(Boonville, NY – Aug. 2013) Approximately 120, third grade students from both Camden and McConnellsville were eligible to participate in the Build- a-Bug Activity at the Oneida County Boonville Fair. Youth were challenged to build an insect, real or imaginary, from items found around the home. Those that built a bug and brought it to Kirch Hardware in Camden would then be able to attend Insectapalooza at Cornell University in October 2013. Funded by a donation from Kirch Hardware and International Wire, this free trip allows for the student and parent to experience the trip together.
Three students and their parents have met the requirements to participate in this event.
Emily Renwick, built a Space Killer from a water bottle, blue plastic Easter egg, black electrical tape and purple and green hair barrettes. It is a carnivorous predator that sucks the blood of humans and animals. Thankfully this insect lives in the hot humid rainforest.
Zane O’Hara, built a Bottle Can-a-pillar. The Can-a-pillar survives in two ways, first, by kicking and punching his enemies, and second, by being nocturnal. He uses his green pipe cleaner feelers to locate insects and worms in piles of dead grass. His body is made of a tin can and water bottle. His head is made from aluminum foil and google eyes. 6 wooden craft sticks allow him to stand up above his prey.
Anna Furlow, created a Berry Bug using a green cardboard berry basket for the body and glittery red and green pipe cleaners and colorful beads for legs. The Berry Bug is a pest that eats berries and fruit from NY State. The red and green circular spots, covering its body, warn us and potential predators that the Berry Bug is poisonous.
Once a year the Cornell Lab of Entomology opens its doors for a fun educational family event called Insectapalooza. College students from the Entomology Department organize the day’s event with true hands-on insect opportunities including cockroach races, an indoor butterfly house and live exhibits of spiders, scorpions and tarantulas. The public is invited into the vaults to view the insect collection, encouraged to speak directly with students about the research they are working on, and for the truly adventurous, there is an opportunity to sample some cricket cookies.
This opportunity is exclusively for Camden and McConnellsville students that were in the 3rd grade in June 2013. If you would still like to participate in the Insectapalooza Field Trip opportunity please contact Lynette at 736-3394 x105 or visit https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/4hbuildabug_230 for more information.