$7 adults | $6.50 Fla. residents, seniors & non-UF college students | $4.50 ages 3-17 | $3 for Electronic Benefit Transfer recipient cardholders | FREE for ages 0-2, UF students and Museum members
Science Up Close, a dynamic exhibition series, showcases the Florida Museum of Natural History’s research and collections in a whole new way. Take a look behind the scenes, interact with scientists while they work and explore some of the Museum’s coolest specimens to discover why they are relevant for people today.
In the second themed installment, Incredible Insects, encounter insect specimens and fossils, a live bug zoo, and an immersive multimedia experience. With an estimated 5.5 million species, insects are the most diverse group of animals on the planet. Learn how these extremely valuable creatures impact our lives and culture, from the food we eat to the plants around us. Engage one on one with Florida Museum and University of Florida entomologists in the working lab and learn about all they do! Visitors will have opportunities to encounter live bugs from Florida and learn all about the insects that live among us. Relax in the library nook with games and books or see how you measure up against record-holding bugs. Live programming, touchable objects and interactive technology offer engaging experiences for all ages.
A working lab takes visitors behind the scenes to speak with entomologists, students and volunteers! See their work with live insects and discover the intricate effort that goes into studying these often-overlooked creatures. More than a dozen labs across the UF campus will be featured, each with a special research interest, so the on-site activities can vary with every visit!
Insect Zoo
Meet dozens of living native bug species in the Insect Zoo, like the eastern lubber grasshopper and giant silk moth caterpillars. Check out a live carpenter ant colony and learn about the unique relationship they have with caterpillars. Learn more about insect behavior with an ever-changing cast of bugs that will vary throughout the exhibit’s run.
Mesmerizing Immersive Theater
Get an up-close look at these tiny creatures in a captivating multimedia experience. High-resolution macro images of insects surround guests in a 270-degree sphere, showcasing the beauty and diversity of some of the world’s smallest wildlife.
Crafty Critters
Guests can let out their inner artists and make their own insects using recycled materials, or draw and trace insects. Learn how scientists study nocturnal bugs with a digital light sheet and take a selfie with your creation in the photo nook.
The Honey Bee Lab advances understanding of managed honeybees in Florida, the U.S. and globally, with the goal of improving their health and productivity.
Did You Know: Honeybees were introduced to North America in the early 1600s from Europe.
The Yan Lab studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying smell, neural development, behavioral plasticity and reproductive longevity in ants.
Did You Know: Within an ant colony, each ant will have a different job. In the Florida carpenter ant, potential jobs include soldier, forager, nurse, egg-laying queen and reproductive male.
The Miller Lab studies the evolution and behaviors of animals to better understand why they can be so different in their shapes and sizes.
Did You Know: Much of the lab’s work examines the evolution of fighting behaviors in insects, so bug battles are a regular part of its job!
Aug. 5-18: Leppla Lab and Hodges Lab
The Leppla Lab conducts research on integrated pest management for agricultural, urban and natural environments.
Did You Know: The lab conducts fieldwork in a 1993 GMC pickup truck that’s older than every student and staff member in the lab!
Aug. 19-25: Adam Dale Lab
The Adam Dale Lab researches pests of turf grass and ornamental plants, creating sustainable management practices that benefit the environment and industry.