The Audubon Insectarium is an entomology museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. With more than 50 live exhibits and numerous multimedia elements, the 23,000-square-foot (2,100 m2) facility is the largest free-standing American museum dedicated to insects.
It opened in June 2008. In 2009, it was awarded the Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement in a Science Center.
Part of the Audubon Nature Institute complex, it is located on the first floor of the U.S. Custom House Federal Building.
Underground Gallery - Giant animatronic insects and oversized exhibits give guests a bug's eye view of the insect world.
Louisiana Swamp Gallery - The sights and sounds of the Louisiana wetlands are depicted with aquatic animals and special effects.
Termite Gallery - Formosan termites can be seen eating through a wooden skyline of New Orleans.
Butterfly Garden - A garden populated by hundreds of live butterflies with which guests can interact.
Metamorphosis Gallery - A working husbandry lab where an insect's entire life cycle is depicted.
Hall of Fame Gallery - Preserved examples of some of the world's biggest, fastest, and most impressive insects.
Awards Night - A comic film with animated insect characters voiced by Jay Leno, Joan Rivers, and Brad Garrett. Awards Night takes visitors to a red carpet event for bugs; the experience is enhanced by special in-theater effects and animated seats.
Bug Appétit - Guests can watch chefs incorporate bugs into their dishes and sample some of their exotic creations.
"Engaging with Nature - Insectarium at the Audubon Nature Institute." (pdf) Themed Entertainment Association. Retrieved 10-2-2009.
"Museum Review - At the Insectarium, Getting Down With All That Skitters, Buzzes or Crawls." New York Times. August 2, 2008. Retrieved 10-2-2009.
"Audubon Insectarium to open next Friday". nola.com. http://blog.nola.com/entertainment/2008/06/audubon_insectarium_to_open_ne.html. Retrieved 2008-06-08.