Prince Charles de-bugs Clarence House

The Prince of Wales and Dr Luke Tilley examine insects caught in a net during a 'bioblitz' of the gardens at Clarence House Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

The Prince of Wales went bug-hunting in his back garden today and caught some minibeast to launch National Insect Week.

Armed with a net, Charles snared a host of tiny creatures in the grounds of his London home, Clarence House.

Dr Luke Tilley, an entomologist from York University watched as the Prince swept the small net over a patch of lawn that had not been cut for more than a week.

The Prince of Wales catches insects in a net, watched by Dr Luke Tilley, during a 'bioblitz' of the gardens at Clarence House Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

However the prince refused to use a popular insect catching technique and simply laughed when told that: "A lot of entomologists put it [the net] on their heads to stop the insects escaping."

At the bottom of the trap, the Prince was shown a robber fly, which lies in wait for its prey, a parasitic wasp and a more benign oak bush cricket.

The Prince of Wales and Entomologist Peter Chander inspect insects caught in a pooter during a 'bioblitz' of the gardens at Clarence House Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

The Prince of Wales was joined by a group of children from Wolsey Junior School in New Addington, Croydon, south London, who had been invited to go on a bug hunt at the royal residence

The Prince of Wales meets pupils from Wolsey Junior School, in Croydon, Casey Champion and Kayleigh Henry (right) Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire