WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s Department of Entomology will bring Tippecanoe County fifth-graders to campus on Tuesday (Oct. 13) for its 13th annual Science on Six Legs: An Insectaganza of Education.

Betty Bee greets Tippecanoe County students at the 2007 Insectaganza.

More than 760 fifth-graders, 32 teachers and 70 adult chaperones from 12 different schools will participate in a full day of insect activities designed to promote science education through the biology, ecology, diversity and the novelty of insects. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The program was first created as a result of requests from fifth-grade teachers for insect-related talks that would address the Indiana State Academic Standards for Science.

“Our goals for Insectaganza are to facilitate science education and promote awareness of the field of entomology by engaging students and entertaining them, while also providing them the opportunity to experience a university campus firsthand,” said Melissa Shepson, educational outreach coordinator for Purdue entomology. “It serves as an exceptional opportunity to jump-start interest in science while promoting higher education.”

Students will participate in “Mesozoic Insects,” an insect lecture led by Purdue entomologist Jeffery Holland; insect dissection, led by undergraduate and graduate entomology students; “Entomology Live!” a theatre presentation led by Purdue entomologist Tom Turpin; and “Quiz Bowl,” moderated by Purdue entomologist Arwin Provonsha.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University Entomology and Eli Lilly and Co.’s Tippecanoe Laboratories are once again sponsoring the Tippecanoe County Butterfly Encounter, Saturday, July 18, for butterfly enthusiasts of all ages and expert levels.

The event, which begins with a newly added insect photography workshop, will convene at 9:00 am at the Lilly Tippecanoe Laboratories Wildlife Habitat Area in Lafayette, Indiana. A picnic lunch, sponsored by Eli Lilly and Co., will be served at noon, followed by a short butterfly identification tutorial. Participants will break into groups to count the butterflies present in the habitat and will reconvene as a large group at 3:30 pm to tabulate the results.

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus) is one of more than two dozen types of butterflies commonly found in Tippecanoe County.

“The encounter is a day of family fun that celebrates the beauty of butterflies,” said Melissa Shepson, outreach coordinator for Purdue Entomology. “Participants need no prior butterfly experience; everyone from the novice to the expert is welcome.

“New to the program this year is a photography workshop aimed at helping new to intermediate photographers improve their nature photography techniques.”

Gene White, a photography consultant specializing in insect images and a graduate of Purdue Entomology, will lead the workshop. It will include a brief introductory lecture and demonstration of photography techniques, a photo shoot and a photo critique.

The Butterfly Encounter is free of charge, but participants are asked to RSVP for the picnic by July 14 to Sarah Wolf, Eli Lilly wildlife habitat coordinator at (765) 477-4424, wolfsa@lilly.com.

Parking for the event is available next to the baseball diamond south of Eli Lilly Tippecanoe Laboratories’ main entrance at 1650 Lilly Road in Lafayette.

A rain date has been scheduled for Sunday, July 19. Should the rain date be necessary, participants should meet at the shelter at 1:00 pm and the picnic will be held at the end of the event. No photography workshop would be offered.

For more information, contact Shepson at (765) 494-0997, mshepson@purdue.edu, or Wolf, or visit the Butterfly Encounter home page at http://www.entm.purdue.edu/butterflycount/event.html