Build a bug vacuum

JEROME - Bugs are fun to watch, but not everyone likes to pick them up. One-way to avoid picking them up is to build a bug vacuum. Interested young minds can then examine the bugs without touching them. What you'll need: - Clear jar with a tight lid - Two or three feet of flexible plastic tubing, about 1/4-inch diameter, available at hardware stores and aquarium shops. - A two-inch square piece of gauze, panty hose or cheesecloth - One rubber band - Hot glue or other sealant Now to put it together: Make two holes in the lid of the jar the same size as the plastic tubing. Cover one end of the tubing with gauze and fasten with a rubber band. Cut the tubing in half. Insert the tubes into the lid so that the gauze-covered end goes inside the jar. Use hot glue or other sealant to fill in the holes around the tubing going into the jar. To catch bugs, suck on the tube that is covered with gauze. Place the open end of the other tube close to an insect. As you suck, the insect will be drawn into the jar. The gauze will keep it from going up the other tube and into your mouth. Mark the tube with the gauze on it, so you don't get the wrong tube in your mouth by accident. Once the bugs are caught, study them with a magnifying glass. This can be a fun activity on any outdoor trip, or just around your backyard.