One-Stop Bug Shopping

Anyone who has ever toured the Insectarium of Philadelphia, Pa., knows that it houses one of the best collections of insect pests found anywhere in the world.

Capitalizing on that success, the Insectarium is now offering an Online Bug Store, which offers consumers as well as the pest control industry an assortment of educational and fun insect-related products.

From posters and videos to clothing, toys and books, the Insectarium offers more than 500 items to provide “one-stop bug shopping,” says Steve Kanya, president of the Insectarium and owner of Steve’s Bug Off Exterminating Company. “Virtually every ‘bug’ item has been found and assembled into one catalog,” he said.

The largest insect museum in the country, the Insectarium was founded by Kanya in 1992. About 75,000 visitors now tour the museum each year to see and learn about insects from around the world.

The idea for the museum originated in the late ’70s when the company regularly displayed its “Catch of the Day” in its front window. “In the spring and summer, people would drive by and get out of their cars and look,” Kanya recalled. Several cars a night would swing by, Kanya said, to take a look at the dead rodent, roaches, or even the occasional wildlife pest that was displayed in the window after being caught. Eventually Kanya decided to open a museum full of various pests. It took him eight years to collect enough insects to create the museum. The original facility of 1,200 square feet was so popular among children and adults alike that Kanya decided to move into a larger facility. Today, the museum occupies two full floors of an 18,000-square-foot facility. The museum now contains about 7,500 insects on display in its two floors.

The museum has received news coverage on many talk shows and news programs, including The Tonight Show and Late Night With Dave Letterman. And the Fox TV network is planning a pilot program with insect characters based around the museum. And Kanya says while many visitors to the museum are skeptical of what they will see, once they have toured it, they are “blown away” by the insects displayed there. In addition to thousands of preserved insects, the museum also houses hundreds of live insects and arachnids, including roaches, termites, tarantulas, ants and scorpions.

Kanya opened a gift shop within the museum soon after the Grand Opening of the museum in 1992. The idea for the gift shop, Kanya recalls, came from a curious young visitor who he could not refuse. “A little boy came up to me and tugged on my jacket and said, ‘I have $40. Do you have a gift shop?’ and I said ‘No, but we will have one soon!’”

The success of the gift shop in the past few years is what led to the creation of the Online Bug Store, Kanya said. Everything available in the shop is also available online. Among the most popular items: silk dress ties emblazoned with a variety of insect pests, baseball hats with bug designs, and bright yellow cockroach “crossing” signs. Many of the items were designed by local artists. “We’re selling a little bit of everything,” Kanya says.

Through the new Online Bug Store, the Insectarium hopes to provide both the pest control industry and the public the opportunity to expand its knowledge and fascination with insects through fun, educational products. You can shop at the Online Bug Store anytime, at www.insectarium.com, or by clicking on the link to the Bug Shop within the PCT Online Trade Show. Happy bug shopping!