Costa Rica News – For all of those of you with a biological itch to scratch, this museum and its exhibits might be for you. These miniature insects are on display for both the eye and mind to enjoy. Going down the steps leading to the basement of the School of Music of the University of Costa Rica (UCR), a miniature world waiting to be discovered.
Just ring a bell and butterflies, beetles and spiders will stick out behind the windows. Some cockroaches are not as quiet and travel, revealing the details of their anatomy.
The Insect Museum was 50 years old Wednesday and is devoted to the study of the most diverse group of animals in the world.
It was founded in 1962 by Alvaro Willy Trejos to have a collection of insects for research and teaching. Students can now find out about entomology by observing the insects.
However, a collection of over 500,000 insects might interest may others.
With half a century of work, there are the challenges presented to this institution.
The plans include the possibility of changing the building and the basement.
The goal is to make it possible to have insect zoos.
“People will love watching live insects, even touching them, “said Aguilar.
To celebrate its anniversary, starting Wednesday through Thursday there will be a symposium on insectswith the following attendees: Madison Lee Golf, who is the director of the Forensic Science Program at Chaminade University in Honolulu (Hawaii), and Nathan Erwin, director of Orkin Insect Zoo Natural History Museum of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington (USA).