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IncrediBUGs

THIS ATTRACTION HAS CLOSED

June 25 – Sept. 18, 2022

Giant Bugs Take Over the Zoo

Everyone is buzzing about our newest exhibit! Join us at the Zoo to experience  “IncrediBUGS,” a seasonal exhibit sponsored by Great Clips. IncrediBUGS features 19 larger-than-life animatronic insects that will be stationed all around the Zoo starting Saturday, June 25 through Sunday, Sept. 18. IncrediBUGS is FREE with Zoo admission or membership.

Gaze upon a truck-sized ladybug; stroll among enormous monarch butterflies; and encounter our 15-foot dancing peacock spider — if you dare!

Immerse yourself in the insect world, and engage with these amazing, beneficial, and yet often misunderstood creatures.

BEE sure to stop by the Zoo and marvel at these incredible and incredibly important animals.

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Cicada

Scientific Name: Superfamily Cicadoidea

Location: Every Continent but Antarctica

Typically found: Underground or in trees

Fact: Cicadas have some of the longest lifespans of any insect, but spend a very small percentage of their life above ground.

Dung Beetle

Scientific Name: Family Scarabaeidae

Location: Every continent but Antarctica

Typically found: Farmland, forests, grasslands, and deserts

Fact: Dung beetles eat poop but they are very particular about it and often times develop a preference for the feces of specific species while avoiding the feces of others entirely.

Firefly

Scientific Name: Photinus Pyralis

Location: Every continent but Antarctica

Typically found: Meadows, grasslands, and fields

Fact: There are over 2,000 different species of fireflies, each with their own pattern of light flashing.

Flame Skimmer Dragonfly

Scientific Name: Libellula saturata

Location: Western United States

Typically found: Around bodies of water

Fact: Dragonflies actually date back to before the dinosaur age.

Flower Beetle

Scientific Name: Order Coleoptera

Location: Every continent but Antarctica

Typically found: Meadows and fields

Fact: Beetles are incredibly important pollinators! Though often overshadowed by bees, beetles pull their own weight and help to pollinate our environment.

Hissing Cockroach

Scientific Name: Gromphadorhina portentosa

Location: Madagascar

Typically found: Forests

Fact: Hissing cockroaches are some of the biggest roaches in the world with some reaching a length of over 3 inches!

Honey Bee

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Location: Every continent but Antarctica

Typically found: Meadows and fields, wherever there are flowers

Fact: Bees can fly at about 20 MPH.

Jewel Beetle

Scientific Name: Family Buprestidae

Location:  Every continent but Antarctica

Typically found: Forests and woodlands

Fact: The largest species of jewel beetle is the giant jewel beetle, which routinely reaches over 30 mm.

Ladybug

Scientific Name: Family Coccinellidae

Location: Every continent but Antarctica 

Typically found: Forests, gardens, weed patches

Fact: Ladybug’s jaws chew from side to side instead of up and down

Leafcutter Ant

Scientific Name: Atta cephalotes

Location: South / Central America and Mexico

Typically found: Humid forests and grasslands

Fact: Despite their name, leaf cutter ants don’t actually eat leaves! They instead use them as natural fertilizer for fungi gardens in their colonies.

Monarch Butterfly

Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus

Location: North America

Typically found: Meadows, fields, anywhere there are flowers

Fact: The monarch butterfly is the state insect of Texas, Minnesota, Idaho, Illinois and Alabama. They have the longest migration of any insect.

Monarch Caterpillar

Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus

Location: North America

Typically found: Meadows, fields, anywhere there are flowers

Fact: The monarch caterpillar is a voracious eater and they can gain about 2,700 times their original weight.

Peacock Jumping Spider

Scientific Name: Maratus volans

Location: Australia

Typically found: Sand dunes, semi-arid areas and grasslands

Fact: The male peacock jumping spider performs this “dance” as part of courting female spiders.

Screaming Katydid

Scientific Name: Pterophylla camellifolia

Location: Every continent but Antarctica

Typically found: temperate climates

Fact: There are over 6,400 different species of katydid worldwide.

Stink Bug

Scientific Name: Halyomorpha halys

Location: native to eastern Asia, but now can be found all over the United states

Typically found: hiding in grass, under rocks, weed patches

Fact:stink bugs also emit a chemical odor before hibernation when they’ve found a safe spot and wish to let other stink bugs find it.

Walking Stick

Scientific Name: Order Phasmatodea

Location: Every continent but Antarctica

Typically found: forests and grasslands

Fact: There are over 3,000 species of walking sticks worldwide, each adapted to specific habitats. Some even have wings!

Western Carpenter Ant

Scientific Name: Camponotus modoc

Location: United States

Typically found: dead or decaying wood

Fact: Despite their name, carpenter ants don’t actually eat wood, they chew through wood to create nests for their colonies of up to 50,000 ants!

Western Harvester Ant

Scientific Name: Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Location: Arid environments in the western United States

Typically found: high plains and deserts

Facts: Harvester ants name comes from their diet of primarily seeds.

Do I need to buy an additional ticket to see the bugs?

IncrediBUGS is included with regular Zoo admission. No special tickets are required to see these incredible bugs!

When does the event end?

IncrediBUGS runs until September 18, 2022. Make sure you don’t miss out on meeting these enourmous animatronic wonders!

Are there photo opportunities with the bugs?

The Louisville Zoo has several photo opportunities for guests visiting during IncrediBUGS.

Where are the bugs located?

The bugs are spread out over the Zoo’s 130-acre campus. During your visit, discover the locations of all 18 gigantic insects; they are so large you can’t miss them!