- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
A group of scientists associated with the Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC Davis, journeyed to Belize last summer to add to the Bohart Museum's global collection of insects. The group included professors, graduate and undergraduate students, and Bohart Museum staff and volunteers.
But just wait until you see what they brought back.
You will at the Bohart Museum of Entomology open house from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 18 in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building on Crocker Lane. You can learn about their journey, what they collected, and also glean information on how to collect insects.
The event, free and open to the public, is the first in a series of weekend open houses at the Bohart Museum during the academic year. All open houses are family friendly.
Two scientists, Dave Wyatt, a professor at Sacramento City College, and Bohart Museum associate Fran Keller, assistant professor at Folsom Lake College, led the collection trip. Wyatt has been on more than a dozen collection trips to Belize and has also collected in Costa Rica. Keller is not only a veteran of Belize collecting trips but is a former student of Wyatt's. It was Wyatt who introduced her to entomology at Sacramento City College. Keller went on to receive her doctorate in entomology from UC Davis, studying with major professor Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum.
How many specimens did they bring back? About 100,000, Keller estimated.
The Bohart Museum is a world-renowned insect museum that houses a global collection of nearly 8 million specimens. It also maintains a live “petting zoo,” featuring walking sticks, Madagascar hissing cockroaches and tarantulas. Among the newest additions to the "zoo" are a young praying mantis and a population of Gulf Fritillaries--the public can see the caterpillars, chrysalids and adult butterflies.
At the open house, visitors can engage in one-on-one conversations with the scientists about the Belize trip. And they can also hold and photograph some of the petting zoo residents. A gift shop, open year around, includes T-shirts, sweatshirts, books, jewelry, posters, insect-collecting equipment and insect-themed candy.
Family arts and crafts activities are also planned, said Tabatha Yang, public education and outreach coordinator.
The Bohart Museum's regular hours are from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. The museum is closed to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and on major holidays. Admission is free.
More information on the Bohart Museum is available by contacting (530) 752-0493 or bmuseum@ucdavis.edu
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
They brought back some 100,000 specimens, ranging from stunning orchid bees to spectacular morpho butterflies, to add to the museum collection.
Want to learn about their "Un-Belize-able Summer Expedition" and see some of the specimens they collected? And learn how to collect insects? Attend the Bohart Museum's open house on Sunday, Sept. 18. It's set from 1 to 4 p.m. in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building on Crocker Lane. I
It's free and open to the public. And oh, yes, family friendly! Families are encouraged to attend and meet the scientists and see the insects.
Entomologist Fran Keller, a Bohart associate who received her doctorate from UC Davis and is now an assistant professor of biology at Folsom Lake College, co-led the tour with Dave Wyatt, professor of biology at Sacramento City College. "Dave Wyatt was my first introduction to entomology professor," Keller said. "He has been to Belize over 12 times as well as to Costa Rica."
The open house is the first in a series of weekend open houses at the Bohart Museum during the academic year.
Directed by Lynn Kimsey, professor of entomology at UC Davis, the Bohart Museum is a world-renowned insect museum that houses a global collection of nearly 8 million specimens. It also maintains a live “petting zoo,” featuring walking sticks, Madagascar hissing cockroaches and tarantulas. A gift shop, open year around, includes T-shirts, sweatshirts, books, jewelry, posters, insect-collecting equipment and insect-themed candy.
The Bohart Museum's regular hours are from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. The museum is closed to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and on major holidays. Admission is free.
More information on the Bohart Museum is available by telephoning (530) 752-0493 or emailing bmuseum@ucdavis.edu.