What is Build an Insect?

“Build an Insect” is an educational game that hopefully encourages you to learn more about insects. With this, you can create your own customized insect.

Personalization of an Insect

After an insect is completed, a certificate is provided. It’s possible to name and write a story for the finished insect.

Start Screen

At the welcome screen, there is a brief introduction to the game. To actually start creating an insect, press the “Start” button to continue.

The first step is to select the parts you will use for your insect. The insect can be created with different combinations of three body parts options – wings, mouth, and legs.

Parts Selection and Educational Descriptions

By default the initial insect has no wings, no mouth, and cursorial (walking) legs.  The default parts screen is displayed below:

By clicking the "<" (left) and ">" (right) arrow buttons you can scroll through the various options.  A description for each body part selection is displayed in the centered textbox. Each description includes the name of the insect part, general information about it, and common insects that have that feature.

The image of an insect on the right is updated as different choices of insect parts are selected.  In the image below, we have selected Halteres wings, a chewing mouth, and Saltatorial legs:

When satisfied with the insect, click the “Next” button.   

The finished insect can now be colored. Each insect part starts off as white but has a color palette from which color choices can be made.  Clicking the colored boxed underneath each part name will update the appropriate insect part on the right.  While coloring does not affect how well your insect survives, it will allow you to personalize your new insect as we did below:

Returning to Previous Screen

If you decide you wish to change one of your selected parts, it is also possible to go back to the Parts Selection screen by clicking the “Back” button. However, the insect will automatically be reset to the default settings.

The insect can now be placed in one of several environments.  By clicking the "<" and ">" arrow buttons you can scroll through the selection of possible environments.  The environment chosen, along with the insect parts selected, will determine how well the insect survives.  As you can see below, we have selected the Prairie as our environment:

Returning to Previous Screen

It is also possible to return to the previous coloring screen to change the insect’s colors. Originally chosen colors will still be on the insect.

It's time to see to see how well your insect does in the selected environment.  If the parts you selected were a good match for the chosen environment, an animation will be displayed showing how well your insect is able to survive.  However, if your insect is not fit for the selected environment, you will see him fall pray to natural predators and other hardships specific to that location.  Here is an example of one such animation:

As you can see, a natural predator has swooped down to snatch up our bug.  However...

Our insect was well adapted to the Prairie and was able to fight off his attacker.  If he had been poorly adapted, there would be a different outcome.

Play Again

By clicking the "Play Again" button you can re-view the animation you just watched.  You can reply the animation as many times as you wish.

Returning to Previous Screen

By clicking the "Back" button you can return to the Environments screen.  You can use this to try your insect out in a different environment or even continue to go back and redesign your insect to try and get different survival outcomes.

After finishing the game, a certificate is provided.  Below you can see our insect's certificate:

The created insect and its selected environment will be displayed on a certificate.   You are also given the option to name your insect and write up a story about him.

Options and Rating

The certificate will also display details about your insect.  Under "Parts Used:" the three specific insect parts you chose will be listed.  Under "Survival Rating:" you can see exactly how well your insect survived.  This is listed as both a percentage of his chance to survive as well as a general life expectancy listed in months.

You can now print it out by clicking "Print" which will bring up a clean version of the certificate.  For the best printing results, set your printer's paper layout to "Landscape."

Clicking "Done" will return you to the title page.