Newfoundland Insectarium facts for kids
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Location | Reidville, Newfoundland and Labrador, CAN |
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Coordinates | 49°11′41″N 57°26′02″W / 49.194685°N 57.43382°W |
Website | http://www.nfinsectarium.com/ |
The Newfoundland Insectarium is a special place in Reidville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It's like a museum, but it's all about insects! Here, you can learn about and see many different kinds of bugs from all over the world. It's a great spot to discover the amazing world of insects and other creatures.
Contents
What You Can See at the Insectarium
The Newfoundland Insectarium has many cool things to explore. You can see both insects that are carefully preserved and some that are alive!
Amazing Insect Collections
The main part of the Insectarium shows off many different insects from all over the world. These insects are mounted, which means they are carefully prepared for display. They are grouped by where they come from, like different continents or countries. This helps you see how insects vary in different parts of the world.
Insects of Newfoundland and Labrador
There's a special section just for the insects that live right in Newfoundland and Labrador. This exhibit helps you learn about the bugs you might find in your own backyard or local parks.
Live Creatures to Discover
Besides the mounted insects, the Insectarium also has live creatures! You can see arthropods like hairy tarantulas, scorpions, and even cockroaches. These live displays are mixed in with the other exhibits. They give you a chance to see these creatures up close and learn about how they behave.
Special Live Exhibits
Some of the most popular attractions include a glass-encased honeybee hive. You can watch the bees working inside their home! There's also a leafcutter ant colony, where you can see these tiny ants carrying pieces of leaves. Another exciting feature is a huge 92-foot (28-meter) butterfly house. Here, you can walk among beautiful butterflies flying freely around you.
Exploring the Nature Trail
Outside the main building, there is a nature trail. This trail lets you explore the natural surroundings of the Insectarium. It's a great way to see local plants and maybe even some wild insects in their natural homes.
History of the Insectarium
The Newfoundland Insectarium was created by two people, Lloyd Hollett and Gary Holloway. It first opened its doors in 1998.
Who Runs the Insectarium Now?
Today, Lloyd Hollett and his wife manage the Insectarium. They also get help from students who work there during the warmer months, from May to October.
Location and Building
The Insectarium is located along Route 430. This road leads to the beautiful Gros Morne National Park.
The Building's Past
The building where the Insectarium is now wasn't always a museum. It was originally built in 1946 and used to be a dairy barn. It's cool to see how an old farm building was turned into a home for insects!