Get up close to some super cool creepy crawlies this weekend at Guelph Bug Day.
The second annual event takes place Sunday at the Arboretum and is a chance to learn about bugs in a fun and interactive environment.
“We’re educating kids and we’re inspiring them to learn about nature and to be outside,” said Sarah Dolson, co-organizer of the event with Matt Muzzatti.
She said people think bugs are “gross” and want to get rid of them. Education helps change that mindset.
“We specifically work with organisms that are largely misunderstood. People are afraid of them, don’t like them, they want them abolished from the earth. They think they’re gross, but they’re so important and really, really special and enormously diverse.”
“These kinds of events just show how interesting bugs are,” Muzzatti said.
“They’re not just something to be swatted away. They can be as interesting as massive animals like lions and tigers.”
Dolson and Muzzatti are both grad students at the University of Guelph doing insect-related research.
Two years ago they attended a conference of the Entomological Society of Ontario where they learned of successful bug day events that occurred in London and Ottawa.
With funding available through the organization, they organized Guelph’s first Bug Day in 2017 and it attracted 800 people.
This year they are expecting over 1,000.
“The great thing about it is that it’s free and that it’s all put on by volunteers. Nobody is getting paid to do it,” said Dolson, adding that there will be 50 people helping put on this weekend’s event.
Guelph Bug Day takes place Sunday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Arboretum main building.
The event is free and goes ahead rain or shine.
Those attending are asked to park in the larger parking lots on East Ring Road, near the soccer fields.
Events include displays, live insect zoos, crafts, walks and bug collecting through the Arboretum, demonstrations from partner groups like the Honeybee Research Centre, the Butterfly Conservatory, Pollination Guelph and a play pool with aquatic bugs.
“And even though they’re not bugs, we’ll also have spiders at the event,” Muzzatti said. “We welcome them on Bug Day.”
There will also be the opportunity to sample food products made from crickets.
“Scientific outreach should be extremely important in communities,” Muzzatti said. “We find that often scientists don’t communicate their findings very well or communicate science in the best possible way for the public to understand.
“Events like this, which are free and the community can come out and have one-on-one conversations with students and faculty …. really helps put faith into science in general.”
Event details can be found on the Guelph Bug Day Facebook page.
