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.  May 22 is also International Biodiversity Day!

Scheduled Activities

Bug Daze Photo Contest
Click here to learn how to submitt your best bug photo for the Bug Daze Photo Contest.  The winner's photo will be displayed thoughout the festival for all to see!

Guided Tours
11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Forensic entomology program presented by VMNH Executive Director Dr. Joe B. Keiper in adjacent Wilson Park. Programs are 45 minutes each.
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.  Guided tours will take place in J. Frank Wilson Park to show visitors this decomposition succession and why it is important during forensic investigations.

Displays
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Samples from the Virginia Museum of Natural History Entomology collections
The museum collections contain many specimens that demonstrate 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)

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entomology collections from Virginia Tech

1 to 4 p.m.
Book signing by Dr. Arthur V. Evans.  Click here to learn more about Dr. Evans and his books available for purchase in the VMNH Museum Store.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Don't miss the "Bearded Bee Man" outside The Harvest Foundation Great Hall.

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 feature fascinating presentations by a variety of experts:

11:45 a.m.
"Claws, Jaws, Stings, and Wings-Insects and Spiders of Virginia", presented by Dr. Arthur V. Evans. Click here to learn more about Dr. Evans.

1 p.m.
"Bats and mice in your backyard", presented by Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
This presentation will include information about ecosystem services of bats and information about White Nose Syndrome, a disease that is devistating bat populations in the Eastern U.S.  Dr. Kalcounis-Rueppell will also let people know about some fascinating behaviors of deer mice and services they provide.

2 p.m.
"Honey Bees - Pollinators in Peril", presented by Olav Rueppell, D.Sc., Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 
Honey bees, the most important agricultural pollinator, have been in constant decline over the past decades.  Dr. Rueppell will explain their biology and some research that will help the audience better understand the potential causes and consequences for the recently reported disappearances of honey bees.

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.

The Bug Daze festival is presented by:

The Bug Daze festival is supported by: