Hug a Bug event at Houston Museum of Natural Science

[yen_saw]

On Feb 14th (Saturday), Houston Museum of Natural Science is having an event here called Hug a bug. It is to showcase beneficial insects and there will be a table for mantis. I have been invited to join the event and if anyone living close by (Dustin & Dinora ) interested in going too that would be great! I will bring in some mantis for the exhibition too.

Also, took a few pics of the orchid mantis in the museum during my recent visit.

 

[Frack]

Cool, Ill defenetly be there! I didnt know they raised mantis there thats pretty cool, Ive seen there butterfly garden they have online though and its awsome. I think the last time I was at that museum was on a field trip in the 80's lol should be neat to see how much its changed since I was last there.

 

[Katnapper]

Also, took a few pics of the orchid mantis in the museum during my recent visit.

Did you take your piece of red paper (for use as a background) there too?!! :lol:

 

[Rick]

Awesome. As many of you know I do a mantis table at Bugfest in Raleigh, NC every September. They don't allow us to bring "exotic" mantids which sucks.

 

[ABbuggin]

Awesome. As many of you know I do a mantis table at Bugfest in Raleigh, NC every September. They don't allow us to bring "exotic" mantids which sucks.

+1 <_<

 

[yen_saw]

@ Dustin: Great, i sent you PM. The insect zoo in HMNS spent million on renovation last year so yeah it will be different now See you around!

@ Becky: Good spot Becky The office in the insect zoo has lot of colorful manila color papers i am taking some back home instead

@ Rick: The event is exclusively by the museum only and so all exotic/foreign mantis species are allowed.

Hopefully i can share some pics here in the future.

 

[yen_saw]

Some pics from the Hug a (beneficial) Bug event on Valentine's day.

Laurie with her ladybug table

Plant full of aphids - food for the ladybugs

Display collection of different species of ladybugs. I like those little ladybug life cycle models

Volunteer explaining to Kenneth and Dustin on the beetles and parasatic wasps that feed on mealybugs.

Worker collecting recently hatched butterflies to release in the butterfly center

Volunteer showing a catepilar.... i forgot which species bummer

Zooming in the same catepillar - it was soft we actually touch it!

Playing around with my camera in the butterfly center

 

[yen_saw]

Checking out some dried insects - nice expression Dustin

Some mantidflies from Texas

More dried insects on display

Kenneth playing a bug game

So some people actually feed on bugs!

and Kenneth making his move to buy a candy bug from the vending machine

Hmmmm which one to chose

Looks yucky i wouldn't try it... well i took one, ok two. The cricket was alright but the mealworm is pretty weird. Dustin i hope you didn't get upset stomach

 

[yen_saw]

Well finally the table for praying mantis. Erin has the table with an adult Hierodula membranacae on her hand. There were B. mendica, G. grisea, S. bicornis and several other species i can't remember.

Anyone staying in this forum long enough may remember a little game of identifying oothecae species about two years ago in this forum (See bottom left corner board with oothecae on the above pics)

Here is another look.... can't believe it has been almost two years ago since i made it.

A group photo with another two members here (Dustin and Dinora)

Well that's about it we only stay for about one and half hour as i need to rush back for the important Valentines date with my "boss"

 

[robelgado]

thats great,

I wish they had something like that around South Florida.

Actually, Im sure they do, somewhere

Time for some research

 

[revmdn]

That looked like a lot of fun. Wish I could of been there. As usual, great photos Yen.

 

[Katnapper]

I enjoyed the pics, Yen. That waterfall they made is really nice! It's wonderful that some of the members here can get together to go see something like this. I'm jealous!

 

[Frack]

Lol I look crazy in that 1 pic That mealworm wasnt to tasty, maybe they should add nuts then you wouldnt notice the crunchy part as bad lol. Thx again for inviting me, I had a great time!

 

[yen_saw]

thats great,I wish they had something like that around South Florida.

Actually, Im sure they do, somewhere

Time for some research

Try Florida Museum of Natural HIstory at Gainville (U of FL) there is a new permanent exhibit - Butterfly Rainforest.

That looked like a lot of fun. Wish I could of been there. As usual, great photos Yen.

Thanks Martin, wish i could stay longer but the event was from 9am-1pm only.

I enjoyed the pics, Yen. That waterfall they made is really nice! It's wonderful that some of the members here can get together to go see something like this. I'm jealous!

thanks Becky you have a mantis zoo at home you can hug anytime don't be jeolous

Lol I look crazy in that 1 pic That mealworm wasnt to tasty, maybe they should add nuts then you wouldnt notice the crunchy part as bad lol. Thx again for inviting me, I had a great time!

Hey Dustin. Your expression made us all worry when you try out that mealworm Glad you have great time there.

 

[Dinora]

Hey Dustin. Your expression made us all worry when you try out that mealworm Glad you have great time there.

OMG it was hillarious!!! He actually took it better when I suggested he pretend it's cereal he's crunching on!

 

[Dinora]

On Feb 14th (Saturday), Houston Museum of Natural Science is having an event here called Hug a bug. It is to showcase beneficial insects and there will be a table for mantis. I have been invited to join the event and if anyone living close by (Dustin & Dinora ) interested in going too that would be great! I will bring in some mantis for the exhibition too.

Thank you so much again for the invite AND for the new mantis. I love my new girls!!!