New Orleans, January 2009
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.

Spying on live bumblebees.

Inside the bees' nest.

Yes, educational bits too.

This ant looks familiar.

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

They let non-insects in too.

Another one.

The proud photographer.

A whole room just for metamorphosis.

Complete with incubating pupae.

Ants hidden in plain view.

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

Beetles making a beetle.

Made completely from Asian insects.
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man that looks cool. i need to get my butt down there i guess before another hurricane sweeps it away.
Thanks for the extensive tour, Alex. Nicely done. Another great reason to visit the Big Easy.
You've wetted my appetite - congrats on the photo contribution.
regards--ted
hmm...guess I will have to check it out! Is there a dress code? ;)
oh anonymous is me...I will own up to the comment
Wow!!
Thankyou for this wonderful blog, beautiful pictures, and visiting the Insectarium!
Much Luv from "The Bug Easy",
Elise