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 where you can learn all about insects and other small creatures. It's like a museum, but many of its residents are alive! Lloyd Hollett and Gary Holloway started it in 1998. Today, Lloyd and his wife run the Insectarium with help from students during the warmer months, from May to October.
Contents
Discover the World of Insects!
The Newfoundland Insectarium is a unique museum focused on insects and other small arthropods. An insectarium is a place where these amazing creatures are kept and displayed for people to learn about them. It's a great spot to see bugs from all over the world, as well as those found right in Newfoundland and Labrador.
What You Can See Inside
When you visit, you'll find many different kinds of insects on display. Some are carefully mounted specimens, meaning they are preserved and arranged to show their beauty and details. These displays are often organized by the geographical region where the insects live, helping you see how diverse bugs are around the world.
Live Creatures Up Close
Beyond the mounted specimens, the Insectarium is home to many live creatures. You can see fascinating arthropods like hairy tarantulas, scorpions, and even cockroaches. These live exhibits are placed among the displays, giving you a chance to see how these creatures move and behave.
One of the most popular attractions is a glass-encased live honeybee hive. You can watch the busy bees working inside, making honey and caring for their colony. Another cool exhibit is a leafcutter ant colony, where you can observe these tiny ants carrying pieces of leaves much larger than themselves back to their nest.
Explore the Butterfly House
A major highlight at the Insectarium is its large butterfly house. This special area is 92 feet (28 meters) long and filled with beautiful butterflies fluttering around. It's an amazing experience to walk among them and see their vibrant colors up close. Outside, there's also a nature trail where you can explore the local environment and perhaps spot some wild insects and plants. These live exhibits help visitors understand the fascinating behaviors and ecosystems of insects and their relatives.
The History of the Building
The Newfoundland Insectarium is located along Route 430, which is the road leading to the famous Gros Morne National Park. The building itself has an interesting history. It was originally built in 1946 and used to be a dairy barn. It's cool to think that a place once used for cows is now home to thousands of insects!
