The 5th annual Bug Daze family festival will be held on Saturday, May 22, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  This popular festival features fun and educational displays of unusual insects, crustaceans, arachnids and more, highlighting the roles of the many bugs in people's everyday lives. 

Details about the 2010 Bug Daze festival will be added soon.  Learn about the 2009 festival below:

4th Annual Bug Daze Festival

Sponsored by:

The 4th annual Bug Daze festival was held Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Learn more about the 2009 festival below: 

Highlights 

"Identification of Disease Vector Ticks in Virginia"

"Tick" is one of those words that can immediately registers fear in many people's minds the moment it is uttered, but why are these tiny insects so largely feared?  Are they truly as dangerous as they've come to be known?  What potential health risks do they pose?  All these questions and more will be answered in this exciting and informative presentation by Dr. David N. Gaines, State Public Health Entomologist for the Virginia Department of Health Office of Epidemiology.

Presentation times: 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
Location: Walker Lecture Hall

Dr. David Gaines grew up in several parts of the North American continent, attending kindergarten in Western Colorado, elementary school and middle school in Mexico City, Mexico and finishing high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  After high school (1972) he worked as a laborer in various parts of the U.S. before enrolling at Penn State University to obtain a B.S. in Entomology.  Following graduation from Penn State in 1981, he worked as the sales manager and consulting entomologist for a pest control supply company in Pittsburgh, PA.  In 1986 he joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in The Gambia, West Africa doing agricultural research.  After Africa, he attended graduate school at Virginia Tech where he obtained an M.S. in Entomology in 1992, and a Ph.D. in Entomology in 1997.  His graduate studies dealt with the topics of biological pest control and the field ecology and behavior of parasitic wasps.  In 1997, he was employed by the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, to monitor and assess pest management programs on Army installations nationwide.  In July of 2000 he joined the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology as the State Public Health Entomologist.  In this capacity he works primarily on the surveillance for and prevention of West Nile Virus, other mosquito-borne diseases, and tick-borne diseases in Virginia.

"Dr. Belinda Brilliant and her Amazing Learn More Machine: Bugs"

Don't miss the children's play "Dr. Belinda Brilliant and her Amazing Learn More Machine: Bugs", performed by Carlisle School students. Join Dr. Belinda Brilliant and her assistant, Skippy, as they use the Amazing Learn More Machine to shrink themselves to the size of bugs in order to learn more about the creatures. Join them on their adventure as they meet new friends, including Mollie the millipede, Stanley the ladybug and more.

Performance times: 10:30 a.m and 12:30 p.m.
Location: Claude Moore Charitable Foundation Classroom

Cinemuse Movies

Wild Secrets - Galapagos: Evolution at the Speed of Life
Duration: 26 minutes

The effect of El Nino weather patterns on wildlife has been documented worldwide for years, but scientists are now uncovering some startling new facts. On the Galapagos Islands lack of food has caused a colony of marine iguanas to physically shrink. In the hunt for food, these iguanas are forced to venture ashore, and some are beginning to breed with their land-based cousins.

Nature Scopers - Amazing! The Transformation of Caterpillars
Duration: 15 minutes

Nature Scopers is a science series for very young audiences. The animated hosts encourage children to explore nature through hi-def nature footage, often using extreme high-magnification or slow-motion techniques. In this episode, we look at different species of butterflies and discover their amazing life cycle.  Virginia Science Standards of Learning:  K.6; K.8; 1.5; 1.7; 2.4; 3.4

Performance times: every hour
Location: Hooker Furniture Theater

Other exciting presentations throughout the day:

• VMNH Entomology Collections - Dr. Richard Hoffman, curator of recent invertebrates at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, will highlight some of the Museum's magnificent collections, and will be on hand to answer visitor questions.
• Virginia Tech Entomology Collections - Meredith Cassell, president of the Alwood Society Entomology Student Organization at Virginia Tech will be on hand with a display of bed bugs, termites and other insects.
• Tub of Bugs! - The Dan River Basin Association, will present "Tub of Bugs!", allowing visiotrs to see up-close and first-hand what really lives in nature's waters.
• Bug Walk - VMNH and Martinsville Leisure Services will guide visitors ages 3 and up through J. Frank Wilson Park behind the museum, describing the various insects found throughout the park. (*Bug Walk begins at 10 a.m.)
• Educational Activities - VMNH education staff and volunteers will be conducting fun and exciting educational activities throughout the day.
• Exhibits - All permanent exhibits and special exhibits are available for all participants of Bug Daze.
• Pets for Adoption - The SPCA of Martinsville-Henry County will have some of their animals that are up for adoption at this year's festival

**Don't miss the amazing Bearded Bee Man and the Phydeaux Flying Flea Circus of George Esparza!

Visitors to the festival will find unique bug items in the Museum Store, along with other one-of-a-kind items for all ages. The Museum's PALEO Café will also be open, with Seattle's Best Coffee and delicious menu items. Visitors can also pick up a snack or lunch at Chick-fil-A, which will be serving food at the festival.