.
• Encourage simple actions they can take.

Requirement 9a: Insect Study Careers

What You Need To Do
Find three careers that use insect study skills. Choose one and learn about training, cost, and job outlook.

Helpful Tips

• List three careers like entomologist, beekeeper, or pest control specialist.
• Pick one career to study in detail.
• Find out what schooling or training is needed.
• List any certifications or licenses required.
• Check the cost of education or training.
• Look up starting pay and job demand.
• Write down daily tasks for that job.

Careers to investigate

• Wildlife biologist who studies how insects affect animals
• Agricultural scientist who works on crop protection
• Forestry specialist who studies insects in forests
• Park ranger who monitors insect populations
• Museum curator who works with insect collections
• Lab technician who studies insects in a lab
• Public health worker who tracks insect-borne diseases
• Landscape designer who plans pollinator-friendly spaces
• Seed or plant specialist who works with pollination
• Environmental educator who teaches about insects
• Water quality specialist who studies aquatic insects
• Extension agent who helps farmers manage pests

Leader Tips

• Help Scouts choose realistic careers.
• Guide them to simple and reliable sources.
• Keep research focused on key points.
• Encourage clear and short summaries.

Requirement 9b: Insect Study As A Hobby

What You Need To Do
Choose a hobby that uses insect study skills. Learn what is needed to get started and set simple goals.

Helpful Tips

• Pick a hobby like beekeeping, gardening, or insect photography.
• List basic supplies needed to start.
• Check costs for equipment or materials.
• Look for local clubs or groups to join.
• Find simple training like books or classes.
• Set one short-term goal like starting a small project.
• Set one long-term goal to build skills.

Hobbies to try

• Bug collecting with ethical practices
• Nature journaling with insect sketches
• Building a pollinator garden
• Raising mealworms or other safe insects
• Joining a citizen science project
• Tracking butterflies or bees in your area
• Making insect hotels for your yard
• Macro photography of insects
• Starting a small compost bin with decomposer insects
• Keeping a simple ant farm
• Reading field guides and identifying local species
• Volunteering with a conservation group

Leader Tips

• Help Scouts pick a hobby they can try now.
• Keep plans simple and low cost.
• Encourage hands-on learning.
• Support goal setting and follow-up.

More Merit Badge Resources

The Insect Study merit badge gives Scouts a simple way to learn how insects live and why they matter. It fits well within the full merit badge program because it adds a close-up nature study to a list that includes science, trades, arts, and outdoor skills. Scouts observe insect behavior, life cycles, and habitats. This brings balance to the wide range of choices by offering a quiet, hands-on way to explore the natural world.

It also connects to badges like Nature, Environmental Science, and Fish and Wildlife Management. Scouts who enjoy outdoor observation often find this badge a natural next step. It supports the program’s goal of encouraging curiosity and careful study.

Learn More about Scouts BSA

The Insect Study merit badge supports the larger goals of Scouts BSA by teaching patience, observation, and responsibility. These skills help Scouts grow as thoughtful leaders.

It also ties into fitness, citizenship, and personal development. Fieldwork encourages movement and awareness. Understanding insect roles in communities builds respect for the environment. These lessons strengthen judgment and confidence.