Microworlds: Bugs—Survival in the Sand

Hot, harsh, and constantly on the move. And yet here, where the shifting sands meet the ocean along the coast of British Columbia, there’s an abundance of insects. These bugs have evolved to succeed in the sand. But survival in this merciless landscape is hard won.

Hey, teachers! Here’s a cheat sheet of what’s included in this episode of Microworlds:
- Bug adaptations to coastal sand environments: burrows, anatomy, behavior
- Roles bugs play in sandy coastal environments
- Bug interactions, food
- Life cycles
- Sand wasp, fly, kelp, rove beetle, tiger beetle

This episode is part of our series Microworlds: Bugs, where we shrink down and discover the wonderful lives of the tiny, the miniature, the microworlds.

This video series is endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development as a Decade Activity. Find out more about the Ocean Decade here: https://oceandecade.org/

Credits:
Created by the Hakai Institute
Executive produced by Meigan Henry
Produced by Josh Silberg and Bennett Whitnell
Written by Josh Silberg
Edited by Bennett Whitnell
Narrated by Kristina Blanchflower
Videography by Bennett Whitnell, Kristina Blanchflower, and Josh Silberg
Additional imagery provided by Kelly Fretwell, Storyblocks,
and Stephen Hart (https://onh.eugraph.com)
Science consultation provided by Kelly Fretwell