Even if you think they're creepy, insects play a vital role in our environment, from pollination to balancing pest populations.
Plus, some of them are pretty awesome if you take a minute to look at them up close.Β
You and the kids can do just that and more at the University of Arizona's annual Insect FestivalΒ from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Click below to add it to your calendar.
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about bugs and insects at the Arizona Insect Festival.Β
The kids (and you) will be able to get up close and personal with about 5,000 insects, do crafts, check out interactive exhibits and learn all about our littlest neighbors.
Wendy Moore, associate professor at the University of Arizona, shows Felix Gibson, 3, a specimen of a beetle for the Arizona Insect Festival.
You can even hold some. There will be at least 16 Western Hercules beetles, aquatic insects, millipedes, cockroaches and other beetles and bugs to handle.
The more adventurous, and hungry, can try mealworm tacos or cricket cookies. They're free.Β
For the more adventurous and hungry, an Insects as Food booth will have cricket cookies and mealworm tacos.
If you go, you can expect to see something you've never seen before, saysΒ Cara Gibson, director of the festival and director of science communications at the UA.
"Right here on our own planet Earth there are wonders that escape our notice each day. Each individual insect is of a scale that is much smaller than ours, but they are exquisite if you take the time to look β with a magnifying glass or microscope β and their collective impact is crucial to our wellbeing," Gibson said. "Our tiny neighbors play vital roles as natural balancers of pest populations, as food for other fish and birds and as pollinators. This last ecosystem service, pollination, will be showcased at several of the booths this year."
This year's theme
The festival chooses a theme insect each year. This year it's the Western Hercules Beetle, aka Dynastes granti.
It's a type of rhinocerus beetle that is native to Arizona and is one of the largest in the United States at two to three inches long.
Fun facts: Males have horns and females do not. Adults feed on tree sap, but are harmless to the tree. Moisture, such as falling rain, causes their gray outer cuticle to turn black.Β
New to the festival
There are several new booths this year:
β’ Tohono Chul will be teaching about local butterflies along with a fun craft.
β’ The UA Poetry Center will host an interactive writing activity on stage.
β’ The National Park Service will be there celebrating its 100th anniversary with explorations of insect biodiversity in the Rincon and Tucson Mountain wilderness areas.
β’ Insect Architects will show you what insects make and give you the chance to play the role of the architect and build a home for your favorite bug.
β’ Arthropod Zoo will feature Bombardier Beetles and aquatic insects.
ο»ΏThese Arizona queens, relatives of the monarch butterfly, are among the 1.5 million pinned specimens in the Arizona Insect Collection. The annual insect festival is Sunday.
Returning booths
β’ Insects as Food - There will be several edibles to choose from.
β’ TBG Butterfly Magic - You'll be able to handle caterpillars, feel butterfly wings, see the inside of a moth cocoon and more.
β’ L-I-V-I-N' like a bug - Learn about insect life cycles and why they are importantΒ
β’ Backyard Vampires - You'll see mosquitos up close and learn how to control them and prevent transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
β’ Build-a-Bug - Design and craft your own bug.
β’ Bugs Get Sick Too - Learn about germs, worms and insects.
β’ Bug Brains! - Learn about what's going on inside a bug's head.
β’ Life in Miniature - You'll learn about small insects and the challenges of life in miniature.
β’ Meet and Pet a Caterpillar - Learn about juvenile insects.
β’ Pollinator Paradise - See what pollinators look like and learn about what they do and watch real live pollinators do their business.
β’ SE Arizona Butterfly Association - Display of butterflies and showy moths.
β’ USDA Bees! and Social Insects - You'll learn about the ways social insects work together.
β’ Transgenic crops for Pest Control - Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of transgenic crops.
β’ UA BookStores - Build a ladybug and look at insect related books and toys.
β’ Stings N' Things - See insects, spiders and scorpions and learn about what happens when they sting.
Do this if you have little kids
Grab a passport from the info desk in the atrium on the north side of the ballroom and have the kids get it stamped by at least 10 booths to turn in for a prize.
"This way you can let your kiddo drive their own individual experience," Gibson said. "I am always amazed about the diversity of things that kids report back to me that they liked about the various booths..."
Best time to go with kids, food and parking
β’ If you want to go when it's less busy, try around 1:30 p.m., Gibson said. "There's usually a lull after lunch."
β’ The best place to park is the 2nd Street Garage, which is free for the festival. Β
β’ You can get frozen yogurt at Pinkberry or coffee at Starbucks, as well as other food options at the Student Union, which is downstairs.Β
β’ Or, make a day of it. Go to the festival, visit the turtle pond on campus, then head over to Main Gate Square for lunch or dinner.Β
