Creature Connections: Educational Experiences

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01/02/2025

Confirmed shows so far this year!
April 19th - Easter Event at Harworth Sports Pavilion DN11 8JT
May 11th - Big Farming Sunday at Farmer Copleys
June 28th - Brighouse Charity Gala
July 5th - Wrose Carnival
July 12th - Shelf Gala
August 17th - Mirfield Show

If you're holding an event and would like us to attend, please get in touch - it's only just gone February and they're rolling in fast! 😁

Meet the grubs!Not a lot of people know that a beetles life cycle is the same as a butterflies! I've posted a lot about ...
29/01/2025

Meet the grubs!

Not a lot of people know that a beetles life cycle is the same as a butterflies! I've posted a lot about our caterpillars, but not really about these guys!

I currently have 5 beetle grubs, a Hercules beetle grub and 4 Giant African Flower beetles! These weird lil things are pretty cool - they're all a very large species of beetle so their grub part of their lives can last up to 3 years.. However life as a beetle will only be between 4 and 6 months.

All these grubs started off life with me at around 1cm in size. The Hercules has been with me since 27th July 2023! The other 4 came home with me last June and have grown loads, one more than the others!

Sadly they don't always make it through the next stage if their lives.. Pupating into beetles is a very hard process as you can imagine.

What's the difference between a grub and a caterpillar?
Grubs live underground and eat soil, leaf litter, rotting wood and plant roots so are rarely seen. They firm cocoons around then with the soil and faeces. Caterpillars live in shrubs and bushes and eat the leaves, they have sticky little feet to help them move around the plants they eat!

Caught the lil lady in egg laying action tonight! They are just so incredible! 😍
28/01/2025

Caught the lil lady in egg laying action tonight! They are just so incredible! 😍

Egg/baby update!So far we have:False Leaf Katydid - 19 eggsFlorida Katydid - 82+ eggsMacleays Spectre Stick Insect - 50+...
26/01/2025

Egg/baby update!

So far we have:
False Leaf Katydid - 19 eggs
Florida Katydid - 82+ eggs
Macleays Spectre Stick Insect - 50+ eggs, 2 babies
Sungaya Stick Insect - unknown number of eggs (they lay in soil), 9 babies
Silkmoth Caterpillar - 150+ babies
Immaculata Land Snail - 50+ eggs, 50 babies
Madagascan Hissing Cockroach - 6 babies
Headlight Cockroach - 10+ babies

We have now got adult breeding pairs of (so expect eggs/babies):
Giant Hooded Katydid
Leaf Mimic Katydid
Pancakes Slugs
Giant Spiny Stick Insect

This is a full time job in itself πŸ˜‚ I need to take this on full time πŸ™ˆ if only I could!

πŸ“Έ - Silkmoth Caterpillars!

*warning - potential trypophobia trigger πŸ™ˆ*More eggs!!! Anyone would think it's Easter πŸ˜‚Florida Katydids this time! Thes...
25/01/2025

*warning - potential trypophobia trigger πŸ™ˆ*
More eggs!!! Anyone would think it's Easter πŸ˜‚

Florida Katydids this time! These guys lay multiple eggs on branches/twigs, making it much easier to see and remove them πŸ˜‚

Never had babies of this species as the first group I kept seemed to have been in**ed too much so the eggs were infertile/never hatched.

When I first came across these eggs with my previous group they gave me a massive ick. πŸ˜‚ I HATED things with 'holes' and these seriously triggered me! Even the lotus pods I put in for the isopods triggered me.. However after keeping all these weird creatures it had eased massively... But I still can't look at or eat crumpets πŸ˜‚

Time to get your places booked for our session at The Play Mill CafeMessage them to book a spot! 😁
24/01/2025

Time to get your places booked for our session at The Play Mill Cafe

Message them to book a spot! 😁

Lots going on in the school holidays. All events are booking essential so please contact us to secure your spaces or you can book direct with The Clay Team Halifax or ARTventurers Halifax and Bradford West We will also be offering pre bookable 2 hour sessions for normal play only Monday to Friday, these will be 9.30-11.30 / 11.45-1.45 and 2-4pm, just message us to reserve a session spot. Walk ins will still be accepted but please note we cannot guarantee you a table or that we won’t already be full to capacity on your arrival if you choose not to book ahead

We have (more) eggs!This time from the False Leaf Katydids. 16 so far in the past 3 days. I only have 1 female so hoping...
24/01/2025

We have (more) eggs!

This time from the False Leaf Katydids. 16 so far in the past 3 days. I only have 1 female so hoping they all hatch and I have a better ratio for next time!

