The Bug Enthusiasts

Submitted by szgarvey on October 9th, 2025

Kathy Keatley Garvey

The Bohart Museum of Entomology open house, themed "Museum ABCs: How to Collect and Curate," drew scores of insect enthusiasts. Held from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 5, in the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, UC Davis campus, the event attracted visitors from as far away as Arizona and as close as the UC Davis campus. Among those fielding questions about collecting and curating insects were UC Davis Distinguished Professor Emerita Lynn Kimsey of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, who dir — A giant cave cockroach from the Bohart Museum of Entomology’s petting zoo, and a look through a microscope at an insect specimen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

If you've ever been to a Bohart Museum of Entomology house, you'll see faculty, staff and students staffing the event and interacting with visitors.

You may visit the petting zoo and hold a Madagascar hissing cockroach, a walking stick or a giant cave cockroach. A giant cave cockroach? What's that? It's Blaberus giganteus, the Central American giant cave cockroach or Brazilian cockroach. It's one of the world's largest cockroaches. And a fun fact: Madagascar hissing cockroaches "hiss" and are nicknamed "hissers." Stick insects, or walking sticks, however, seem to be the most popular.

The most recent open house, held Oct. 5, dealt with the entire collecting-to-curating insect process, what the Bohart Museum scientists do. Nearly 200 visitors attended, according to Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator. Some visitors came all the way from Arizona for the opportunity to see "the bugs." One little girl even chose the occasion for her birthday party celebration! A Brownie Girl Scout Troop attended and earned their "bug badges."

Here are several images of UC Davis students sharing their expertise:

UC Davis junior Sam McCullough, vice president of the UC Davis Entomology Club, greeted visitors at the Lepidoptera collection. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) — UC Davis third-year student Sam McCullough, vice president of the UC Davis Entomology Club, greets visitors at the entrance to the Lepidoptera collection. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis student entomologist Oliver Smith, president of the UC Davis Entomology Club, talks to two Brownie Girl Scouts. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) — UC Davis student entomologist Oliver Smith, president of the UC Davis Entomology Club, talks to two Brownie Girl Scouts who earned their "bug badges" that day. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Kaitai Liu, a first-year doctoral student in the Jason Bond lab, with an insect net. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis doctoral candidate Christofer Brothers (center), who studies dragonflies, chats with a visitor. At left is UC Davis forensic entomologist Robert Kimsey, lecturer emeritus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) — UC Davis doctoral candidate Christofer Brothers (center), who researches dragonflies, chats with a visitor. At left is UC Davis forensic entomologist Robert Kimsey, lecturer emeritus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis student Robin Keil, who is majoring in biochemistry and minoring in entomology, staffing the arts-and-crafts table. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) — UC Davis student Robin Keil, who is majoring in biochemistry and minoring in entomology, staffs the arts-and-crafts table. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Bohart Museum, home of a global collection of eight million insect specimens, is located in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, UC Davis campus. It is directed by Professor Jason Bond, the Evert and Marion Shindler Endowed Chair of Insect Systematics, Department of Entomology and Nematology.

The next open house:

Saturday, Nov. 15, 1 to 4 p.m.: "Bees and Their Mimics." UC Davis graduate candidates Lexie Martin of the lab of Rachel Vannette, associate professor and vice chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology; and Abigail Lehner of the lab of Professor Neal Williams, are coordinating the event. All open houses are free and family friendly. (See schedule)