Entomophiles near and far flocked to State College this past weekend for the 23rd annual Penn State University Great Insect Fair. There were bugs to eat, bugs to see, bugs to hold, bugs galore!
The Snider Ag Arena filled with Penn State Entomology faculty, staff, and students who showcased their research initiatives and ran an insect zoo and a butterfly tent. Together with organizations such as the Pennsylvania 4-H clubs, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Penn State Master Gardeners, the Friends of the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden and others, the arena was filled with interactive insect related displays and activities aplenty.
This year’s theme, Bug Appetit, explored the world of entomophagy – the eating of bugs. Penn State Nutrition Science students offered a variety of insect bites from chocolate chip cookies baked with 25% cricket flour to wax worms and meal worms mixed with caramel popcorn.
At the Frost Museum table, we played into the theme by featuring a pinned display of edible insects of Pennsylvania! Yum. We also related insect muscles to that of chicken and other vertebrates. Additionally we had a praying mantis that gave live demonstrations throughout the day on how to eat grasshoppers.
![Close up photo of a praying mantis eating a grasshopper. The grasshopper is in the clutches of the praying mantis's raptorial front leggs and the body is in pieces.](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8485/29009907813_137f11266a_z_d.jpg)
![A Luna Moth caterpillar takes a rest from munching on Sweet Gum leaves.](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8866/29343405640_9188bbcd9f_z_d.jpg)
![Black Bess Beetle rests on a dead piece of wood.](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8375/29343405910_64662bb3f8_z_d.jpg)
![Visitors on one side of a table with various insect display cases. They are interacting with entomology interpretors who are on the other side.](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/29634711025_7edd8528b7_z_d.jpg)
![A researcher stands at a table and holds out an insect speciment to teach a girl scouts troupe about insect muscles](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8330/29634712705_b859135c20_z_d.jpg)
![Andy Deans stands at the Frost Museum table and speaks with two boys about wasps](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8167/29634711675_c0615a4770_z_d.jpg)
![Undergrad student, Jonah Ulmer holds out a Death Feigning Beetle for visitors to see and hold.](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/29523997912_025de9a938_z_d.jpg)
![Graduate Student, Emily Sandall introduces visitors to the edible insects of Pennsylvania. There is a display case with pinned insects](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8314/29634711455_8d8cc47cac_z_d.jpg)
We had a blast and can’t wait to participate again next year for the 24th Great Insect Fair!