Insect Zoo/Swamp big successes at Maryland Day

Thu, Apr 30, 2009

Every Spring, as part of the University's Maryland Day, the ground floor of the Plant Sciences Building is transformed into part "Insect Petting Zoo" and part "Swamp!"

INSECT PETTING ZOO

At the 2009 Maryland Day celebration, the INSECT PETTING ZOO, coordinated by Dr. Paula Shrewsbury and Dr. Mike Raupp, was an astounding hit, where more than 1000 visitors of all ages came to see, touch, squirm, and learn about the fascinating ways of insects and their relatives in the "zoo". Others, who were not so enthusiastic, came to face their fears, and many can proudly tell their friends "I've touched a tarantula". The Insect Petting Zoo is a tradition started by Dr. Lee Hellman as part of Ag Day which evolved into what is now known as Maryland Day. Faculty of the Department of Entomology with teamed staff, graduate, and undergraduate students to spread their knowledge and enthusiasm for insects to those who came to learn and share in the excitement. Maryland Day Insect Zoo Some of the more popular "creatures" of the zoo were the Chilean rosy-backed tarantulas, the brightly colored lubber grasshoppers, and giant millipedes whose many legs tickled hundreds of children's arms and brought smiles to their faces. What could be more exciting than holding a carpenter bee in your hand (only the males that can't sting of course) or letting a hissing cockroach roam around your shirt? To top off the visit, each kid "of any age" was given a lady bug to take home and release in their yards to spread the "good" bugs, and provide a "green" approach to pest management.

Volunteers in the Insect Zoo included faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students, and others "related" to Entomology: Ellery Krause, Ada Szczepaniec, Chris Sargent, Jen Bayliss, Dr. Jerry Brust, Mercedes Burns, Julie Byrd-Hebert, Kerry Costlow, Sam Grimard, Dr. Dan Gruner and his son and Adam, Dr. Cerruti Hooks and his wife Vivian, Elizabeth Ingianni, Susan Johnson, Dr. Charlie Mitter, Brian Raupp, Sandy Sardanelli, Shannon Seopaul, Gwen Shlichta, and Kimberly Wiman.

DISCOVER THE SWAMP!

boy looks at crayfish This year, we also celebrated the 8th year of DISCOVER THE SWAMP!, organized by Dr. Bill Lamp. Aquatic insects are important components of local swamps, ponds, and wetlands, and demonstrate a variety of adaptations for aquatic life. Discover the Swamp! provides an opportunity for visitors to sample a micro-swamp with small nets and pans. By observing what is caught, visitors learn about the morphological and behavioral adaptations for living under water, such as swimming, breathing, and eating. In particular, we view live insects such as giant water bugs, predaceous diving beetles, backswimmers, and dragonfly larvae. Aquatic insects are an important part of the food web in aquatic systems, and serve major roles in the ecosystem services provided by wetlands.

Each year brings surprises and new critters to the room, like the large predaceous diving beetle, brought in off the sidewalk in a plastic cup by a mom and her son. We matched the adult with the live larval form we had collected in a pond. Also, we highlighted the beauty of an orange and blue copepod from the Eastern Shore by viewing through a microscope. From the tub of local pond water, we collected no less than 15 groups of invertebrates, including the large, slender damselfly larva in the family Lestidae, and the active, water crawling beetle in the family Haliplidae. Children, in particular, delighted in the discovery of life under water. We had hundreds of visitors view our displays and collect insects from our pond water.

Although the arthropods were the biggest hit, these events could not have happened without the many Entomology people who worked hard to make it all happen. Dr. Lamp was joined by his graduate students--Alan Leslie, Bridget Wille, and Susan Lombardi--and undergraduate students working in his lab--Irina Shapiro, Jessica Kelly, and Scott Berg.

We look forward to seeing you at the next Maryland Day!