Bugs Under Glass

TOMS RIVER, N.J. — When Chris Koerner’s daughter, Emily, was two years-old, she liked two things: collecting rocks, and collecting bugs.

So Koerner, vice president of operations at Ozane Termite and Pest Control, started taking her to different museums around the area, including one dedicated to rocks and minerals set up by a local stone supplier.

“When I saw what this guy had done with his business…I wondered if we could do that with (Ozane.),” he said. “There’s just as many, if not more, insect types and species out there.”

The Insectropolis insect museum is housed in a 7,200 square-foot building behind the Ozane headquarters in Toms River, N.J. It opened in 2006, after three years of prep work.

The museum’s collection boasts mounted and free-range insects from around the world, including giant stick bugs from Papua New Guinea and bird winged butterflies from South America. And Koerner rears various types of moths, ants and other insects himself.

Koerner helps run the family business with two of his brothers, Dave, director of regulatory compliance and technical training, and Jeff, vice president of marketing. Chris, who has a degree in management, grew into the duties of identification of the insects his brothers would bring back from the field.

“I started seeing everything that was here locally,” he said.

Their father, Thomas Koerner operated the business himself for 40 years, and fostered an interest in the natural world in his sons. “He would tell us what everything was,” Koerner said. “When we were younger this area was not developed like it was today. You could collect frogs, turtles” and other things easily.

And Insectropolis tries to foster that same interest in today’s youth. Koerner said the museum sees between 12,000 and 15,000 visitors each year, mostly school groups or summer camps.

“It’s a good way to continue to promote your company and your industry in a good light,” he said. “You’re introducing yourself in a positive way to young families that will eventually use your services at some point. You’re educating kids and…you’re showing that you’re sensitive to the fact that there are beneficial insects out there.”

Unfortunately, Koerner’s daughter Emily no longer has the same affinity for rocks and bugs she had at age 2. Now she’s 12 years-old, he said, and more interested in other things.
 
“I think she’s grown out of that phase,” he said.