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Ant Trail Close-Up
Fun fact: Ants follow invisible scent trails called pheromone trails.
Watch for: Watch for ants tapping antennae and following the same tiny road.
Video slot: /videos/bug-academy/ant-trail.mp4
For Kansas City kids and families
All Star Bug Academy
A fun place for kids to learn about insects, spiders, and the tiny creatures living around Kansas City. Some bugs help nature. Some bugs are harmless. Some bugs can bite, sting, spread germs, or damage homes.
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Learn
Kids can learn what common pests look like, where they live, and why they show up around homes.
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Protect
Not every bug is bad. Bees, butterflies, spiders outside, and many other creatures help nature do its job.
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Stay Safe
Kids should look, learn, and tell an adult. They should not touch, spray, smash, or disturb unknown bugs or nests.
Interactive Bug Lab
Click, Guess, Explore, and Learn
Kids can explore close-up bug pictures, learn how insects behave, test their bug knowledge, and practice thinking like young scientists.
Close-up explorer
Pick a bug to inspect
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Carpenter Ant
Insect
Clue: Ants use antennae to smell, touch, and share information.
Ants can leave invisible chemical trails called pheromone trails. Other ants follow those trails like tiny roads.
Teacher question
Ask students why a trail would help a colony find food faster than every ant searching alone.
Choose a close-up
Guess the bug science
Question 1 of 4
Score: 0
Which body part helps ants smell a pheromone trail?
Ant behavior station
Ants Have Invisible Roads
When an ant finds food, it can leave a tiny chemical scent trail behind. That scent is called a pheromone. Other ants smell it with their antennae and follow the trail like a road.
When ants meet, they often tap antennae. Those little taps help ants recognize nestmates, share clues, and communicate inside the colony.
1
Find food
2
Leave scent
3
Tap antennae
Sorting game
Tap each creature you discussed
Teachers can use this as a quick class discussion: Which ones are pollinators? Which ones live in colonies? Which ones are arachnids?
Bug Video Lab
Watch bugs move, work, hunt, and explore
These short video stations are built for 10 to 20 second close-up clips. Until a video is uploaded, each card shows a close-up image and a science observation prompt.
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Bee on a Flower
Fun fact: Bees move pollen from flower to flower while they collect nectar.
Watch for: Watch how the bee lands, crawls, and searches the flower.
Video slot: /videos/bug-academy/bee-pollination.mp4
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Termites in Soil
Fun fact: Subterranean termites live in colonies and often travel through soil.
Watch for: Watch how termites move together and stay close to covered paths.
Video slot: /videos/bug-academy/termites-soil.mp4
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Spider Movement
Fun fact: Spiders have eight legs and move differently than insects.
Watch for: Count the legs and watch how carefully the spider steps.
Video slot: /videos/bug-academy/spider-walking.mp4
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Mosquito Larvae
Fun fact: Mosquitoes begin life in water before becoming flying adults.
Watch for: Look for the wiggling movement in standing water.
Video slot: /videos/bug-academy/mosquito-larvae.mp4
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Pill Bug Roll-Up
Fun fact: Pill bugs can roll into a ball to protect themselves.
Watch for: Watch how the body curls into a tiny armored ball.
Video slot: /videos/bug-academy/pill-bug-rolls-up.mp4
Bug guide
Meet the Bugs
Here are some common insects, spiders, and pests kids may notice around Kansas City homes and yards.
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Ants
Tiny teamwork experts
Can become a problem indoors
- ★Ants live in colonies with workers, queens, and sometimes winged swarmers.
- ★They follow invisible scent trails to food and water.
- ★Some ants inside walls may point to moisture problems.
All Star Safety Tip: If ants keep showing up inside, tell a grown-up. Ants inside walls can sometimes mean hidden moisture, and moisture can also attract termites.
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Termites
Hidden wood destroyers
Serious home pest
- ★Termites eat wood and other materials that contain cellulose.
- ★They often stay hidden, so damage can happen before people notice them.
- ★Spring termite swarmers can look a little like flying ants.
All Star Safety Tip: Never ignore termites or termite swarmers. A grown-up should call a professional for an inspection.
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Cockroaches
Fast kitchen invaders
Health-related pest
- ★Cockroaches like food crumbs, water, warmth, and hiding places.
- ★They can squeeze into tiny cracks and come out at night.
- ★Keeping kitchens clean helps, but infestations usually need professional treatment.
All Star Safety Tip: Do not touch roaches or roach droppings. Tell an adult if you see them in kitchens, bathrooms, or cabinets.
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Spiders
Eight-legged hunters
Usually helpful outside
- ★Spiders are not insects because they have eight legs, not six.
- ★Many spiders help by eating flies, mosquitoes, and other bugs.
- ★Some spiders should not be handled.
All Star Safety Tip: Look, but do not touch. Ask a grown-up before getting close to any spider.
