Entomology Bug Museum: A Labor of Love By: Frank H. Andorka, Jr.

Pest Control Buzz Online Newsletter
January 11, 2006

Purdue University entomology professor Tom Turpin conducted a personal tour of the Bug Barn with the enthusiasm of an artist showing off his latest masterpiece.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - I've discovered the secrets behind the locked door of Room 124 in Smith Hall. My undercover operation into the bowels of Purdue University's entomology department began when I ran into Michael Weisburger of Weisburger Insurance Brokerage in the lobby of Memorial Union.

"I hear there's something cool to see in Room 124," he said to me mysteriously. "Want to go?"
"What's in Room 124?" I said.
"I'm not sure," Weisburger said, "But there are rumors that it's really interesting."

I'm always up for an adventure, and Weisburger's conspiratorial tone intrigued me. So off we went across the lovely Purdue campus in a light drizzle (which didn't push the temperatures down, by the way) to find out what delights awaited us behind the doors of Room 124.

We weren't disappointed. Purdue University professor Tom Turpin met us in the hallway.

"You want to see The Bug Barn?" he asked, his eyes alight with the passion of an artist about to unveil his latest masterpiece.

Weisburger and I readily agreed. He unlocked the door, and suddenly I was in the midst of what eventually will be an interactive bug museum.

"We had a lot of people ask us if they could come see certain species of bugs," Turpin said. "We decided to create a room where they could come and see them without interrupting the research we're doing here."

Exhibits in the Bug Barn include insect specimen and a display depicting the pest management industry's history.

The variety of displays in The Bug Barn is impressive. From the colony of Madagascar hissing cockroaches and the bee hive (which is connected to the outside world by a pipe through the wall so the bees aren't captive) to the original B&G sprayer and other pest management industry artifacts, The Bug Barn contains much of the information budding entomologists might want to see - and that's the point, Turpin said.

"We're looking to open this up to school classes and make it a real hands-on museum so kids can start to understand more about the insect world and how it interacts with us," Turpin says. "It will give people a better idea of what entomology is - and maybe we'll eventually get them so interested that they'll come and study here."

The room is still a work in progress. Turpin pointed out the exhibits that still need to be finished, but the department is already preparing for students. Turpin says he's looking forward to hearing kids' laughter ringing through the room.

As our guided tour of the room ended, I took one look back and sensed the passion and commitment to our industry it took to conceptualize and create such a museum. Then I turned to Turpin.

"You've really created a fascinating place in there," I said. "That was neat." He beamed.

I'd like to thank Michael Weisburger for alerting me to the wonders of The Bug Barn, and I would urge you all to check it out next time you're on campus. If you love this industry, you won't be disappointed.