Children and adults created their own versions of spiders using modeling clay at the Bohart Museum of Entomology’s recent open house, themed “Eight-Leg Encounters,” according to a March 19 announcement. The event was organized by Emma “Em” Jochim, a doctoral candidate, and Felix Duley, a University of California Davis alumnus, both from the Jason Bond lab in the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.
The event aimed to engage visitors with hands-on activities while highlighting the diversity of arachnids such as trapdoor spiders, orb weavers, jumping spiders, and black widow spiders. Activities included crafting new species of spiders out of clay and learning about arachnid anatomy through illustrated guides. The craft table focused on trapdoor spiders, which are known for building burrows with cork-like doors made from soil, vegetation, and silk.
Visitors also learned that all arachnids have eight legs located on the cephalothorax region. Other features discussed included pedipalps—specialized appendages near the mouth—and chelicerae or fangs. The American Arachnological Society divides arachnids into several orders including mites and ticks (Acari), tailless whip scorpions (Amblypygi), harvestmen (Opiliones), pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpiones), scorpions (Scorpiones), camel spiders (Solifugae), whip scorpions (Thelyphonida), among others. In California alone, there are more than 1,000 spider species across at least 54 families.
The Bohart Museum houses a global collection of eight million specimens along with a live petting zoo featuring Madagascar hissing cockroaches and stick insects. Professor Jason Bond serves as director of the museum as well as president of the American Arachnological Society.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources secures funding through public contributions to support its programs according to the official website. The organization promotes sustainable practices to strengthen resilient ecosystems and economic vitality according to the official website. It utilizes nine research and extension centers representing California’s diverse ecosystems according to the official website.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources is recognized for linking research to community needs according to the official website, manages Cooperative Extension services within all 58 counties in California according to the official website, conducts over 33,800 educational events annually with more than 18,400 volunteers according to the official website, and delivers science-based information via workshops and partnerships statewide according to the official website.
Looking ahead, Bohart Museum staff will participate in UC Davis Picnic Day on April 18 at Briggs Hall from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., followed by another open house on May 16 themed “Buzz Words: Insects in Literature.”
