Bug World at the Museum of Natural History
This March break families can enjoy the grossly fascinating and wonderful world of insects.
From March 9 to March 19, the Museum of Natural History in Halifax is presenting Bug World, featuring thousands of bugs, live, dead and even cooked. This is the place to discover why the word meal is part of mealworms.
The exhibit Millennium Bugs, which features amazing specimens, giant insects and a mini insect-zoo, runs until September. Observe live hissing cockroaches from Africa, elegant, but slow moving, grasshoppers from Florida, and giant millipedes that guarantee a reaction as hundreds of their legs move up your arm.
The Museum of Natural History is one of the most popular March break destinations for Maritimers.
"Each year we deliver a fun and memorable event with good info from our natural world," said Stephen Archibald, manager of interpretation.
Bug World will appeal to all ages. There are creepy-crawly singalongs with Rose Vaughan; entertaining performances featuring a cockroach; a performance called Larry's Big Adventure about His Life in the Dump, by Neptune Theatre School; real entomologists with their favourite bugs; Good Bug, Bad Bug with the Department of Agriculture and Marketing; plus the popular Baby Animals, courtesy of Hants County 4-H clubs.
For the ultimate gross out, there is insect candy in the museum shop. Wrap your tongue around a larva or cricket pop sucker, or some chocolate-covered ants, the other red meat.
"Visitors look forward to the festive atmosphere and high-calibre programming that we create each March break," said museum director Debra Burleson. "Bug World has really brought out the creativity and playfulness of museum staff. It's the place to be this March break."
Between March 9 and March 10, preview days are scheduled for those who may be away the following week, and for our New Brunswick neighbours who are celebrating their break in Halifax this week. The Bug Show will be available on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show is also available on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The museum is located at 1747 Summer St., Halifax. Admission is $4 per person, $12 per family (two adults and their children), and little bugs under two-years-old are admitted free. For more information, please call the museum at 902-424-7353.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Media are invited to receive a sneak peak of Bug World on Friday, March 10, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There will be a bug-cooking demonstration at 10:30 a.m., a creepy- crawly singalong at 11 a.m., and an opportunity to receive a hands-on experience with an African millipede. Museum zoologist Andrew Hebda will be available to answer questions.