Barb Gray explores 'Bug Adventure' -- A new exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Nature

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Ottawa, March 14, 2024 - Enter a world where you might feel like you’ve landed in a bug version of “Honey, I shrunk the kids”. Bug Adventure, a new exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Nature-open from March 15 to October 14, 2024-invites visitors to experience the world as bugs do.
Bug Adventure was developed by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, working with Wētā Workshop, the creative team that worked on The Lord of the Rings and Avatar. There are larger-than-life bug models in amazing walk-through chambers, videos of bugs as they fly or defend themselves, and surprises around every corner.
“We’re excited to host this colourful and spectacular exhibition, filled with informative science presented in a fun way” says Isabelle Corriveau, the museum’s Director, Content & Digital Strategies. “It makes you feel like you’ve been transported to another world, and fills you with awe and wonder.”
Four uniquely-themed bug chambers with exquisitely-crafted, giant, detailed models highlight the adaptive genius of certain insects. In one of these giant pods, visitors encounter a jewel wasp injecting venom into a cockroach to effectively “zombify” it. In another chamber, visitors enter a hive where Japanese honeybees engulf an invading giant hornet, using heat from their rapidly vibrating wing muscles to “cook” the enemy.
There are many interactive stations-with so much interesting information to absorb-to keep visitors busy. For example, the Schmidt Sting Pain Index compares the pain intensity of various species’ stings, the lowest being the red fire ant (1) to the bullet ant (4+). American entomologist Justin Schmidt developed the pain index, after subjecting himself to stings from 83 Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants).
Visitors will also discover how these tiny wonders have inspired cutting-edge research, such as the Robobee, Harvard-designed “swarm” Kilobots, the impact-absorbing Elios drone, and much more.
The Canadian Museum of Nature has developed and added some Canadian content for the exhibition’s run in Ottawa, highlighting “bugs in our backyard”, and the work of museum entomologists. Visitors will be able to see a few live species-such as forked fungus beetle, Western black widow spider, and black-and-gold millipede-cared for by the museum’s animal care team.
Throughout the exhibition there are numerous activities to keep young visitors busy. Children will have fun sliding through the body of a giant bombardier beetle. They can also try out various games that will appeal to all ages; for example, they can make their own bug out of paper and test it in a wind tunnel, or compare their speed against that of an orchid mantis to catch a flying bug..
Developed and presented by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, working with Weta Workshop
On weekends and Thursday evenings until the end of June, and then daily throughout the summer, a museum science interpreter will be in the gallery to engage visitors with the rich hands-on content in the exhibition, as well as with live bugs!
The special exhibition fee for Bug Adventure is $12 ($8.50 for children, students 13-17, and seniors) in addition to the cost of general museum admission. (On Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. when general admission is free, the fee for Bug Adventure still applies). Purchase tickets in advance at nature.ca.