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Bees
Pollinator helpers
Helpful and important
- ★Bees help pollinate flowers, gardens, fruits, and vegetables.
- ★Honey bees and native bees are important for the environment.
- ★Bees may sting if they feel threatened.
All Star Safety Tip: Stay calm around bees. Do not swat at them. Give them space and let a grown-up handle nests near people.
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Wasps
Bold nest defenders
Can be dangerous near people
- ★Wasps can build nests under eaves, decks, playground equipment, and shrubs.
- ★Some wasps can sting more than once.
- ★They can become aggressive when their nest is disturbed.
All Star Safety Tip: Never throw things at a wasp nest. Stay away and tell an adult right away.
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Mosquitoes
Tiny flying biters
Biting pest
- ★Mosquitoes breed in standing water.
- ★Even small water sources like buckets, toys, birdbaths, and clogged gutters can matter.
- ★Only female mosquitoes bite.
All Star Safety Tip: Dump standing water with a grown-up's help. Wear repellent when adults say it is okay.
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Ticks
Sneaky outdoor hitchhikers
Biting pest
- ★Ticks wait in grass, brush, leaves, and wooded areas.
- ★They can attach to people and pets.
- ★Checking for ticks after outdoor time is important.
All Star Safety Tip: Ask a grown-up to check for ticks after playing outside, especially around tall grass or woods.
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Bed Bugs
Tiny nighttime travelers
Indoor pest
- ★Bed bugs can hide in mattress seams, furniture, cracks, luggage, and bags.
- ★They do not mean a home is dirty.
- ★They are very hard to eliminate without a plan.
All Star Safety Tip: Tell an adult if you wake up with mystery bites or see tiny bugs near a bed or couch.
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Roly-Polies
Little armored recyclers
Usually harmless
- ★Roly-polies are also called pill bugs.
- ★They are crustaceans, not insects.
- ★They like damp areas and decaying leaves.
All Star Safety Tip: They are usually harmless outside. If lots come indoors, there may be too much moisture nearby.
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Fleas
Jumping pet pests
Biting pest
- ★Fleas can jump far for their size.
- ★They can bite people and pets.
- ★Pet bedding, carpets, and shaded yard areas can become flea spots.
All Star Safety Tip: Tell a grown-up if pets are scratching a lot or if you notice small jumping bugs.
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Stink Bugs
Shield-shaped wall climbers
Occasional invader
- ★Stink bugs often move indoors when weather changes.
- ★They are named for the odor they can release when crushed.
- ★They usually do not damage homes, but they can be annoying.
All Star Safety Tip: Do not smash them. Ask an adult to remove them carefully.
Helpful or harmful?
Not every bug is a bad bug
Some bugs pollinate flowers. Some recycle leaves and dead plants. Some eat other pests. Pest control should protect families, homes, pets, and pollinators whenever possible.
Helpful or mostly helpful
Can become a problem
🐝 Bees
🦋 Butterflies
🕷️ Many outdoor spiders
🪲 Ground beetles
🐞 Lady beetles outside
🌿 Praying mantises
🏠 Termites
🪳 Cockroaches
🛏️ Bed bugs
🦟 Mosquitoes
🐝 Wasps near people
🐜 Ants inside walls
Important
Bug Safety Rules for Kids
1
Look, but do not touch.
2
Never disturb nests, hives, or swarms.
3
Do not pick up spiders, ticks, wasps, bees, or unknown bugs.
4
Tell an adult if bugs are in a bed, kitchen, bathroom, or wall.
5
Do not spray pesticides yourself.
6
Ask a grown-up to take photos from a safe distance.
Bug detective challenge
Become a Bug Detective
When a child finds a bug, the goal is not to touch it. The goal is to observe it safely and tell a grown-up.
- 🔎How many legs does it have?
- 🔎Does it have wings?
- 🔎Was it found inside or outside?
- 🔎Was it near food, water, wood, a bed, or a pet area?
- 🔎Did you see just one bug or a lot of them?
- 🔎Can an adult take a clear photo from a safe distance?
Kansas City bug seasons
What bugs show up by season?
Spring
Ants, termite swarmers, spiders, wasps starting nests, ticks
Summer
Mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, wasps, ants, spiders
Fall
Stink bugs, boxelder bugs, spiders, crickets, lady beetles, rodents moving indoors
Winter
Cockroaches, spiders, bed bugs, rodents, occasional indoor ants
For schools, teachers, and homeschool families
Teacher Resource Center
All Star Bug Academy now includes classroom-friendly resources for learning about bugs, spiders, pollinators, pest safety, and Kansas City insect seasons. These pages are built for teachers, parents, homeschool families, scout groups, libraries, and curious kids.
Parents and homeowners
Found a bug at home?
Have a grown-up take a clear photo from a safe distance. All Star Pest Solutions can help identify whether it is harmless, helpful, or something that needs professional attention.