Ideas for a Butterflies and Beetles party

[LaBelleDameSansPatience]

Any ideas gratefully received. My DD will be 6 and is inviting 14 children, mainly from her Reception class. She wants (and I can only afford) a party at home. There will be 11 girls and 3 boys. We have a smallish garden and an offer of a friend's barn if it rains.

I don't know much about either but how about looking in library books/on the Internet for child-based nature activities they could do?

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=ladybug+tomatoes&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbnid=lMFgSIavQqkxjM:&imgrefurl=www.gymbofriends.com/off-topic/701076-i-need-bug-ladybug-themed-food-ideas.html&docid=rZ3TJp2W0LoylM&w=300&h=300&ei=WNA8Tr21JbTXiALh6ojDBg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=186&vpy=92&dur=1200&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=68&ty=131&page=1&tbnh=167&tbnw=156&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ladybird snacks?

Butterfly/bug themed treasure hunt.

Pass the parcel and the prizes are jelly worms/snakes/bugs.

Are they old enough to understand the concept of Beetle Drive?

Instead of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Wings on the Butterfly or they work in two teams of six and pin legs on the beetle (team that is most accurate wins).

Ah, sorry, 15 children not 12... three teams of five with an example leg already in place on the beetle?

Loads of party bag stuff out there on this theme.

Do you know any friends or family who have any weird and wonderful pets at home and could bring them along? Maybe not beetles, but spiders, snakes, lizards, etc? There are entertainers who do this at parties but that sounds out of your budget.

Love the ladybird snacks!

Yes to pinning legs ... not sure that I understand the concpet of a beetle drive. Must look up.

Build a Beatle is an easy version of Beatle drive that you could play in teams.