A pair of recent, well-attended events organized by UCR prove that Inland Empire insect lovers are at least equal to those who fear the six-legged among us.
Visitors to the Riverside Insect Fair on April 25 near the city’s main library downtown could not wait to eat chocolate-covered grasshoppers, watch cockroach races, hold various creatures including Madagascar hissing cockroaches and walking sticks, commune with free-flying butterflies, and visit more than 50 vendor booths.
UCR entomology graduate students and faculty were instrumental in organizing the event attended by approximately 20,000 people of all ages. Enjoy photos of the event, below.
Then on May 29 and 30, UCR celebrated 111 years of insect science at UCR. This event also featured “touch a bug” booths and beehives at an open community festival on campus.
For a concise history of the Department of Entomology, check out this episode of the podcast Can I Bug You, which discusses the history and highlights why it remains one of the leading insect research programs in the world. The podcast explores how the field has changed over time through advances in genetics, biotechnology, and environmental research while also addressing challenges, including habitat loss, pesticides, invasive species, and climate change.
Speakers at the “buzzworthy” event included Michael Rust, distinguished professor emeritus of entomology at UCR, Mark Hoddle, extension specialist and expert at UCR in controlling pests without insecticides, and Elizabeth Murray, a UCR entomology alumna who is now associate professor at Washington State University’s entomology department.
While both events stress how essential insects are to a healthy planet, the high turnout also shows that humans are also endlessly fascinated by these tiny but mighty life forms.
(Cover image: Yukik/iStock/Getty)
