Shake a tree
It's raining bugs. Tree-beating is a great way to discover an incredible world of minibeasts otherwise hidden in the branches above.
It might sound a bit violent, but if done right, tree-beating doesn't harm the tree or the minibeasts that call it home.
You can go tree-beating at any time of the year and find different creatures depending on the season, but it's best to do it in good weather when trees are dry.
Late summer and early autumn are great times for spiders, and in winter you might find leafhoppers and harvestmen on conifers.
So grab a stick and a sheet and get closer to the wildlife lurking overhead.
Did you know:
The science of studying insects is called Entomology. Entom is the insect bit and ology means 'the study of'.
Instructions
Find a tree or bush with some low hanging branches and lay your sheet underneath
You can put it on the ground or have some helpers holding it up at the edge so minibeasts collect in the middle where it is lower.
Shake the branch or carefully hit it with a stick once
There’s no need to keep hitting or shaking as you’ll get everything you’re going to with the first surprise hit or shake. After that, anything left will cling on tightly. Be gentle – you don't want to damage the tree or injure the minibeasts.