TEE Lab Insect Outreach at NTU Alumni Homecoming Event 2022
- Marx Yim
- Oct 27, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 5, 2023
In the middle of October 2022, the Tropical Ecology & Entomology (TEE) Lab participated in NTU's 2022 Alumni Homecoming to advocate to the public the importance of insects and how studying them can increase our understanding of our environment and the impacts of environmental change on biodiversity.
Preserved Singapore Insects + Live Stick Insects + Chocolate Chip Cricket Cookies
At the event, we displayed Singapore insects that have been collected and curated by TEE Lab students. Xin Rui also brought her own collection of live stick insects and guided the public on how best to handle a stick insect - this was a hit with everyone, especially children. We discussed the importance of eating insects (called entomophagy) as a high protein, low carbon food, and gave everyone an opportunity to try our homemade chocolate chip cookies made from cricket flour!
Preserved and Live Dung beetles + Soil Invertebrates of Singapore
There was also a live dung beetle display where we showcased some of the dung beetles that occur locally. Many of the people we spoke didn’t realise that dung beetles exist in Singapore and they come in many shapes and sizes, and are important for nutrient recycling and soil health. Handling the largest dung beetle species we have in Singapore was a great hit among children and adults alike. Using a microscope to view the many tiny soil invertebrates such as cockroaches, mites, isopods, and ants up close was also popular, with the myriad of different types of soil animal never ceasing to amaze those who look a look. Much to our delight, many people expressed that their views of insects have changed, and one child even exclaimed proudly to her parents "I'm not scared of insects anymore!!!".
Thank you everyone for coming to our showcase!
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