Bugs. Always fun for children, even if children aren’t always fun for bugs when they don’t realise their own strength… *grieves for several woodlice who gave their lives in the line of duty at the hands of our four year-old*

Far safer (for the bugs) is a new app called Bug Art, released for iPhone and iPad this week by developer Little Bit Studio. It’s a creative app where kids design their own insects, then play mini-games with them.

The creative part looks very fun indeed: a riot of colour and stickers, with plenty of scope for imagination. “Our unique art board features traditional artist tools as well as stamps, stickers, and bug brushes. Yes, bug brushes!” explains the App Store listing.

“Whether it’s a paintbrush or a caterpillar, your child is in complete control of their creation. Want to take your bug design for a test drive? Just tap the magic button to see the bug immediately transform into a walking or flying insect that they can control.”

Control is the keyword for the other part of the app, where kids get to play with their bugs within mini-games: for example a racing mode called Bug Race, or a more “calm and peaceful” flying challenge in Butterfly Valley.

It looks like a marvellous mix of creativity and play, with lots of flexibility for children of different ages to have fun with the app. The developer stresses that it’s an all-in-one app too, with no in-app purchases or ads.

Bug Art costs £0.69 for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store.