Spring Break
Annual insect festival grows over the years
Edward Humphrys
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: News
This constant influx of new exhibits keeps the Insect Festival fresh and exiting as it continues to grow. Past audience members can never be sure what to expect at the next festival.
"A new display we have is an aquatic insect display by Dr. Scott Longing, an expert on aquatic insects," Steinkraus said. "One year we had a graduate student who had pet hedgehogs and we used them as examples of insectivores.
"A very important relatively recent display is the 'cotton patch' run by Dr. Tina Teague. We make a cotton patch where kids can harvest some cotton, see it ginned, learn about cotton production and insect pests," he said.
The exploratory nature of the festival has historically been a huge success with children, something Steinkraus admits with enthusiasm.
"Children are the primary audience because they are still open to new experiences," Steinkraus said. "Most young children are still fascinated by nature and insects. We want to encourage them in this and hope it will be a lifelong interest, even in some cases, leading to becoming a biologist or entomologist.
"I think it is very important for children to be exposed to entomology, to science, and to biology," Steinkraus said. "I hope that they will learn that insects are worthy of respect, study and that a lifetime is too short to know everything about insects. I want them to leave thinking that insects are 'cool.'"
Though children often turn out in larger numbers than UA students, Steinkraus said there will be plenty to hold the attention of older attendees.
"Students can, first of all, expect to have a good time," he said. "It is a festive event and there are lots of fascinating insects to look at, from beautiful butterflies and moths to jewel-like beetles.
"Second, they can expect to learn about the importance of insects in everyone's life. If it weren't for pollinators, we would have very few fruits, vegetables and nuts. If it wasn't for insects we would have very few birds, bats and freshwater fish." he said.
More information about the festival, as well as directions, can be found at the Arkansas Insect Festival Web site at http://entomology.uark.edu/festival.
"A new display we have is an aquatic insect display by Dr. Scott Longing, an expert on aquatic insects," Steinkraus said. "One year we had a graduate student who had pet hedgehogs and we used them as examples of insectivores.
"A very important relatively recent display is the 'cotton patch' run by Dr. Tina Teague. We make a cotton patch where kids can harvest some cotton, see it ginned, learn about cotton production and insect pests," he said.
The exploratory nature of the festival has historically been a huge success with children, something Steinkraus admits with enthusiasm.
"Children are the primary audience because they are still open to new experiences," Steinkraus said. "Most young children are still fascinated by nature and insects. We want to encourage them in this and hope it will be a lifelong interest, even in some cases, leading to becoming a biologist or entomologist.
"I think it is very important for children to be exposed to entomology, to science, and to biology," Steinkraus said. "I hope that they will learn that insects are worthy of respect, study and that a lifetime is too short to know everything about insects. I want them to leave thinking that insects are 'cool.'"
Though children often turn out in larger numbers than UA students, Steinkraus said there will be plenty to hold the attention of older attendees.
"Students can, first of all, expect to have a good time," he said. "It is a festive event and there are lots of fascinating insects to look at, from beautiful butterflies and moths to jewel-like beetles.
"Second, they can expect to learn about the importance of insects in everyone's life. If it weren't for pollinators, we would have very few fruits, vegetables and nuts. If it wasn't for insects we would have very few birds, bats and freshwater fish." he said.
More information about the festival, as well as directions, can be found at the Arkansas Insect Festival Web site at http://entomology.uark.edu/festival.
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