Boy Scouts of America

Insect Study Merit Badge

Insect Study
Merit Badge

Scouting America Merit Badge Hub

Scouting America
Merit Badge Hub

InsectStudy

Requirement Updates 2025

This Merit Badge’s Requirements have recently been updated in 2025 Scouting America Requirements (33216). Please read more about “Requirements” on the Merit Badge Hub homepage. The previous version of the Merit Badge requirements can be found in Scoutbook.

Insect Study Merit Badge Overview

In earning the Insect Study merit badge, Scouts will glance into the strange and fascinating world of the insect. There, they will meet tiny creatures with tremendous strength and speed, see insects that undergo startling changes in habits and form as they grow, and learn how insects see, hear, taste, smell, and feel the world around them.
Insect-Study_merit-badge-overview

Insect Study Merit Badge Requirements

The previous version of the Merit Badge requirements can be found in Scoutbook

The requirements will be fed dynamically using the scout book integration
1. Safety. Do the following:
  • (a) Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards associated with exposure to ants and bees and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
  • (b) Discuss the prevention of and treatment for health concerns that could occur while working with ants and bees, including insect bites and anaphylactic shock.

2. Anatomy. Do the following:
  • (a) Tell how insects are different from other animals.
  • (b) Show how insects are different from millipedes and spiders.
  • (c) Point out and name the main parts of an insect.
  • (d) Describe the characteristics that distinguish the major orders of insects.

3. Life Cycles. Do the following:
  • (a) Compare the life histories of a butterfly and a grasshopper. Tell how they are different.
  • (b) Raise an insect through complete metamorphosis from its larval stage to its adult stage (e.g., raise a butterfly or moth from a caterpillar). (Some insects are endangered species and are protected by federal or state law. Every species is found only in its own special type of habitat. Be sure to check natural resources authorities in advance to be sure that you will not be collecting any species that is known to be protected or endangered, or in any habitat where collecting is prohibite(d) In most cases, all specimens should be returned at the location of capture after the requirement has been met. Check with your counselor for those instances where the return of these specimens would not be appropriate.)

4. Observation and Analysis. Do the following:
  • (a) Discuss the importance of the Leave No Trace Seven Principles and the Outdoor Code as they relate to insect study. Explain how you have followed the Leave No Trace Seven Principles and the Outdoor Code during field observation, specimen collection, and identification.
  • (b) Observe 20 different live species of insects in their habitat. In your observations, include at least four orders of insects.
  • (c) Make a scrapbook of the 20 insects you observe in 5(b) Include photographs, sketches, illustrations, and articles. Label each insect with its common and scientific names, where possible. Share your scrapbook with your merit badge counselor.
  • (d) From your scrapbook collection, select eight species of insects and identify what role they play in the ecosystem.

5. Social Insects. Do the following:
  • (a) Tell things that make social insects different from solitary insects.
  • (b) Do ONE of the following:
  • 1. Observe an ant colony in a formicarium (ant farm). Find the queen and worker ants. Explain to your counselor the different chambers found within an ant colony.
  • 2. Study a hive of bees. Remove the combs and find the queen. Estimate the amount of brood and count the number of queen cells. Explain how to determine the amount of honey in the hive. (If you are allergic to bee stings, pick option 1 above.)

6. Ecology. Do the following:
  • (a) Tell how insects fit in the food web of other insects, fish, birds, and mammals.
  • (b) Explain the role insects serve as pollinators for plants.

7. Insects and People. Do the following:
  • (a) Explain the symbiotic relationship between bees and humankin(d) Explain what colony collapse disorder (CCD) is and some of the possible causes. Discuss how CCD affects our food supply.
  • (b) Describe three alternatives to insecticides as a way of preventing crop injury and subsequent yield loss. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of these alternatives.

8. Conservation. Do the following:
  • (a) Tell the migration route of an insect (e.g., monarch butterfly). Discuss the challenges they face and how Scouts can contribute to their success.
  • (b) Find out about an insect that is a threatened or endangered species. Discuss the challenges they face and how Scouts can contribute to their success.

9. Careers and Hobbies. Do ONE of the following:
  • (a) Identify three career opportunities that would use skills and knowledge in Insect Study. Pick one and research the training, education, certification requirements, experience, and expenses associated with entering the field. Research the prospects for employment, starting salary, advancement opportunities and career goals associated with this career. Discuss what you learned with your counselor and whether you might be interested in this career.
  • (b) Identify how you might use the skills and knowledge in Insect Study to pursue a personal hobby. Research the additional training required, expenses, and affiliation with organizations that would help you maximize the enjoyment and benefit you might gain from it. Discuss what you learned with your counselor and share what short-term and long-term goals you might have if you pursued this.

Get the Insect Study Merit Badge Pamphlet

While working on the Insect Study merit badge, you’ll learn about what makes all those creepy, crawly things different from each other and that they’re not all that creepy after all!

Discover more about "Insect Study"

The monarch butterfly population is in decline. To help out these beautiful creatures that pollinate wildflowers, you can build this protective habitat. It provides access to sunlight and keeps out predators, giving monarchs a safe place to grow before being released into the world. WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A MONARCH BUTTERFLY HABITAT Common milkweed plants Tomato cage or a small section of wire fencing A few yards of tulle fabric — this fine netting lets in light and water but keeps out hungry critters Scissors Twist ties or clamps to secure the tulle WHAT YOU’LL DO TO MAKE A MONARCH BUTTERFLY HABITAT STEP 1. BUY AND PLANT MILKWEED SEEDS OR A PLANT. You can buy the seeds and plant in stores, or you can find outlets online. If you choose to go with seeds, it will take about six weeks for the plants to grow mature enough to host monarchs. Make sure to position the milkweed’s garden plot in an area where it will get plenty of sunlight. STEP 2. AFTER SIX WEEKS OR SO, INSPECT YOUR MILKWEED PLANTS FOR SIGNS OF MONARCH ACTIVITY (time may vary depending on where you live). They often lay eggs under the first few sets of leaves toward the top of the plant. The plants you choose to cover and protect should be large, healthy and already home to monarch eggs or tiny monarch caterpillars. You’ll want to leave some milkweed plants uncovered so passing monarchs can use them to fuel up on nectar. STEP 3. PREPARE THE PROTECTED PLANT. Pick off competing insects and their eggs so only monarch eggs and caterpillars remain. Look under every leaf along the main stem and on the ground around the plant for non-monarch insects. STEP 4. SURROUND YOUR PLANT WITH THE TOMATO CAGE OR FENCING. Push the cage legs deep into the ground. If you’re using fencing, bury the bottom section so it stays put. STEP 5. WRAP A LAYER OF TULLE AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR CAGE, securing it with twist ties or clamps as you go. Cover both the bottom and top perimeters completely with tulle so nothing can get in or out. STEP 6. CREATE A SMALL DOOR THAT YOU CAN OPEN when it’s time to access your protected plant and release adult monarchs. To do this, clamp some extra tulle at the end that you can pull open like a tent flap. STEP 7. GOING FROM EGG TO ADULT TAKES ABOUT A MONTH. Check daily for progress and adult monarchs ready for release. You’ll know they’re ready when you see them flapping their bright orange wings trying to get out.

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