If you want to view and touch tarantulas, scorpions or giant hissing cockroaches, you need to plan a trip to Blacksburg on Saturday.
The Hokie BugFest returns to the Squires Student Center at Virginia Tech from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The one-day festival celebrates the science of entomology with exhibits, hands-on activities and live arthropods.
The Dan Capps Insect Collection, featuring hundreds of pinned specimens from across the globe, including walking sticks that measure more than 2 feet; goliath, Hercules and other massive beetles; vibrant butterflies and moths; and more.
The Hokie BugZoo will let you view and touch anthropods such as tarantulas, scorpions that glow, blue death feigning beetles, giant hissing cockroaches, whip spiders, vinegaroons and more.
Ipads will be on hand to manipulate 360-degree views of real insects created by the University Libraries.
There will also be insect collections from young entomologists from around the region.
Sponsors of the event include the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences through Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs, and the W.B. Alwood Entomological Society.