Zoology Museum insects
As the Zoology Museum is closed at the moment, we'd like to share a few of our incredible insect specimens with you. We have some pretty big beetles!
Activity Page: Insects
What has a head, 3 pairs of legs and a thorax? It's an Insect.
Welcome to our activity page inspired by INSECTS in the UoA Collections. There are fun activities to do from home and we hope you will be able to visit us again soon.
Zoology Museum insects
As the Zoology Museum is closed at the moment, we'd like to share a few of our incredible insect specimens with you. We have some pretty big beetles!
Zoology Museum insects
As the Zoology Museum is closed at the moment, we'd like to share a few of our incredible insect specimens with you. We have some pretty big beetles!
Zoology Museum insects
As the Zoology Museum is closed at the moment, we'd like to share a few of our incredible insect specimens with you. We have some pretty big beetles!
Zoology Museum insects
As the Zoology Museum is closed at the moment, we'd like to share a few of our incredible insect specimens with you. We have some pretty big beetles!
Zoology Museum insects
As the Zoology Museum is closed at the moment, we'd like to share a few of our incredible insect specimens with you. We have some pretty big beetles!
Zoology Museum insects
As the Zoology Museum is closed at the moment, we'd like to share a few of our incredible insect specimens with you. We have some pretty big beetles!
Zoology Museum insects
As the Zoology Museum is closed at the moment, we'd like to share a few of our incredible insect specimens with you. We have some pretty big beetles!
Zoology Museum insects
As the Zoology Museum is closed at the moment, we'd like to share a few of our incredible insect specimens with you. We have some pretty big beetles!
Zoology Museum insects
We've got some stunning moths and butterflies (that's Lepidoptera to all you budding entomologists).
Zoology Museum insects
We've got some stunning moths and butterflies (that's Lepidoptera to all you budding entomologists).
Zoology Museum insects
We've got some stunning moths and butterflies (that's Lepidoptera to all you budding entomologists).
Zoology Museum insects
We've got some stunning moths and butterflies (that's Lepidoptera to all you budding entomologists).
Zoology Museum insects
We've got some stunning moths and butterflies (that's Lepidoptera to all you budding entomologists).
How to make a Meganeura (Giant Dragonfly)
Meganeura was a prehistoric dragonfly that lived 300 million years ago in the Carboniferous period. We challenged Dan Lundberg to built a life-sized model of one for Insect Week. See how he did it!
Dr Auzoux's May beetle
One of the most curious insects in the University of Aberdeen Collections is Dr Auzoux's model of a May beetle.
Dr Auzoux's May beetle
Louis Auzoux (1797-1880) was a French anatomist and naturalist who became famous for his large scale and highly accurate models of human and veterinary specimens.
Dr Auzoux's May beetle
The models are made of several parts; each of which can be removed to show anatomical details.
Dr Auzoux's May beetle
The May beetle (Melolontha vulgaris) was an agricultural pest, eating crops such as potatoes and corn.
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Insect House
Did you know there were plans for themed buildings, such as this ladybird-inspired Insect House, for Aberdeen Zoo?
Mole Hill
Opening a zoo in Aberdeen was first proposed at an informal meeting between representatives of the Town Council and Aberdeen University in Sept 1961.
Reptile House
The zoo grew in size and diversity, developing links with local schools but falling visitor numbers and financial difficulties during the 1970s led to its closure in 1977.
Mouse Town
Even though these wonderfully whimsical buildings were never built, we are delighted that the architectural plans survive in the UoA Collections archives.
Beehive
Why not have a go at creating your own design for an Insect or Animal House?
Maria Sibylla Merian (1647 - 1717) Illustrator of Insect Life
Maria Sibylla Merian (1647 - 1717) Illustrator of Insect Life
Maria Sibylla Merian was a 17th Century female Naturalist, Entomologist and Botanical Illustrator and is considered one of the greatest ever botanical artists.
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Maria Sibylla Merian (1647 - 1717) Illustrator of Insect Life: Caterpillars
The University of Aberdeen's Special Collections holds a copy of her publication entitled 'The Miraculous Transformation and Unusual Flower-Food of Caterpillars'.
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Maria Sibylla Merian (1647 - 1717) Illustrator of Insect Life: Metamorphosis
Maria Sibylla Merian was a woman of both Art and Science. She was the first to record metamorphosis, contradicting contemporary notions about how insects developed.
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Maria Sibylla Merian (1647 - 1717) Illustrator of Insect Life: Entomology
She recorded and illustrated the life cycles of 186 insect species.
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Maria Sibylla Merian (1647 - 1717) Illustrator of Insect Life: Expeditions
She also undertook scientific expeditions at a time when these were unusual and normally undertaken by men only.
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Maria Sibylla Merian (1647 - 1717) Illustrator of Insect Life: Scientific Discoveries
She discovered unknown animals and insects in the interior of Surinam. Her classification of butterflies and moths is still used today.
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Illustrating Insects
We hope you enjoy these images of insects by Maria Sibylla Merian. You can download 3 of her illustrations to colour-in. Why not have a go at some botanical illustrations of your own too?
Critter Caption Challenge
We've created some captions for our critters. Why not have a go at making up some captions of your own?
Critter Caption Challenge
We've created some captions for our critters. Why not have a go at making up some captions of your own?
Critter Caption Challenge
We've created some captions for our critters. Why not have a go at making up some captions of your own?
Critter Caption Challenge
We've created some captions for our critters. Why not have a go at making up some captions of your own?
Critter Caption Challenge
We've created some captions for our critters. Why not have a go at making up some captions of your own?
Critter Caption Challenge
We've created some captions for our critters. Why not have a go at making up some captions of your own?
Critter Caption Challenge
We've created some captions for our critters. Why not have a go at making up some captions of your own?
UoA Research
Some more insects in the collections...
MS 24 f24
Of Ants, The Aberdeen Bestiary, University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
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ABDUZ:8341
Morpho amathonte Colombia, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Museum Collection
J Mil w
A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh, University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
MS 274
Liturgy, Hours, University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
SB f578 Hoo
Robert Hooke, Micrographia, University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
ABDUA:21019
Egyptian scarab, 1549BC -656BC, University of Aberdeen, Human Culture Collection
SB 5915:5957 Bud3
L.M. Budgen, Episodes of Insect Life, 1949-51, University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
ABDUZ:CLD05
Louis Auzoux, may beetle model, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Museum
MS 2990
The Insect House, part of the Aberdeen and North of Scotland Zoological Society archive: 1961-1978, Special Collections
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ABDUZ:8404
Moon Moth, University of Aberdeen, Zoology Museum Collection
MS 24 f63
Of Bees, The Aberdeen Bestiary, University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
SB 5982(73)Aud
John James Audubon, The Birds of America, Plate CXIII blue bird, University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
KCx59578 Mer
Maria Sibylla Merion, The Miraculous Transformation and Unusual Flower-food of Caterpillars, 1717, University of Aberdeen, Special Collections