Purpose

• While catching a bug in any clear container works, a bug catcher made with a bottle and tulle provides your child a clear viewing of the bug and gives the bug the air it needs to live. Using a device specifically designed as a bug catcher typically serves two purposes for the bugs. Your child can use the bug catcher to capture the creatures and the container also gives the bugs a suitable habitat in which to live.
  
  

Materials

• Creating your own bug catcher requires you to provide several materials to form the habitat for the bugs. Many of these items are likely already in your home. A used bottle from juice, water or soda that you would probably otherwise throw away or recycle is used for the bug catcher. Clean it well and remove all of the labels. You will also need a piece of tulle, some craft foam, a pair of scissors, a utility knife and hot glue.
  
  

Construction

• Because of the need to cut some of the items for the bug catcher, it is important to at least supervise the construction with your child and help when necessary. To create the bottle bug catcher, lay a cleaned bottle on a flatter side. If the bottle doesn't have a flat side, dent one side so it lays flat. Cut out a rectangle in the side of the bottle that is facing up using the utility knife. Throw out the extra plastic. Cut out a piece of tulle that fits over the hole with a 1/4-inch overlap on all sides. Cut out a rectangle of craft foam that measures about an inch larger on each side than the rectangle hole in the bottle. Cut a rectangle out of the middle of the craft foam to create a frame for your window. Lay the tulle over the hole and then squeeze hot glue around the border of the rectangular hole. Position the foam frame over the tulle and press it down to secure it in place.
  
  

Filling the Catcher

• After the glue has cooled and hardened, the bug catcher is ready to use. To catch the bugs, your child can lay the bug catcher in the grass near a bug to allow it to crawl in on its own. Your child may also want to catch the bugs by hand or with a butterfly net and transfer them into the bug catcher through the mouth of the bottle. Have your child add sticks, grass, leaves and rocks into the bug catcher to make the bugs feel more at home. When a bug is living in the bug catcher, your child should tightly cap the bottle to prevent the bug from escaping.