The Jeweled Metamorphosis
Faith Blersch Kuehn, Delaware Department of Agriculture

Realistic to Stylized jewelry inspired by insects' structure, function and mystique. Both artists and collectors offer views on art as a medium for education and enhancing the public status of insects.

Insects and Other Terrestrial Arthropods at Smaller Zoos
Daniel Hemmann, John Ball Zoological Garden

Smaller zoos, those with a budget of less than three million dollars per year, make up approximately 80 members of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. Insects and other terrestrial arthropods are ideal for smaller institutions that may be limited in space, manpower, or funding. A survey will be used in an attempt to determine the state of terrestrial arthropod collections and conservation efforts at smaller zoos. This information will also help identify issues that may be preventing these institutions from expanding their involvement with arthropods.

Partnering for the pe'e pe'e maka 'ole: AZA&Mac226;s North American Regional Conservation Consortium concept
Ruth Allard, AZA

The pe&Mac226;e pe&Mac226;e maka Œole, or Kauai cave wolf spider, is one of many endangered invertebrates that may benefit from the AZA Field Conservation Committee&Mac226;s new approach to cooperative conservation. Building on the success of the Butterfly Conservation Initiative, FCC is focusing on developing and strengthening partnerships between AZA members, US Fish & Wildlife Service regional offices, and other organizations working on field conservation, recovery, education, and outreach throughout the US. While RCC efforts do not center exclusively on invertebrates, this presentation will introduce the RCC concept and explore ways invert folks can get involved in regional partnerships.

Exhibiting the Common Walking Stick: Diapheromera Femorata 24/7/365
John V Matuszek, Brookfield Zoo

The common walking stick, Diaphermera femorata, was normally considered a seasonal display animal. Many people let their colonies go through a natural cycle with the adults expiring late in the fall. Then they wait until spring when fresh leaves are plentiful before hatching the next generation. This is no longer necessary. With some simple planning, the staff at Brookfield Zoo has found that they can keep a large display colony going throughout the year, without the use of a green house.

Eggs to Adulthood: One Institution’s Observations of the Parental Rearing of Vietnamese Centipedes in Captivity
Nicole Rhrara, Disney's Animal Kingdom

In February 2004, one of our female Vietnamese centipedes (Scolopendra subspinipes) was observed laying an egg mass. There is little literature detailing parental care during incubation and emergence in this species. During the incubation period, we observed the female giving extensive parental care to the egg mass. Throughout this time the female diligently groomed and rotated the eggs. We also observed parental care extending beyond hatching until the young&Mac226;s second molt. This paper will describe the parental behaviors observed as well as establish a time line for incubation for this species.

Blue Wings - Worth The Wait!!!!
Lydia Attard, Toronto Zoo

Since obtaining 3 oothecae from Bristol Zoo back in 9/2003 we waited with much anticipation for the eggs to hatch. Through trial and error we discovered many factors, which facilitated the rearing, and display of our colony to its second generation!!! A husbandry protocol has been developed which includes a list of acceptable food plants and temperature/humidity parameters for the developing grasshoppers and their eggs. The protocol is still being tweaked its further development will hopefully contain information to decrease the duration of incubation so that our display will always be full of these very large, active and spectacular animals!!!!

The Ants go Marching: Ant Control using Artificial Nesting Sites
Nathan Brockman, Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University

Over the past 2 years an experiment was conducted within the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing using artificial nesting sites as a control method for ants. This presentation will look at some of the reasons why ant control is important as well as explain what artificial nests are, how they are used and why they are useful.

The Cryptic lives of Cryptocephaline Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
John R. Watts, Butterfly Pavilion

The cylindrical leaf beetles, subfamily Cryptocephalinae, are small but often brilliantly colored leaf beetles found on leaves and flowers of their host plants. The immature stages are rarely encountered and at present only a half dozen of the 330+ species have had their immatures described. The larvae are unusual in that they produce a protective case composed of fecal and plant material. This talk will explore the life stages of some of these fascinating beetles.

Using Dermestid Beetles and Freeze-Dried Frogs to Integrate Math, Science, Computer Technology and Language Arts in a Fifth Grade Classroom.
Sven P. Strnad, Millstone River School

Elementary teachers tend to compartmentalize subject areas. Math stays in math class, science in science class and so forth. Modelling the application of content knowledge from one subject to another is often ignored. Fifth grade students were assigned simple team research projects that required them to integrate math, science, computer technology and language arts in order to conduct their hand-on research and present their results to an outside audience. One such project-a simple, relatively inexpensive, dermestid beetle project to be discussed here in detail-captured the students&Mac226; interest and succeeded in accomplishing the objective.

Metabolic Dynamics of Larval and Adult Dynastes hercules beetles.
Stephen R. Madigosky, Widener University

One of the most well known species of beetles raised by zoo and insect enthusiasts is the rhinoceros beetle, Dynastes hercules. Much is known about the general husbandry of this insect yet almost no information exists relative to their metabolic requirements. Third instar larvae and adults were monitored over a duration of one year. Respiration rates were determined with the use of a respirometer. Results indicate metabolically active larvae and adults.

