Touring the Audubon Insectarium

New Orleans, January 2009

text

The first major public exhibit to open in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina was the Audubon Nature Institute's Insectarium.  We took advantage of a lull in our schedule last week to make the pilgrimage to what turns out to be a surprisingly ambitious operation.  It well exceeded our expectations.

The entrance on Canal Street.

The entrance on Canal Street.

text

Spying on live bumblebees.

te

Inside the bees' nest.

te

Yes, educational bits too.

te

This ant looks familiar.

te

Not a family exhibit: stick insects have sexual relations in public.

te

They let non-insects in too.

te

Another one.

te

The proud photographer.

test

A whole room just for metamorphosis.

ugy

Complete with incubating pupae.

sd

Ants hidden in plain view.

gh

My favorite room: homage to the tradition of Natural History.

thsd

Beetles making a beetle.

swdf

Made completely from Asian insects.

test

More like this

tags: Bumblebees, Bombus species, Hymenoptera, insects, entomology, natural history Common Eastern Bumblebee, Bombus impatiens. This species is often relied upon to pollinate commercial food crops, such as tomatoes, that are often grown in agricultural greenhouses. Image: Wikipedia [larger view…
We recognise dead people by the absence of signals that indicate life - movement, responsiveness, pulses, brain activity, and so on. The Argentine ant does the same, but its signal is a chemical one. Throughout its life, an ant uses chemicals in its skin to automatically send out a message to its…
I love trees, but trees covered in insects aren't usually my cup of tea. 'Till now. One of the reasons I chose my house was the giant maple tree by the front porch. The foliage provides shade and privacy in the summer and a terrific Halloween backdrop in the fall. So, a few weeks ago, when I…
Ants are among the most successful of living things. Their nests are well-defended fortresses, coordinated through complex communication systems involving touch and chemical signals. These strongholds are stocked with food and secure from the outside world, so they make a tempting prospect for any…

man that looks cool. i need to get my butt down there i guess before another hurricane sweeps it away.

By ihateaphids (not verified) on 20 Jan 2009 #permalink

hmm...guess I will have to check it out! Is there a dress code? ;)

By Anonymous (not verified) on 22 Jan 2009 #permalink

oh anonymous is me...I will own up to the comment

Thankyou for this wonderful blog, beautiful pictures, and visiting the Insectarium!

Much Luv from "The Bug Easy",

Elise