Prepare to be enthralled by all things creepy crawly when the National Insect Expo returns to Woodend this coming weekend.
Expo director Bert Candusio said the response from exhibitors and more than 6000 people who attended last year’s expo was amazing.
“So we planned early to give an even greater expo this year,” he said.
“The result is that this year National Insect Expo is bound to enthral each and every visitor with a vast array of insect-themed displays, ranging from rare collections of insects to specialist breeders of all sorts of amazing creatures related to insects; spiders, scorpions, millipedes, snails … all and more will be on display.
“There will also be free special giveaways for younger children to help them start their journey of discovery into the fascinating world of insects.”
But why such an interest in insects?
“It’s an important conservation message we are trying to get out there,” Bert said.
“Insects and their relatives are the key component of every terrestrial land ecosystem. They form the basis of all food chains and all other well known animals rely on them.
“If you want to preserve the koala, start by preserving its habitat and the parasitic wasps that control lerp insects that cause tree die-back. That’s just one example,” he said.
Sixty exhibitors from across Australia and New Zealand will descend upon Woodend to showcase their insect collections, insect research projects, spider breeding methods and insect conservation messages to the public at the National Insect Expo.
The exhibition will run daily from 10am to 5pm on September 22, 23 and 24, at the Buffalo Sports Stadium in Woodend. Tickets are available at the door or online at cvric.com.au/expo-2023.
