Peppermint Beetles

The Activity:

• Before starting, mark some nearby trees with peppermint oil. This should occur before students arrive so they do not know which trees have been marked.
• Explain to students that beetles are another type of pollinator and that some are very unique, like the Peppermint Beetle.
• Have students sniff out the trees to see if they can find the marked ones. When they find the correct trees have them take bark rubbings. Once all the trees are found bring students back together to discuss the findings.
• Ask why they think the trees were marked. Note the importance of smell not only to tell them where their homes are but also to identify areas of food.
• Ask them why it would be important for pollinators to come back to the same types of flowers. To make it more relatable, have students think about ways humans mark their territory (fences, trees, signs) and why this might be important (protecting land and people).

• Many animals do not have the best vision, so they often use smell as a way to communicate with other members of their group. Smells can be used to signal warnings of danger, such as when skunks spray to ward off predators. Others use scents to identify members of their group, paths to follow, and even mark their homes. This is not so similar to how we recognize our own homes by the specific smells it has. Peppermint Beetles are an example of an insect that uses smell to signal important information. They acquired their name from the peppermint smell they secrete. This smell is left behind to mark safe areas or even where they can find food. Other peppermint beetles may follow this smell to find their way home.
• Marking territory is important to animals to identify their homes, but it is also a way to help identify where food can be found. If the beetles re-visit the same areas, they are more likely to pollinate specific flower types and help those plants grow.