Bohart Museum of Entomology

Activity Overview

The Bohart Museum of Entomology is a science museum located on the campus of the University of California, Davis, which is a short drive from Sacramento. Its impressive collection of over seven million specimens of arthropods makes it the seventh largest insect collection in North America. The museum's main focus is on insect research and education, and it welcomes visitors of all ages to visit its collections free of charge. If your children love bugs, then make sure to stop by the Bohart Museum of Entomology to see exciting species such as hissing cockroaches, giant millipedes, walking sticks, and tarantulas!

Things to Do

• Explore the lab and its collections - there are many different kinds of insects to see, from mosquitoes and bees to scorpions and black widow spiders.
• Go on a guided tour of the museum! You'll get to see much more of the collections, including the beautiful butterfly exhibits. Best of all, you can visit the Arthropod Petting Zoo, which is especially popular with young visitors who want to see the insects up close.
• Learn about insects at home by collecting them and then reading about them in books! The museum provides a handy guide on how to carefully collect insects for study, as well as links to videos that show you exactly what to do.

Bohart Museum of Entomology Insider Tips

• Check out the Kids' Corner page of their website to learn more about insect anatomy, take an insect quiz, and find a list of kid-friendly bug books before or after your museum visit.
• Visit their Events page to learn more about upcoming events at the museum, including workshops and special weekend visiting hours.
• Learn more about entomology before you visit the museum by reading the "All About Entomology" page of their website - there are lots of important scientific and ecological reasons to study insects!