Insect Study Merit Badge
Nine requirements. The long parts are raising an insect from larva to adult (3(b)) and observing 20 live species from at least four orders (4(b)), which then become a scrapbook (4(c)) and a choice of eight species and their roles (4(d)). Requirement 5(b) is an ant colony or a bee hive, and 9 is a career. The rest are safety with ants and bees, anatomy, ecology, insects and people, and conservation.
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The plan behind this
The parts you do
| requirement | what it needs |
|---|---|
| 3(b) | raise an insect through complete metamorphosis, from its larval stage to its adult stage (for example a butterfly or moth from a caterpillar) |
| 4(b) | observe 20 different live species of insects in their habitat, including at least four orders |
| 4(c) | a scrapbook of those 20 insects, with photographs, sketches, illustrations and articles, each labelled with its common and scientific names where possible; share it with your counselor |
| 4(d) | from the scrapbook, select eight species and identify the role each plays in the ecosystem |
| 5(b) | an ant colony in a formicarium, or a hive of bees (below) |
Before you collect anything for 3(b), check natural resources authorities in advance so that you do not collect a protected or endangered species, or in a habitat where collecting is prohibited. In most cases, specimens are returned to the location of capture once the requirement has been met; check with your counselor for the cases where that would not be appropriate.
Requirement 5(b): do ONE
| route | what it asks |
|---|---|
| 5(b)(1) | observe an ant colony in a formicarium (ant farm); find the queen and worker ants; explain the different chambers in an ant colony |
| 5(b)(2) | study a hive of bees; remove the combs and find the queen; estimate the amount of brood and count the queen cells; explain how to determine the amount of honey in the hive. If you are allergic to bee stings, pick option (1). |
Requirement 9: do ONE
Under the heading Careers and Hobbies. 9(a) is identifying three career opportunities that would use skills and knowledge in insect study, researching one, and discussing it with your counselor. As published, 9(b) repeats the same text word for word. Ask your counselor how they want it read.
The explanations
1 is safety: the most likely hazards of exposure to ants and bees and how to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate and respond to them, and the prevention and treatment of health concerns including insect bites and anaphylactic shock. 2 is anatomy: how insects differ from other animals, and from millipedes and spiders; the main parts of an insect, pointed out and named; and what distinguishes the major orders. 3(a) compares the life histories of a butterfly and a grasshopper. 4(a) is the Leave No Trace Seven Principles and the Outdoor Code as they relate to insect study, and how you have followed them. 5(a) is what makes social insects different from solitary ones. 6 is insects in the food web, and as pollinators. 7 is bees and humankind, colony collapse disorder and the food supply, and three alternatives to insecticides with their advantages and disadvantages. 8 is an insect's migration route and a threatened or endangered insect, with the challenges each faces and how Scouts can contribute.
What this page is
The Insect Study merit badge, drawn so the raising of an insect and the observation of 20 live species stand out, with the scrapbook and the eight species drawn as built from that observation, and the ant colony or bee hive and the careers drawn as questions. It is not a copy of the requirements: each step is a short label with a link to the official requirements, which are what actually governs and which change from year to year. The free official pamphlet is the fuller guide.
Sources for this page
- Insect Study Merit Badge Requirements, Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2025-09-19 · The requirements themselves, and the free official pamphlet linked from them.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.0.3 · The process every merit badge is earned through, which this page does not repeat.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.4.3 · Which version of a changed requirement applies to a Scout who has already started.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 4.0.0.1 · Why the requirements are not in the Guide to Advancement and are expected to change annually.
Last checked against its sources on .