Bug Fest 2008

The Academy of Natural Sciences is going buggy all day Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17, with roach races, a bug cooking competition, live insects, tarantulas and scorpions, science talks, and even a flea circus. (Check out the Bug Fest schedule.)

  • Grab a sample of cooked bugs from famous Cajun bug chef Zach Lemann and his competitor in the bug cook-off, David Gracer, founder of Sunrise Land Shrimp;
  • Enjoy the seemingly impossible feats of flea strength of the Phydeaux’s Flying Flea Circus;
  • Find out how insects got trapped in amber millions of years ago and learn how to responsibly collect insects and preserve them;
  • Don’t miss the opportunity to touch or hold a tarantula or giant Madagascar hissing cockroach;
  • Cheer your favorite on to victory in the Roach Race 500;
  • Create beautiful origami butterflies and grasshoppers;
  • Hear experts talk about bugs in art, bugs in science, bugs and non-native plants;
  • And learn about the Academy’s world-class entomology collection of 3.5 million specimens that are used by researchers around the world.

(Check out the Bug Fest schedule.)

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Bug Fest Menu

Got bugs?

butterfly collections

Learn how to properly collect and pin insects.

If you dare...

touching bugs

Touch live insects and their cousins.

Double dare...

insect cusine

Sample culinary creations by bug chefs Zach Lemann and David Gracer.