Learn about bugs, and even taste some, at El Paso Zoo this weekend
The Bug Awareness Weekend at the El Paso Zoo will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Summer is officially here, and you know what that means! Yes, bugs! In celebration of all our six and eight legged friends the El Paso Zoo is holding their 12th annual Bug Awareness Weekend. There will be much to do including observing live bug displays. As you make your way through the zoo stop by each of the discovery centers and there will be displays with arthropods representing North and South America, Africa, or Asia. In addition, there will be kid-friendly activities and bug cooking demonstrations. The bug cooking demonstrations and tastings from 11am to 1pm each day have been a huge hit in the past and we hope the same for this year. Bug Awareness Weekend is to give the guests of the El Paso Zoo a unique perspective into the world of bugs and to appreciate them in a new way.
10:00 am- 3 pm: Zoo-wide Live Bug Displays
_Bugs of Africa: El Paso Electric Kalahari Research Station
_Bugs of Asia: Asia Discovery Center
_Bugs of the Americas: El Paso Water Utilities Discovery Center
_Bugs of the World: Cisneros Paraje Discovery Center, Presented by Dr. Scott Bundy NMSU Entomologist (Saturday) and Graeme Davis, Collection Manager NMSU Arthropod Museum (Sunday)
Speaker Presentations: All at Cisneros Paraje Discovery Center
11:30: Smart Pest Control, Jim Hastings El Paso Master Gardeners
12:30: Arachnids, Dr. David Richman, NMSU
1:30: Worm Composting, UTEP Permaculture Society
Bug Cooking Demonstration
Between Asia Discovery Center and Grasslands Cafe 11:00am-1:00 pm
Bug Arts & Crafts
10:00 am- 3 pm: Asia Discovery Center For more information call (915) 521-1850
FUN BUG FACTS
Did you know that an emperor scorpion can have up to 30-35 babies? Come out and learn about the life and times of the bug world.
Did you know that a desert centipede can have 22 body segments? We will have insect and centipede representatives from Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Did you know that black widow spider venom is 15 times stronger than rattlesnake venom?
Did you know that beetles, bees, and stinkbugs are among the 8 most common types of bugs that people to eat? Come and see bug cooking demonstrations. And, for the adventurous try bug pizza or one of the other bug snacks we will serve.
Did you know that the African giant millipede only has 3 legs when it hatches?
Source: El Paso Zoo