I'm still sure more are yet to come though 🀞

Eggs from these guys are difficult to see straight away as they lay the egg inside the leaf! Very cool β™₯️

πŸ’₯NEW FOR 2025!!πŸ’₯Over the past year I've encountered many people, and a lot of those people would shout out 'oooh a centi...
20/01/2025

πŸ’₯NEW FOR 2025!!πŸ’₯

Over the past year I've encountered many people, and a lot of those people would shout out 'oooh a centipede' when looking at the millipede. A very easy mistake to make.. So I decided to bite the bullet and delve into the world of centipedes...

Now I won't lie.. They *terrify* me πŸ˜‚ however this lil dude is actually kinda sweet... But don't be fooled, he is venomous.. And although it wouldn't kill you, it wouldn't be pleasant if he bit you!

So for this reason he will not be for handling! But just to admire, and to help educate the differences between the millipede and the centipede 😁

πŸ“Έ - Egyptian blue legged centipede, showing some absolutely stunning colours! He'll get to approximately 12cm in length.. And does actually live on sand.. I'm just waiting for the order to arrive then he'll be swapped over 😁

Dates for the diary!February half term we will be at:The Play Mill Cafe Tuesday 18th Feb 10am til 12pmGordon Rigg Garden...
19/01/2025

Dates for the diary!

February half term we will be at:
The Play Mill Cafe Tuesday 18th Feb 10am til 12pm
Gordon Rigg Garden, Home & Leisure Todmorden Thursday 20th February 10am til 3pm

Wednesday I have a full day at Leeds Uni (private)

Just Monday and Friday to fill! If you're looking to add something different to your usual ☺️ could potentially squeeze something else in on the Tuesday afternoon aswell ☺️

Keep eyes peeled for how to book!

Although today's fair was very quiet I have made a few connections that could potentially lead to lots more events in th...
18/01/2025

Although today's fair was very quiet I have made a few connections that could potentially lead to lots more events in the future!

It's not always about getting money in at an event, it's about meeting and talking to people about what you do!

So watch this space 😁

Photo of Elsa and Romeo who are two different species of land snail so they don't live together, but always come with me together to events... I think Elsa may have missed Romeo a little bit πŸ˜‚

We are ready and raring to go at St Chads Winter Fair!Here til 2pm - if you're local, or just got nothing on today then ...
18/01/2025

We are ready and raring to go at St Chads Winter Fair!

Here til 2pm - if you're local, or just got nothing on today then why not pop in and support St Chads Rainbows 🌈

Tomorrow we will be attending St Chads Winter Fair!Free to attend and lots of stalls! Time to get back to business! πŸ’ͺ
17/01/2025

Tomorrow we will be attending St Chads Winter Fair!

Free to attend and lots of stalls!

Time to get back to business! πŸ’ͺ

Today we kicked of the 2025 visits with 2 sessions at Paddock J&I with the year 5 group who are currently learning about...
17/01/2025

Today we kicked of the 2025 visits with 2 sessions at Paddock J&I with the year 5 group who are currently learning about South America!

If you'd like to book a visit get in touch!

πŸ“Έ - female Headlight Cockroach from the sessions today, these guys can be found in Colombia πŸ‡¨πŸ‡΄ and Venezuela πŸ‡»πŸ‡ͺ

Today we've added a bunch of stars to our "famous creatures" list!I sent a millipede, 3 types of Isopod, death feigning ...
16/01/2025

Today we've added a bunch of stars to our "famous creatures" list!

I sent a millipede, 3 types of Isopod, death feigning beetles, some resident British centipedes, a meal worm beetle, 2 snails, our chubby frog and already famous superstar Sancho, the Mexican Red Knee!

They were all on a film shoot in London for Alexander McQueens fashion line!

Pic of the frog - since he's never made an appearance on my page before! β™₯️ He's a grumpy old soul πŸ˜‚

Well the bookings have started to fly in now the kids are back at school!If you're looking for a special addition to you...
15/01/2025

Well the bookings have started to fly in now the kids are back at school!

If you're looking for a special addition to your learning please get in touch!

We can look at habitats, rainforests, mini beasts, nocturnal creatures and life cycles!
Or just have a fun end of term session!

πŸ“Έ Jelly bean isopods a having a snack!

Babies/bugs for sale!We have Silkmoth Caterpillars , Giant African Land Snails, Headlight Cockroaches, Jellybean Isopods...
13/01/2025

Babies/bugs for sale!
We have Silkmoth Caterpillars , Giant African Land Snails, Headlight Cockroaches, Jellybean Isopods, Dairy Cow Isopods, Milk Back Isopods, Orange Isopods, Macleays Spectre Stick Insect eggs and Springtails

Can be posted Β£8.95 special delivery before 1pm or collection from Shelf, Halifax

See pics below πŸ‘‡πŸ‘‡πŸ‘‡

Address

Halifax
HX37LW

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