PICAYUNE – Mississippi State University’s Crosby Arboretum in Picayune will be crawling with activities at the annual Bugfest Sept. 23 and 24.

The family-friendly event will include collecting, identifying and mounting insects for display; bug-themed crafts and games; and educational seminars on various insects and collecting techniques.

Activities begin Friday when preregistered school groups collect insects from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. From 2 to 6 p.m., all visitors are welcome to collect on their own. Insect identification and mounting assistance will be available in the Pinecote Pavilion. On Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Buggy Midway will open, offering bug-themed crafts and games for all ages.

Night collection activities will begin at dusk Friday. Participants are asked to bring a flashlight or headlamp. Crosby Arboretum will set up collecting sheets with black lights and sodium vapor lights to attract insects. Friday’s activities end at 10 p.m.

Events continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and include self-guided insect collecting, roach races, Buggy Midway activities and short seminars.

Student admission on Friday before 6 p.m. is $2, and teachers and chaperones can attend for free. The cost to attend after 6 p.m. on Friday and all day on Saturday is $5 for adults and $2 for children. A limited number of supplies, such as insect pins, will be available for purchase at the Pinecote Pavilion.

For more information on Bugfest, call (601) 799-2311 or visit http://www.crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu. A condensed version of the MSU Extension Service 4-H entomology manual to use for insect collecting can be downloaded from the program calendar web page.

Writer:  Karen Templeton