At this year’s Bama Bug Fest, we’ll have lots of live bugs to see and fun activities to participate in! There will be learning opportunities for all ages, a photo booth to share your time with us on social media, and food trucks available for snacks and beverages. The floor map below shows the locations for all the various Bama Bug Fest activities going on all three floors of the Alabama Museum of Natural History.
Cockroach Tractor Pull
Cheer on your favorite cockroach as it pulls a tractor behind it in a race to the finish! The races will start at 1:30 PM and will go every thirty minutes until 4:30 PM. The Cockroach Tractor Pull is located in Room 205 on the second floor of Smith Hall. Can’t make it to Room 205? Races will also be broadcast in the Smith Hall Conference Room.
Insect Art
Did you know that insects have an artistic side? We’ll give them the tools and watch as they create beautiful works of art! This activity has been designed by our staff entomologists and is done in a manner in which the insects used are not harmed by the paint used nor by the painting activity. It is also a great activity to teach visitors about arthropod ichnofossils that are known from Alabama!
Story Time
The Tuscaloosa Public Library will be in Smith Hall’s Discovery Lab (located on the first floor) to read bug-related stories at 1:15 PM, 2:15 PM, 3:15 PM, and 4:15 PM.
View the Collections
Bama Bug Fest visitors will get a special look at The University of Alabama Museums’ Collections! The public doesn’t normally get to see these so make sure you check them out on the first floor of Smith Hall!
Bama Bug Fest Photo Booth
Take your picture with one of our featured live bugs on the 3rd floor of the Grand Gallery!
Food Trucks
Food Trucks will be onsite for all of your food and beverage needs!
Educational Tables
Bama Bug Fest will have labs and organizations available to educate and discuss various insect-related topics! Feel free to ask them questions because they’d love to discuss them with you.
The labs, organizations, and tables that will be at Bama Bug Fest 2022 are:
Jeff Lozier (Bumble bee Diversity)
Kevin Kocot (Marine Invertebrates)
Carla Atkinson (Alabama Mussels)
Sadie Zabawa and Hayley Bryant (Tuscaloosa Public Libraries)
Lance Simpson (The University of Alabama Libraries)
Stuart McGregor (Crayfishes of Alabama)
Jon Benstead (Climate Change and Invertebrates)
Pam Sloan (Worms and Compost)
Vince Wallace and Celena Bennett (Bees, West Alabama Beekeepers Association)
Marcy Koontz (Insects in Fashion, The Fashion Archive)
Ansel Payne (Alabama Audubon)
Dawn Coeman Lee (Birmingham Botanical Gardens)
Lindsey Gordon (Moundville and Insects)
The University of Alabama Press (Nature Books)
McCain Lab (Yucca and Pollinators)
Flow Tuscaloosa (Hurricane Creek and Dragonfly Lanterns)
Tom Tobin (Fossil Invertebrates)
The University of Alabama Theatre and Dance (Projections)
Entomophagy (How to Cook with Bugs)
Burnum Hahn (Pest Control)
Insects in Mythology
Water Quality and Indicator Species)
Ants in War and Farming
How Bugs Blend Into the Environment
How Do Bugs Jump?
Lightning Bug Diversity
Collection Drawers
Entomology Tools for Collection