A SUGGESTION BY ANGELA OESTMANN

When I first read about Hexapoda being a museum for insects I immediately remembered museum visits during school trips walking by endless glass cabinets with pinned-up beetles. Very boring, we thought at the time. But then I read on the Hexapoda website that most of the exhibits are alive, and that awoke my interest. 

The recently renovated museum Hexapoda which is linked to the Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech and the Université Catholique de Liège sees itself as a scientific and didactic institution. 

Insects are little-known by the general public, and are often synonymous with plagues, disease and even poor hygiene, even though their contribution to all terrestrial ecosystems and many aquatic ecosystems is essential to their balance. (From the website) 

Right from the entrance hall we find cages with insects sitting on plants or under stones. Sometimes difficult to recognize, in “camouflage” of a leaf or a branch, only discoverable when moving. Others are colourful and shiny. A whole ant colony busy in their complicated castle can be followed. There is even a covered section in red light which is invisible to the insects.

We learnt that the animals and plants in the cages need to be fed and watered at least twice a week, in hot times even daily. 

The exhibits are accompanied by very good graphics and explanations, currently only in French. English audio guides are planned. 

This museum really surprised and enthused us. We never thought we would be so amazed by the scary creepy crawlies. We think that it would also be a great museum to visit with the grandkids. A table with – fortunately artificial – insects-based dishes 

https://www.hexapoda.uliege.be/cms/ c_12770358/fr/hexapoda-insectariumjean-leclercq