So much to see, so much to do, so much to learn...
If you're an insect enthusiast or a budding entomologist or just curious, you especially won't want to miss the Bohart Museum of Entomology open house, "Museum ABCs: How to Collect and Curate," set Sunday, Oct. 5.
The open house, free and family friendly, will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Bohart Museum, located in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, UC Davis campus.
So you just collected an insect in the field and you're not sure what steps to take next. The Bohart scientists will cover everything from collecting in the field to temporary storage in paper envelopes, to curating, labeling and storing
"We will take some of the mysteries out of entomology and the collecting-to-curating process," said Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator.
Entomologist Jeff Smith, curator of the Lepidoptera collection, and fellow Bohart associate Greg Kareofelas will staff the Lepidoptera collection and answer questions.
Smith also will provide "a few spreading boards on a table showing each step and include a board and unit tray of VERY micro leps as well." He also plans to bring his own dissecting 'scope so kids and adults alike "can look through it at the tiny moths."
In addition, attendees can hold and photograph stick insects from the Bohart's petting zoo and check out the other tenants.
UC Davis entomology students scheduled to staff the open house include Dylan Vega, a third-year entomology major; Emma "Em" Jochim, a doctoral candidate in the Jason Bond lab; and Kaitai Liu, a first-year doctoral student in the Bond lab.
The family arts-and-crafts activity, a traditional part of every open house, will involve pinning and labeling a replica of a bug.
"Visitors can choose to stay for 15 minutes or three hours," Yang commented. "There is no registration required. If you have questions, please contact bmuseum@ucdavis.edu."
The Oct. 5th open house is the first in a series of special events at the Bohart Museum for the 2025-26 academic year. (See schedule and other information posted on Bug Squad)
Founded in 1946 by UC Davis Professor Richard "Doc" Bohart (1913-2007), the Bohart Museum houses a global collection of eight million insect specimens, plus a live petting zoo (Madagascar hissing cockroaches, walking sticks, tarantulas and more) and an insect-themed gift shop, stocked with T-shirts, hoodies, books, posters, jewelry and stuffed animals.
Director of the Bohart is professor Jason Bond, the Evett and Marion Schindler Endowed Chair of Insect Systematics, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and executive associate dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
UC Davis Distnguished Professor Emerita Lynn Kimsey, a former graduate student of Doc Bohart, directed the Bohart Museum for 34 years before her retirement in 2024. She continues to do research (specialty Hymenoptera) and write and edit the Bohart Museum newsletter.
Bohart Museum Resources:
- Pinning and Spreading Lepidoptera by Jeff Smith, Lepidoptera collection curator
- Resourceful Entomology website by Brennen Dyer, collections manager, Bohart Museum
How to Make Insect Storage Drawers, California Academy Style
How to Make Spreading Boards
Mantis Curation Demonstration
Who Sells Equipment?
DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Blacklighting
Field Notes
Specimen Labels
(Cover image: Jeff Smith (right) curator of the Lepidoptera collection at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, with Bohart associate and naturalist Greg Kareofelas. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)