On Saturday, July 23 2016 Frost Museum students, faculty, staff, and interns participated in the annual Wings in the Park celebration at the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden in State College, PA. Despite the heat, the festival swarmed with kids and parents dressed up in wings, bug shirts, and antennae. They observed beautiful butterflies and bees in the garden, marched in the pollinator parade, and sang celebratory songs. Pollinator displays and activities ran by local environmental, plant, and entomology organizations lined the pathway that circles the garden.

The Frost Museum table showcased a variety of entomological curiosities from live blue death feigning beetles to display cases containing insects of all colors and body structures and from all over the world! In stark contrast, we had some of largest insects (like the Hercules beetle) displayed next to some of the the tiniest parasitic wasps. There was a microscope available through which festival goers were able to critically examine insect muscles. The wasps had been dried via critical point drying so their muscles were easy to see and could be described as looking like cooked chicken breast meat!

We had a great time interacting with visitors and are excited for the next big insect event this September.
Don’t miss the Great Insect Fair! Save the date: September 10, 2016

Some photos of our crew in action are featured in the Centre Daily Times article about the event! Click here to check that out.