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About Bug Lab

We bugs are some of evolution’s greatest geniuses – the true leaders of this planet.

Your most advanced science has been ours for millions of years. Mind control, swarm intelligence, precision flight … we bugs did it all first. How do you humans really compare?

Meet our bug masters

Enter the ‘operating theatre’ of the iridescent jewel wasp, and witness her turn a cockroach into a zombie – to feed the kids of course. She’s a devoted mum, and a killer brain surgeon. Can you match her precision?

Then head to the hive because the bees are under attack. Can you work together to defeat the giant hornet? Be ready to sweat.

And there’s more: aerial acrobatics, looks that kill, and explosive action from a beetle’s rear end.

Engineering cutting-edge technology

We bugs are built for success. What would your future look like if you could match our brilliance?

We’ve selected some of humankind’s best bio-inspiration efforts. Drones based on insect flight, life-saving medicine made from venom, new body parts printed from spider silk … It’s not science fiction, it’s science!

On 10 December, our world comes to yours. You’ll never see us the same way again.

See the unbelievable. Only at Te Papa.

Education

STEM education is at the heart of Bug Lab. The latest bug science, bug-inspired nanotechnology – it’s all here, and it’s all hands-on. Māori perspectives on insects also feature, and the Debate Space lets you have your say about current topics: eating bugs, eradicating mosquitos, and beyond.