Bugs At The Museum

The bugs are back.

Canterbury Museum’s much-loved insect drawers, which have fascinated and entertained children for decades, will be briefly back on display for 'Bugs at the Museum', a creepy crawly Summer treat opening on 17 January.

The insect drawers containing hundreds of specimens from the Museum collection were a popular feature of Discovery, the Museum’s natural history centre for children. They have been in storage since the Rolleston Avenue site closed for redevelopment.

The colourful and fascinating drawers, full of beetles, butterflies, moths and stick insects, will be back on display at C'anterbury Museum at CoCA', the Museum pop-up at 66 Gloucester St in central Ōtautahi Christchurch, from 17 January to 29 January.

Beautiful close-up photographs of insect specimens in all their winged, prickly and bug-eyed glory will also be on display.

A range of fun family activities are part of 'Bugs at the Museum'. These include family-friendly talks from the Museum’s bug experts on the secret world of backyard insects and the fascinating life of flies. Kids will also get the chance to meet live insects and ask our educators all about bugs at a drop-in session. Artist Sharnae Beardsley, who is celebrated for her beautifully detailed artworks of plants and insects, will be hosting special drawing classes.

'Bugs at the Museum' opens on 17 January at 'Canterbury Museum at CoCA' and will run until 29 January 2024. Free entry; donations appreciated.