Giant Predaceous Diving Beetle, Cybister ellipticus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), Biology, Husbandry and Display.
Randy C. Morgan, Insectarium, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

This large handsome water beetle occurs in Arizona and other western states. It is biologically fascinating, active, hardy, long-lived and simple to keep thus ideal for public educational display. It can also be reared in captivity.

A Little Touchy-Feely
Bob Merz, Saint Louis Zoo

The Saint Louis Zoo's Monsanto Insectarium staff and volunteer corps provides invertebrate contact and hands on interpretation for our visitors. An overview of our contact program will set the stage, discussing what animals are used and why. However, this paper will further explore the impact of this contact program on the visitors through survey results as well as provide comments from staff and volunteers regarding their perceptions.

How to grab the guest's attention; Measuring the impact that exhibits can have on guests.
Jamie Sincage, Disney's Animal Kingdom

In 2001 baseline data was collected on how long a guest spent in front of each exhibit at Conservation Station as well as whether they read the graphics at those exhibits. In 2004 data was again collected to see if three different exhibits had changed how guests spent their time in the area. In comparing the data sets, there was an increase in the overall percentage of guests stopping to look at the new exhibits and a slight increase in holding time for guest who stopped and looked at the exhibits. This paper will discuss the set-up, implementation and results.

Don't Bug Me: The Return of a Favorite Science Olympiad Event
Ed Somers, Teacher-Penncrest High School

Over 2 million students compete every year in a competition related to scientific events. There are 23 different events that these students could chose to compete in ranging from academic and laboratory events to engineering events. For the next two years, there is an event pertaining to our profession by which two students from each team will have to identify, understand, and explain information pertaining to insects. I will explain how this pertains to everyone in the audience.

Metomorphosis of an Exhibit: The Evolution of the Butterfly Garden and Bug Carousel at the Bronx Zoo.
Diana Belich, Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo

The continued popularity of the Butterfly Zone spurred the decision to build a permanent structure, The Butterfly Garden. The focus is on butterflies as ambassador species for insects. Dozens of species of butterflies and plants, a public view husbandry room and extensive garden area will reinforce the message that insects are important. Adjacent to the exhibit is the Bug Carousel, a first-of-its-kind opportunity for guests to ride one of ten representatives of the insect world. This paper will discuss the shift from a butterfly display to the dedication of an area of the park to insects.

Emergence! Day Butterfly Center Unfolds Its Wings
Nicole D Gamble, Day Butterfly Center

Open in 1988, the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center at Callaway, one of the first tropical butterfly exhibits in North America, has in recent years proven to be more popular than designed for. The Callaway team has responded to this unique challenge by adding two wings to the existing facility-and much more! A new conservatory landscape, guest amenities and programs will help us to offer our guests more than ever before and provide an even better butterfly experience. A virtual tour of the new facility is included.

How does an exhibit affect the way visitors care about butterflies?
Amy Bodwell and Carol Saunders, Brookfield Zoo

The technique of Personal Meaning Mapping was used at Brookfield Zoo&Mac226;s butterfly exhibit during the summer of 2004 to see if the exhibit affects the way visitors care about butterflies. Visitors were intercepted before they entered the exhibit and asked to jot down any thoughts, or feelings that come to mind when they think about „caring about butterflies‰. After experiencing the exhibit, the researcher showed them their initial map and asked if they would like to make any changes or additions. The resulting data were used to measure changes in the extent of knowledge, depth of understanding, and overall mastery.

The Cockrell Butterfly Center: an 11-year retrospective
Eddie Holik, Cockrell Butterfly Center

In July 1994 the Cockrell Butterfly Center opened its doors, at the time the newest of only about 3 or 4 live butterfly exhibits of its kind in the US. It is still (all modesty aside) one of the best. This talk will chronicle, in photographs and anecdotes, the evolution of the "Cockrell" from early construction to the present: the good times, the bad times, the changes we've made and the changes we would have liked to make along the way. We'll close with a sneak preview of plans for total renovation of the attached entomology hall and insect zoo.

Meaningful Butterfly Conservation through Education and Outreach
Shelly Grow, Butterfly Conservation Initiative

The long-term success of butterfly conservation is contingent on public awareness and participation. Without widespread changes in public attitudes regarding human impacts on butterfly habitats, benefits from individual recovery efforts remain isolated. Many zoos and aquariums working with the Butterfly Conservation Initiative are community conservation leaders, and one of their largest contributions is public education. Zoos and aquariums encourage participation in butterfly monitoring networks and gardening workshops, coordinate public awareness campaigns with government agencies, and teach visitors basic butterfly biology and behavior. The effective education and outreach tools these institutions are developing and sharing help engage visitors in conservation action.