Thirteen dinosaur-sized insect sculptures, created by artist David Rogers, take over New England’s premier wildflower garden, July 12 through October 31. BIG BIGS educates students of all ages about the critical role that insects play in our environment. Consider sharing this unique learning opportunity with your students. Look below for a BIG BUGS vocabulary list. Share information on native plants with your students.

 

Highlights of the visit include

 

• An exciting way to learn about the importance of insects in the environment – their behavior, life cycles, and ecology.

 

• A chance to meet three 25-foot ants, a 17-foot dragonfly, and an 18-foot praying mantis face to face along with 8 other arthropods.  Each BIG BUG is accompanied by an educational interpretive sign.

 

• An activity guide for use by students as they explore the exhibit with their chaperone.

 

• A 50-page full-color insect activity book written for teacher at no extra charge:  Bugology: A guide to bug discoveries through the seasons.

 

We suggest reviewing BIG BUGS vocabulary before your visit. 

 

Tour Logistics

The self-guided tours last approximately one hour. The charge is $5 per student with no charge for the chaperones. One chaperone is required for every five students. Spaces are limited, so we urge you to act quickly to guarantee a time slot. We can accommodate up to 80 students at a time and can take two groups each morning and each afternoon.

 

Contact Bonnie Drexler, Program Manager, at 508-877-7630 x 3302 or email bdrexler@newenglandwild.org  to schedule your tour.

 

BIG BUGS VOCABULARY LIST

 

Come visit BIG BUGS at New England Wild Flower Society’s Garden in the Woods July12-October 31 and see giant bug sculptures and real live bugs everywhere! Here are some terms to talk about “the little things that rule the world.”

 

Abdomen - the third section of an insect’s body that is most visible.

 

Adaptation - the ability of a living organism to change to fit into its habitat.

 

Antennae - feelers located at the top of insect’s head, used to detect odors, tastes, touch, heat, moisture, and wind currents.

 

Camouflage - the ability to blend in with the surroundings.

 

Carnivore - an animal that eats meat.

 

Exoskeleton - the outer covering of the body of an insect, which protects and regulates the exchange of water and gases.

 

Food chain - shows the flow of energy through an ecosystem.

                         Example:  sun’s energy       sunflower     caterpillar     bird       hawk

 

Food web - a network of connecting food chains.

 

Habitat - a home of a plant or animal, where it can find food, water, shelter and space to move around.

 

Herbivore - an animal that eats plants only.

 

Insec t- small animal with three body parts and six legs.

 

Nymph - young insect that resembles adult form, without wings.

 

Pollinator - an animal that carries pollen from one flower to another of the same kind.

 

Predator - an animal that eats other animals.

 

Prey - an animal that is eaten by other animals.

 

Thorax - the mid section of an insect where the wings and legs attach.                                                                                                                                                   

Warning colors - a pattern of bright colors intended to help other animals avoid a creature because it is poisonous or venomous.

Please share your comments regarding the BIG BUGS exhibit and Garden in the Woods at comments@newenglandwild.org.