News from the Bug Safari
What’s New at Seattle Bug Safari? Check out the press releases below to find out!
May 2006 ~ Critters Buggin’ Below Western
Brian Rolf’s Seattle Bug Safari, on the Hillclimb west of Western across from Procopio Gelateria, recently hatched in the Market. The 1200-square-foot jungle-inspired living museum and gift shop will be a one-of-a-kind experience, reminiscent of Woodland Park or the Pacific Science center.
Stepping through the door, visitors enter the gift shop which sells exclusively (really cool) insect related paraphernalia.) The shop opened Easter and the museum will be to follow, but working with the Department of Agriculture takes time.
When it does visitors can pay an entrance fee (or become a member) and pass the Tiki Torche threshold into the insect chamber–a collection of custom aquariums showcasing rotating collections of 40 to 60 species of insects, bugs, tarantulas, scorpions, millipedes and centipedes.
“Scientifically they are all different,” Rolf explains. He and the safari guides plan to rotate quarterly, keeping things interesting.
Safari Guides will introduce visitors to the colonies and answer questions. Exotic species must remain locked (according to the USDA) but there will be some hands-on. Guides will constantly be working on sustainability, recreating the best possible environments. Breeding isn’t easy with specimens. For example, the Praying Mantis, is difficult because the females tend to eat the males before he has a chance to mate with her, so they will try to sufficiently satiate her before sending him in and hoping he moves fast enough.
The elaborate gift shop offers a litany of insect inspired paraphernalia: supplies for keeping and catching specimens, educational toys (and just for fun toys), books, framed specimens, T-shirts and specimen jewelry, such as French enamel hand-painted butterfly earrings, broaches and pendants.
Emerging from the cocoon of a regular job Rolf is excited to combine his environmental science degree and his love of entomology. Stop by and explore the unique world he is creating.
~Article From The Pike Place Market News, May 2006 Edition
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