Insect Fair at Sanborn County Park

Last weekend Youth Science Institute had organized an Insect fair at the Sanborn County Park. How could I miss it! This event was mainly geared toward kids. There were displays of many native and non-native insects as well as many kids activities. The display had following insects:

Walking Stick or Stick insects: Their bodies are like sticks and they use camouflage to hide themselves in plants and trees.



Banana Slugs: These are usually bright yellow in color and feed on fungus and decaying matter.



Vinegaroon: They belong to the arachnid family and resemble the scorpions. When in danger they spray a material that smells like vinegar due to the presence of acetic acid.



Desert Ironclad beetle: Found in deserts, these beetles try to fool enemy by playing dead.



Yellow Mealworm Beetle: We saw the larva and full grown stage of the beetle. They are found in storehouses, warehouses etc.



Centipede: The front feet in centipedes are modified to form poisonous claws which are used to bite orcatch prey.



Millipede: They are non-poisonous however they secrete or spray foulsmelling liquid and leave odor. They move lot slower than centipede and are scavengers.



Tomato Hornworm: These are green in color and found on tomato plants.



Madagascar hissing cockroach: When disturbed, they force air out of breathing holes and make a hissing sound.



Other animals: Grasshoppers, Silkworms (in different stages - eggs, worms, cocoon, moth), Scorpion, bees, wasp colony, black widow spider.









Lifecycles: There were displays on lifecycles and metamorphosis

Lifecycle of a ladybug



Lifecycle of a grasshopper and a hornworm




Kids activities: There were insect art and craft activities for kids.