Beetlemania invades Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium

It’s a beetle invasion at Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium on Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18, 2016!

There are 12,000 different kinds of beetles in the United States and more than 400,000 species in the world. In fact, one out of every four animal species is a beetle!

A trio of recently refurbished beetle exhibits will feature an enormous male Atlas beetle from southeast Asia along with amazingly colorful frog beetles and, on display for only the second time since the museum opened, green and cream African flower beetles.

The staff is looking forward to showing off these new species at various presentation areas during the weekend-long homage to all things beetle.

Lemann adds, "Not only are the lives, diets, and mating habits of beetles neat, but guests will be fascinated to learn about how we go about collecting some of these species. Let’s just say it can involve everything from avoiding viscous, spiny plants to setting out buckets baited with rotten fruit to digging holes in the hard bottom of a dry lake bed in ninety-seven degree heat."

Visitors to Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium can visit the Atlas beetle exhibit and frog beetles along with Beetlemania festivities including special preserved John, Paul, George and Ringo Beatle “look-alikes” displayed with guitars in the lobby, opportunities to learn how to pin a beetle (specimens can be taken home!), beetle races at 10:30, 1:30, and 3:30, and presentation areas featuring amazing native and exotic beetles.

“Beetle juice” and chocolate “chirp” cookies will be served in Bug Appétit.

Advanced tickets to Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium are recommended and can be purchased by visiting AudubonNatureInstitute.org or at any Audubon Nature Institute attraction. Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium is located at 423 Canal Street in downtown New Orleans in the U.S. Custom House and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.