Critters in the classroom, insect edition: Bess beetles (plus a free activity!)

Elementary/Middle School

Whether you call them bessbugs, bess beetles, Betsy bugs, or by their more formal given name, Odontotaenius disjunctus sp. these large beetles are perfect for demonstrating a variety of concepts in your science classroom, including:

Complete metamorphosis
Communication via stridulation
Decomposition

In this hands-on video, we'll introduce you to the fascinating world of the bess beetle and all that you can do with them in your classroom.

Ready to teach with bess beetles? Discover even more classroom resources below:

Download a FREE bess beetle activity (and get the teacher guide here)

Get the care and handling guide

Shop for live bess beetles and habitats