They brought back some 100,000 specimens, ranging from stunning orchid bees to spectacular morpho butterflies, to add to the museum collection.
Want to learn about their "Un-Belize-able Summer Expedition" and see some of the specimens they collected? And learn how to collect insects? Attend the Bohart Museum's open house on Sunday, Sept. 18. It's set from 1 to 4 p.m. in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building on Crocker Lane. I
It's free and open to the public. And oh, yes, family friendly! Families are encouraged to attend and meet the scientists and see the insects.
Entomologist Fran Keller, a Bohart associate who received her doctorate from UC Davis and is now an assistant professor of biology at Folsom Lake College, co-led the tour with Dave Wyatt, professor of biology at Sacramento City College. "Dave Wyatt was my first introduction to entomology professor," Keller said. "He has been to Belize over 12 times as well as to Costa Rica."
The open house is the first in a series of weekend open houses at the Bohart Museum during the academic year.
Directed by Lynn Kimsey, professor of entomology at UC Davis, the Bohart Museum is a world-renowned insect museum that houses a global collection of nearly 8 million specimens. It also maintains a live “petting zoo,” featuring walking sticks, Madagascar hissing cockroaches and tarantulas. A gift shop, open year around, includes T-shirts, sweatshirts, books, jewelry, posters, insect-collecting equipment and insect-themed candy.
The Bohart Museum's regular hours are from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. The museum is closed to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and on major holidays. Admission is free.
More information on the Bohart Museum is available by telephoning (530) 752-0493 or emailing bmuseum@ucdavis.edu.
Attached Images:
Entomologist Jeff Smith (center) who curates the moth and butterfly collection at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, talks about butterflies at the Bohart's Belize summer expedition. (Photo by Steve Heydon)
Senior museum scientist Steve Heydon of the Bohart Museum of Entomology holds some of the specimens collected in Belize. He participated in the collection expedition.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)