Bug Out at the Great Insect Fair
By: Laura Hartog
Updated: September 24, 2012
Penn State's Great Insect Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 29 at a new location: the Bryce Jordan Center on the University Park campus.
Sponsored by the College of Agricultural Sciences' Entomology Department, the increasingly popular fair had outgrown its former venue in the Snider Agricultural Arena, according to Steve Jacobs, senior extension associate in entomology and fair coordinator.
New to the fair this year is Ryan "The Bug Man" Bridge and his gigantic display of exotic insects. Bridge has used live insects and arthropods to help teach entomology throughout central Pennsylvania and Maryland since 1995. His exhibit includes hundreds of preserved and live bugs, many being the largest species in the world. "The Bug Man" also will give special presentations throughout the day.
The Great Insect Fair will feature several other fun and interactive activities:
--Butterfly tent
--Insect galls
--Native pollinators
--Insect Olympics, featuring dung beetle races
--Build-A-Bug Contest -- (rules and guidelines are available online at http://ento.psu.edu/public/kids/great-insect-fair/build-a-bug)
--Cockroach races
--Minigolf
--Arts and crafts at the Insect Construction Company
--Insect zoo
--Insect deli
--Live musical entertainment
--Honey tasting
--Insect collections
--Face painting
--Insect vendors, featuring insect pets, art, crafts, books and t-shirts.
--Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program's "The BugMobile!" talking car
--The Bug Doctor Is In -- Get answers to your insect questions
Admission to the Great Insect Fair is free, although donations will be accepted to help defray costs. Parking is free in the lots by the Bryce Jordan Center.
For more information, call the Department of Entomology at 814-865-1895 or visit the Web at http://ento.psu.edu/public/kids/great-insect-fair
