(Pictured at right: Lloyd Hollett of the Newfoundland Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion holds an Owl Butterfly, an insect that protects itself by "mimicking." To deter predators, the butterfly has evolved so that its wings look like the face of an owl.)

(Smiths Falls) – The library at Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute (SFDCI) was invaded by hundreds of bugs Monday from Malaysian millipedes to bird-eating tarantulas – and the students loved it.

Lloyd Hollett, of the Newfoundland Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion, brought his traveling exhibit to the high school as part of a wider tour of Ontario.  During five one-hour presentations, Hollett took students from grades 9-12 on a wondrous journey detailing how different insects and arachnids have adapted to survive and thrive in environments ranging from southern Alberta to South Africa.

The collector spent the first half of the show lecturing about his live and mounted collection, and then gave students a chance in the second half to handle the insects he had been talking about.

The shows were sponsored by the high school’s science department whose teachers wanted to present something with a “wow factor” that would encourage students to take a greater interest in science, said Teacher Todd Spencer.

“We’re trying to get kids interested in science in any way possible,” Spencer said Monday.  “We wanted something that would leave an impact and make them say ‘Wow this is cool.’  If they see something like this that touches them – something different – maybe it will convince them to learn more about it or maybe even take another science course.”

It’s easy to see how Hollett’s humourous reflections on the lives of our six and eight-legged neighbours can spark an interest in science.  During his presentation, he talked about a large Central American wasp called a Pepsis Wasp.  The female wasp has the unenviable task of spending her adult life battling deadly tarantulas to find food for her eggs.  Since she lays up to 50 eggs – she has up to 50 battles ahead of her.

If the tarantula she is battling defeats her, the spider dines on freshly killed wasp.  However, if the wasp wins, her eight-legged opponent has a much more horrid fate awaiting it.  As Hollett explains, the sting of the wasp doesn’t kill the spider, but merely paralyzes it.  The wasp then lays an egg in the spider.  The larva will soon become active and enjoy feasting on the spider – while it’s still alive.

“And what are the guys (male Pepsis Wasps) doing?” he asks with an infectious grin.  “They’re out flying around visiting flowers looking for nectar while their females are out hunting tarantulas.  Life’s just not fair.”

Another popular bug was Hollett’s Dung Beetle.  He explained how 2000-5000 of the small African beetles are quickly drawn to the scent of freshly laid elephant dung on an African plain.  The army of beetles can make a four-foot-high pile of dung disappear in only four hours – rolling the material away in tiny balls to feed their young.

Students alternately smiled and winced as Hollett described why the bugs descend on a dung pile so quickly.

“They like their food fresh and they like their food warm,” he says.  “Nobody likes their food cold.”

More than one student began rubbing their eyes, after Hollett told them seven out of 10 people  have microscopic mites living on their eyelashes.

Other interesting insects or spiders featured in his show included: the Goliath Bird-Eating Spider, named because the plate-sized adult is known for climbing up into birds’ nests and devouring chicks; a Jungle Nymph – a bright-green insect from northeastern Australia that can camouflage itself as a leaf or plant stalk; and an Owl Butterfly that deters hungry birds by spreading grey wings that look like the face of an owl.

Students at the school were thrilled with the presentation, although not all were inspired to become entomologists.

Jodi Lawrence held out her hand to take a Wandering Leaf from Hollett.  The bright-green bug is appropriately named for its similarity to a leaf.

“It’s really cool,” she said.

However, Lawrence added she wouldn’t be choosing entomology for a career.

“Would I want to work with them on a regular basis?” she said of the bugs.  “No Way! They freak me out.”

(Pictured at right: SFDCI student Jodi Lawrence holds a Wandering Leaf insect which can camouflage itself to look like a plant leaf.)

(Pictured at left: Grade 12 student Colin Howard holds one of hundreds of bugs on display Monday during the Newfoundland Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion Show at Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute.)