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. 

Bug Daze will feature an array of exciting activities and presentations throughout the day.  Below are just some of the fun happenings at this year's festival.

Scheduled Activities

Guided Tours
Bugs and insects often play a crucial role in forensic investigations.  Visitors at this year's festival will have the opportunity to vew three separate pigs at differents stages of decomposition of 5, 3 and 1 days.  20 minute guided tours led by trained museum staff will take place in J. Frank Wilson Park to show visitors this decomposition succession and why it is important during forensic investigations.

Demonstrations
The museum collections contain many specimens that demonstarte the kinds of insects associated with crime scenes.  Visitors to Bug Daze will have the opportuinty to view these specimens and learn how they are related to crime scene investigations.  Specimens include:

• Carrion beetles (Silphidae)
• Rove beetles (Staphylinidae)
• Dermestid beetles (Dermestidae)
• Blow flies (Calliphoridae)
• Flesh flies (Sarcophagidae)

Slide Show
An ongoing slide show of photos of insects of forensic importance will be on display throughout the festival

Crafts and Education Activities
The museum education staff and trained volunteers will be on hand to lead many hands-on and interactive activities for children.

Presentations
The 5th annual Bug Daze festival will have presentations by some of the world's leading experts in entomology.

Scientist and author Dr. Arthur V. Evans will present the fun, educational program "Claws, Jaws, Stings, and Wings-Insects and Spiders of Virginia".  Click here to learn more about Dr. Evans.

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.

The Bug Daze festival is presented by: