Robotic Bugs Invade Museum this March Break

This March break, March 11 to 19, young Nova Scotians will have an opportunity to see a display of live insects, a selection of colourful, exotic insects from around the world, and robotic insects in a special exhibit at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History in Halifax.

The showpiece of Bug World is the Kokoro robotic insects. The six gigantic insects with life-like postures and movements have been thrilling children since the exhibit officially opened on Jan. 10.

"The big, green, elegant arm-stretching machine is the praying mantis who is graceful and menacing at the same time. But it is the seven-metre moving wingspan of the desert locust that is the real crowd pleaser with children," said Janet Maltby, museum manager.

The display also includes oversized interactive bug heads of a honeybee, dragonfly and mosquito. The heads, which are 80 to 600 times larger than life, show how the insects feed, chew and draw blood.

The museum will feature special guests throughout the week. Featured guests include baby animals, courtesy of 4H clubs Hants County, and live exotic reptiles and amphibians from the Nova Scotia Herpetocultural Society. The Department of Agriculture will also present agriculture awareness activities with information about good and bad bugs.

"The museum is a combination of fantasy-world fun and real-life experience at the same time. Where else in Halifax can you find, hatching baby chicks, kids (baby goats), live snakes, starfish, crabs, bees, tarantula, hissing cockroaches and a bug bistro where you can eat a bug," said Ms. Maltby.

The Museum of Natural History is located at 1747 Summer St., in Halifax. Details on all programs and costs for admission are available on the website at http://nature.museum.gov.ns.ca or by calling 424-6099.