September 28, 2006

ITHACA, NY: Insectapalooza once again beckons the young and old who have an unflinching love of all things creepy and crawly. This, the third annual Cornell University Department of Entomology open house, is free and open to all arthropodophiles and their adventurous companions on Saturday, October 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Comstock Hall at Cornell University.

The 6-foot tall bee mascot will greet visitors and happily have her picture taken with grinning children and adults, too. Down the hall a bit, loud cheers and screams will urge the American cockroaches down the four-lane track as they race for glory. The insect zoo—populated with many six- and eight-legged friends—will give an ultra-close-up view of many specimens housed in the department and other large and colorful specimens from around the world. The film festival, guided by an entomologist, will reveal the scientific impossibilities of killer-bug scenarios.

Activities—besides the ever-popular roach races—include “build-a-bug,” a face-painting parlor, a chance to catch and identify local aquatic insects, and the unique opportunity to stick your hands into a bucket full of maggots. There will be tours of the Cornell University Insect Collection, one of the largest university collections in the country.

Visitors will have the opportunity to learn from informational and interactive exhibits about veterinary entomology; the latest about mosquitoes and West Nile Virus and other topics concerning insects and global health; the unique associations between insects and plants; and over a dozen other exciting hands-on exhibits. And for those that build up an appetite, they can visit the edible insects booth for a delicious and nutritious crawly treat.

Last year, over 1,300 people got up close and personal with these incredible creatures, and the crowd is expected to be just as large this year. To find out more call John Losey at 607-255-7376 or visit the event’s webpage at http://www.entomology.cornell.edu/IthacaCampus/Events/Insectapalooza.

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