The Bohart Museum of Entomology at UC Davis will open its doors to the public as part of the 15th annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day on Saturday, February 21. The event, which runs from noon to 4 p.m., invites visitors to engage with scientists and explore a wide range of insect specimens.
Jeff Smith, curator of the Bohart Museum’s Lepidoptera collection, and Greg Kareofelas, an associate at the museum, are encouraging families and individuals to attend. Admission is free. “We will show butterfly specimens, invite the crowd to open the drawers, and answer questions,” Smith said. “If space allows it we could show one or two other aisles as well–more large butterflies or the aisle with the large silk moths, hummingbird moths, and beautiful tiger moths. We love to field questions from visitors but I like to engage them with questions of my own–what is our state insect, what is the smallest butterfly in America, how do butterflies defend themselves from predators, and why do the brilliant colors benefit some species? I am fascinated with the mimicry of one species for another.”
Smith added that guests will have a chance to look through thousands of glass-topped drawers containing butterfly and moth specimens. “So, visitors will have the opportunity to gently browse through the thousands of glass-topped drawers themselves and learn more about the importance of butterflies and moths to their environment and to people,” he said. “With luck we will have many young people in attendance too, and hope to get them excited about Nature.”
Among topics discussed at this year’s event is the Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis), identified by Smith as America’s smallest butterfly. He noted that some moths on display have wingspans as small as three millimeters.
The Bohart Museum was founded in 1946 and holds approximately eight million insect specimens from around the world. It also features a live petting zoo—including Madagascar hissing cockroaches—and an insect-themed gift shop.
Outside Room 1124 in Academic Surge Building (455 Crocker Lane), scientists will display native bees, ants, spiders, and arachnids. These displays come from several labs within UC Davis’ Department of Entomology and Nematology (ENT) as well as other university departments.
Other events during Biodiversity Museum Day include:
– Bee Haven: Open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., this half-acre pollinator demonstration garden hosts over 200 plant species supporting honey bees and native pollinators. Professor Elina Niño stated: “Visit the UC Davis Bee Haven and explore a vibrant pollinator garden home to more than 200 plant species that support honey bees and native pollinators… Guests can enjoy a hands-on experience in the garden, take home seed cookies to plant, ask questions about all things bees, and view an observation frame for a rare up-close look at bees in their natural environment.”
– Nematode Collection: Open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., this exhibit offers visitors insights into nematodes affecting animals and plants. According to Shahid Siddique’s lab: “Visitors can meet scientists and explore the diversity of nematodes that parasitize both animals and plants… Visitors also will get to collect cool nematode stickers designed by our talented undergraduate Lisa Nakano.”
– Grand Opening of Murals: At 3 p.m., two new murals behind Arboretum Plant Nursery on Garrod Drive will be unveiled by urban landscape entomologist Emily Meineke’s class alongside Distinguished Professor Emerita Diane Ullman. Meineke explained: “The two murals are the first half of a 4-mural project displaying a cross-section of California’s diversity… The murals being unveiled are of the coast and Central Valley.”
For further details about Biodiversity Museum Day—including maps and food truck locations—attendees can visit event websites linked through UC Davis’ Department of Entomology & Nematology.
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), affiliated with the University of California, supports such outreach efforts across all California counties by providing science-based knowledge through research centers known as living laboratories (source). UC ANR works statewide delivering expertise in agriculture, conservation practices, nutrition education programs for youth (source), environmental management solutions including wildfire protection (source), while maintaining local offices throughout California (source). Glenda Humiston currently serves as vice president (source).