The Natural History Museum has launched a website to help teachers and pupils identify insects collected in their school grounds.

The Bug Forum allows the public to post pictures of beetles, butterflies, caterpillars and other insects and then have them identified by resident experts. The forum also allows members of the public to discuss any interesting finds.

The site can also be used to identify animals independently, by referring to picture galleries featuring ants, bees, beetles, butterflies, caterpillars, grasshoppers, larvae and household pests.

It is hoped the galleries will fill with pictures from people intrigued by the creepy-crawlies.

The museum has run a bug identification service for 15 years.

www.nhm.ac.ukbug-forum.