Node | Butterfly Bash

Saturday, April 18, 2009, 10am-4pm

Join us in celebrating the tenth anniversary of the spectacular Magic Wings Tropical Conservatory with a full day of family activities. All Butterfly Bash events except special bug safaris are free with Museum admission.

Outdoor Insect Games

Learn and engage in outdoor frolic and join our

  • Dung Beetle Race (simulate these beetles pushing large dung balls along a course)
  • Aphid Popping (dart “aphid balloons” to fight pests)
  • Leafcutter Ant “Schlepp” (enter our simulated obstacle course and transfer life-size leaves to a ‘fungal site’).

 

Also featured:

  • Cockroach races
  • Butterfly releases
  • Insect feedings
  • Music from the tropics
  • Make and take art
  • Face painting by Paint Savvy

 

Area Expert Displays

Meet representatives from regional and national organizations that research, promote and support a number of insect research and nature programs including the Entomology Society,  Orange County Bee Keeper Association, Monarch Watch, Carolina Butterfly Society, USDA, and EPA.



Plant Sales

Get ready for spring with butterfly house staff and check out butterfly plants for purchase.

 


Kids can create their own "Magic Wings" chalk drawings on the sidewalk and join the Museum's Art Director who will be drawing her own original anniversary work on paper. Members can enter a free drawing for the Drawing!

 


2009 Butterfly Bash highlights include:

Bug Safaris

Go on a our woodland insect safari with the Museum’s entomologist! Explore bug hide-outs and search for evidence to find and identify insects, their predators and hiding arthropods.

  • 10:30am for very small entomologists (5 or younger)
  • 11:30am or 1:30pm
  • $6 per person.
  • Pre-registration suggested
  • Call (919) 220-5429 x313 to register

 

10:00am-12:00pm

Paperhand Puppet Intervention Bug Parade

Dance, drum and parade with puppets and costumes of huge insects, ants and butterflies.

 

10:30-12:30 and 1:30-3:30, The Lab

Butterfly Eyes
What would the world look like if you were a butterfly? What about a lizard or a worm? Meet some live animals and find out how they “see.” 



11:00am-12:00pm

DragonFly PBS TV Program Screening

Join Duke University’s Dr. Fred Nijhout along with Emily Simanskis and Julie Hu, local stars of the popular PBS series Dragonfly TV. View their program filmed at Magic Wings Butterfly House (airing April 10 nationwide) and join in a Question and Answer session about butterfly investigations.

 

12:00-1:00pm

Dare Café Lunch Time Insect Tasting

Come sample tasty and crunchy insects and join our honorary "I Ate a Bug Club."