Insects & Arachnids

Millions of insect species exist worldwide. Of these presumably one third have been discovered and their interesting forms and adaptations studied. Of immense fascination are colonial insects whose complex networks man attempts to copy for high technology applications. Our insect department is home to living exotic and - depending on the season - native insect colonies. Leaf-cutter ants can be observed looking after their fungus culture, bees come and go through a special tube leading through the outer wall of the museum and a special terrarium provides insight into the subterranean life of a colony of eyeless harvester termites.
In a number of additional terrariums we keep the masters of camouflage - stick insects - and several bird spiders.