Feeling Bugged? See the New Exhibit at USU's Merrill-Cazier Library
A specimen box in "Small Wonders" containing beetles which form the insect order Coleoptera. The word “coleoptera" is from the Greek koleos, meaning “sheath” and pteron, meaning “wing,” together meaning “sheathed wing.” Photo courtesy of Madeleine Dupuy.
A new exhibition entitled “Small Wonders: The Expansive World of Insects” opens Feb. 9 in the atrium gallery of the Merrill-Cazier Library at Utah State University.
Organized by USU’s University Libraries and USU Entomology Club, the exhibition features insect specimens, informational panels and library materials about insects and their important relationship to humans and other life forms.
Madeleine Dupuy, current president of the USU Entomology Club and doctoral candidate in ecology, describes the types of topics emphasized in show.
“We chose topics from a myriad of fascinating aspects of insect life that we thought would be most interesting, or most informative, to a general public audience and chose complementary specimens to accompany those topics,” she said. “Topics range from basic questions like ‘What is an insect?’ and ‘Why are insects so diverse?’ to specific insects that are important in our everyday lives.
“We had a group of very dedicated graduate and undergraduate students who researched, wrote and edited the text and curated specimens for the exhibit. The library exhibition committee is handling the layout, design and set up of the display.”
From the University Libraries’ collection, viewers will see exquisitely illustrated entomology publications, including 19th century periodicals, selections from the James Prestini Design collection, historical materials from USU Archives and more recently published materials on bee keeping, beetles, butterflies, pests and pollinators.
For Dupuy, the exhibition is important because it encourages people to understand insects from new perspectives.
“I think this exhibit will get people to think about insects in ways that they normally wouldn’t,” she said. “It’s important for people to think about life from something other than the human perspective every now and then, and I think insects offer a particularly fascinating perspective to view life from. And of course, insects have huge impacts on our everyday human lives — after all, there are more species of insects than any other life form on Earth.
“I hope everyone will get a chance to come see the exhibit while it’s up in the library atrium. Even if you think insects are gross, there is something for everyone, and hopefully we can change your mind.”
An opening reception for the exhibit is Feb. 9 from 4-6 p.m. in Merrill-Cazier Library, Room 101. The reception begins with presentations by Dupuy and Emily Sadler, a doctoral candidate in biology and past president of the USU Entomology Club.
“The presentation will show how amazing insects truly are and showcase some of the fantastic research done at USU, Sadler said.
Viewing of the exhibition will follow the presentations. The reception, presentations and exhibition are free and open to the public.
USU students interested in the Entomology club can contact Madeleine Dupuy by emailing usuentclub@gmail.com for information or visit the USU Entomology Club website.
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Writer and contact: Rose Milovich, University Libraries, (435) 797-0893, rose.milovich@usu.edu
A specimen box in "Small Wonders" containing beetles which form the insect order Coleoptera. The word “coleoptera" is from the Greek koleos, meaning “sheath” and pteron, meaning “wing,” together meaning “sheathed wing.” Photo courtesy of Madeleine Dupuy.
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