"Bugs...Outside the Box" at the Academy | 6abc.com

"Bugs...Outside the Box" at the Academy | 6abc.com

'Wicked Bugs' in living color - Times-Standard Online

'Wicked Bugs' in living color - Times-Standard Online

We couldn't be more thrilled to have our fabulous new art exhibit on display at the Sequoia Park Zoo!

LexGo.com | Century-old insect drawings reveal the art of scientific illustration

As I work on the storyline of our upcoming exhibit BUGS: Outside The Box, the beauty and artistry of bugs is heavily in my forethought. There is beauty to be discovered, a new way of looking at creatures that we revile, avoid, or simply ignore. The incredible, intricate, and enormous sculptures in the exhibit accomplish this so well that it's hard to ignore the fact that a stag beetle, blown up to more than four feet long, has an amazingly captivating texture to its exoskeleton, and elegant and graceful appendages.

Lest we forget the countless, dedicated scientist/artisans that capture this same beauty in scientific illustrations.

LexGo.com | Century-old insect drawings reveal the art of scientific illustration

Edible Insects - National Zoo| FONZ

Edible Insects - National Zoo| FONZ

Lately we've noticed that entomophagy (or the eating of insects) is getting a lot of attention in the press. A common food source worldwide, the United States is one of the few countries that shun this practice. A practical, sustainable "green" source of protein, the eating of insects merits the attention that it is receiving. This is a wonderful article that discusses it in more detail.

Seized Arachnids Given to the San Diego Zoo by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Zoo and Aquarium Visitor News

Seized Arachnids Given to the San Diego Zoo by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Zoo and Aquarium Visitor News

Tarantulas Shoot silk From Their Feet

An amazing article detailing what researchers have recently discovered - that tarantulas have the ability to shoot silk from their feet when there is the threat of a fall. This is important to the survival of a tarantula, which despite their robust appearance are actually very fragile. A drop from even a short distance can mean serious injury or death.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110516075927.htm

Tarantulas: Alive and Up Close — NewsWorks

Tarantulas: Alive and Up Close — NewsWorks

Here is some fantastic footage of Mariah Romaninsky, Education Manager at Delaware Museum of Natural History, talking about tarantulas. There's great footage of the T's as well!

Publication Day!

 Today is the day that an exciting new publication hits the stands. Wicked Bugs: The Louse That Conquered Napoleon's Army and Other Diabolical Insects is a fascinating look at the dark side of bugs, and Outhouse Exhibit Services is lucky enough to be developing a suite of traveling exhibits in its name. More on that in a minute....but first, an excerpt from the publisher's website:

"Amy Stewart, author of the New York Times bestsellers Wicked Plants and Flower Confidential, is back with her newest book, Wicked Bugs: The Louse That Conquered Napoleon’s Army and Other Diabolical Insects.  ....... And, as is typical with Stewart’s books, there’s been a wealth of national media attention, including a New York Times interview; a Fresh Air interview; and an NPR Weekend Edition interview.

Wicked Bugs is a darkly comical look at the sinister side of our relationship with the natural world. Stewart details over one hundred of our worst entomological foes–insects that infest, infect, and generally wreak havoc on human affairs.  With wit, style, and exacting research, she has uncovered the most terrifying and titillating stories of bugs gone wild. It’s an A to Z of insect enemies, interspersed with sections that explore bugs with kinky sex lives (“She’s Just Not That Into You”), creatures lurking in the cupboard (“Fear No Weevil”), insects eating your tomatoes (“Gardener’s Dirty Dozen”), and phobias that feed our (sometimes) irrational responses to bugs (“Have No Fear”). Intricate and strangely beautiful etchings and drawings by Briony Morrow-Cribbs capture diabolical bugs of all shapes and sizes in this mixture of history, science, murder, and intrigue that begins—but doesn’t end—in your own backyard."
Read this release in its entirety here:
Publication Day: <i>Wicked Bugs</i>
For us, we are looking forward to the launch of a small gallery show of the artwork from the book this fall, and have plans for a small-scale and large-scale traveling exhibit(s) that focus on the stories in the book, with a twist. Going beyond Wicked Bugs is our goal, so that the museum goer can gain an appreciation not only for the nefarious habits of these creatures, but also look beyond that to their amazing ability  to evolve and thrive under extremely bizarre circumstances.

Peacock Jumping Spiders' Mating Ritual

The…um…Wednesday Morning Movie

A video that captures the wonderfully unique Peacock Jumping Spider, not to be missed by any bug enthusiast!

One Little Beauty, and One Great Recommendation

This little beauty is an immature Venezuelan Sun Tiger (Psalmopoeus iriminia). A tree-living species, this type of tarantula is fast, agile, and can be quite aggressive as well as very beautiful. Taken post-molt, this is another great image captured by Mariah Romaninski, Education Manager at the Delaware Museum of Natural History.

And now for that awesome recommendation from Mariah:

"Outhouse Exhibit Services has done it again! Tarantulas: Alive and Up-Close is a fascinating exhibit proving to rival the popularity at our museum of Dr. Entomo’s Palace of Exotic Wonders, another wonderful Outhouse exhibit. Visitors love being eye to eye with the tarantulas, and even those frightened at the beginning of their visits become completely mesmerized by the beauty and power of these gentle giants. I highly recommend Tarantulas: Alive and Up Close."

A Trip to the Museum

TARANTULAS Provides Unprecedented Attendance Boost!

Our TARANTULAS exhibit is enjoying tremendous popularity and proving to be a welcome addition to a temporary exhibit program. Staff at its latest venue, the Delaware Museum of Natural History, shared with us that attendance is up 54% over last year!

Aside from the great reaction the public has had to the exhibit, the living collection has begun to captivate staff members as well. Education Manager Mariah Romaninsky's new hobby is to photograph tarantulas. Check out the beautiful bivouac created by this Sri Lankan Ornamental tarantula!

Delaware museum aims to clear tarantula’s bad reputation - delcotimes.com

Delaware museum aims to clear tarantula’s bad reputation - delcotimes.com

http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/Creepy_Crawley_Exotic_Bug_Exhibit_at_Junior_Museum__114424064.html

http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/Creepy_Crawley_Exotic_Bug_Exhibit_at_Junior_Museum__114424064.html

News You Can Use

BBC News - Dutch scientist advocates bugs as a green superfood http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12216355