Bug Fest 2008

Bug Fest 2009

Schedule of Programs

All Bug Fest programs are free with admission. Unless otherwise stated, Bug Fest programs run from 11 am to 4:30 pm on both Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16.

Ongoing, Saturday & Sunday

Spineless Wonders Live
Examine more than 50 species of live insects and their relatives, including stick insects, tarantulas, and vinegaroons. Touch them if you dare (next to “Butterflies!” on the 1st Floor).
Kod*Lab/Penn Robotics
Meet engineers from Penn's Kod*Lab as they demonstrate their insect-inspired robot (11 am – 3 pm).
Bug Walk
Join an entomologist, go outside, and collect wild insects.
11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm. (Space is limited, sign-up in advance in North American Hall on the 1st Floor.)
Battling Beetles
Cheer RC-controlled robotic beetles as they battle it out (next to Outside In on the 3rd Floor).
Meet an Entomologist
Talk with entomologists of the Academy's Entomology Department and the American Entomological Society (in North American Hall on the 1st Floor).
Got Bugs?
Learn how to properly collect and pin insects during this hands-on demonstration. (insects, pins and scientific labels provided, in Dinosaur Hall Classroom on the 1st Floor).
Creepy Crawly Crafts
Make a bug pooter (a bug collecting tool that vacuums) and a bug box to take home (near the Panda diorama on the 2nd Floor).
Bugsplat Squares
Identify that disgusting goo on the car's windshield in our new game, Bugsplat Squares (in Serengeti Classroom in Africa Hall on the 2nd Floor).
Bug Ball
Activities, games, and fun for all at the Bug Ball (in Outside In on the 3rd Floor).
Museum Insects
Check out specimens from the Academy's Entomology collection and the American Entomological Society (in North American Hall on the 1st Floor).
Red Hill Invertebrates
Check out Devonian fossils that are five times older than Tyrannosaurus (in Dinosaur Hall on the 1st Floor).
Pinning Pupae
Watch how we prepare butterfly pupae for emergence in our live butterfly exhibit (in “Butterflies!” on the 1st Floor).
Flea Market
Have your face painted, get an (temporary) insect tattoo, shop for buggy items, check out displays by local organizations, and enjoy bug tasting.

top of page

Saturday, August 15

11 am: “Dancin’ with the Honeybees”
Join master beekeeper Cliff Sunflower for some wiggle dancin’ fun (in the Auditorium on the 1st Floor).
11 am: Art & Science of Insect Anatomy
“Welcome to the Art and Science of Insect Anatomy”
Biologist and artist Caryn Babaian demonstrates the uses the classical tradition of live drawing lectures to illustrate insect anatomy (in the Library on the 2nd Floor).
11:15 am: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).
11:45 am: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).
12 pm: Beneficial Garden Insects
Erika Kemp and Clare Wagner from Longwood Gardens explain how beneficial insects (and other animals) fit into an integrated pest management for the garden (in the Library on the 2nd Floor).
12 pm: Sidewalk Art
Join biologist and artist Caryn Babaian in creating the Parkway sidewalk into a giant work of art (at the Parkway Entrance).
12:30 pm: Bug Cooking and Tasting
Cajun chef Zach Lemann returns to cook bugs and share these exotic dishes with the audience (in the Auditorium on the 1st Floor).
12:30 pm: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).
1 pm: Insect Digital Photography
Photographer Susan Ellis (www.bugsinthesystem.com) demonstrates how you can “collect insects digitally” with a camera (in the Library on the 2nd Floor).
1:30 pm: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).
2 pm: “Are You Smarter Than A Cockroach?”
Think you know bugs? Prove it by playing our game show (in the Auditorium on the 1st Floor).
2 pm: Diaries of a Promising Young Naturalist
Academy entomologist Jon Gelhaus showcases the childhood diaries of Philip Haimbach, a son of an important 20th century entomologist Frank Haimbach (in the Library on the 2nd Floor).
2:30 pm: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).
3 pm: “Dancin’ with the Honeybees”
Join master beekeeper Cliff Sunflower for some wiggle dancin’ fun (in the Auditorium on the 1st Floor).
3 pm: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).
3:45 pm: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).

top of page

Sunday, August 16

11 am: “Dancin’ with the Honeybees”
Join master beekeeper Cliff Sunflower for some wiggle dancin’ fun (in the Auditorium).
11 am: Art & Science of Insect Anatomy
“Welcome to the Art and Science of Insect Anatomy”
Biologist and artist Caryn Babaian demonstrates the uses the classical tradition of live drawing lectures to illustrate insect anatomy (in the Library on the 2nd Floor).
11:15 am: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).
11:45 am: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).
12 pm: Beneficial Garden Insects
Erika Kemp and Clare Wagner from Longwood Gardens explain how beneficial insects (and other animals) fit into an integrated pest management for the garden (in the Library on the 2nd Floor).
12 pm: Sidewalk Art
Join biologist and artist Caryn Babaian in creating the Parkway sidewalk into a giant work of art (at the Parkway Entrance).
12:30 pm: Bug Cooking and Tasting
Cajun chef Zach Lemann returns to cook bugs and share these exotic dishes with the audience (in the Auditorium on the 1st Floor).
12:30 pm: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).
1 pm: “Attracting Butterflies with Native Plants”
Amy Hoffmann, Director of Education at Bowan’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, shows which native plants are best for attracting and supporting local butterflies (in the Library on the 2nd Floor).
1:30 pm: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).
2 pm: “Are You Smarter Than A Cockroach?
Think you know bugs? Prove it by playing our game show (in the Auditorium on the 1st Floor).
2 pm: Childhood Diaries of an Entomologist
Academy entomologist Greg Cowper showcases the diaries of 20th Century entomologist Morgan Hebard (in the Library on the 2nd Floor).
2:30 pm: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).
3 pm: “Dancin’ with the Honeybees”
Join master beekeeper Cliff Sunflower for some wiggle dancin’ fun (in the Auditorium on the 1st Floor).
3 pm: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).
3:45 pm: Roach Race 500
Cheer your favorite roach on to victory and learn what makes roaches run (in Bird Hall on the 3rd Floor).

top of page