Our Crowdfunding Groups
Although our giving page is no longer active, you can still donate. If you would like to provide any additional support to our project, please do so here.
The Bug Zoo is a diverse collection of live Arthropods for the purposes of education and outreach with the mission to promote awareness, dispel myths and ignite curiosity in the unseen world of Arthropods.
Entomology's Bug Zoo is currently located on the Ohio State CFAES Wooster Campus, in a space that doubles as the department's conference room, in a building constructed in the 1920s! With your help our "BugZooWoo" dreams will be realized by creating an expanded and more dynamic Bug Zoo within a dedicated space in the New Science building at the center of CFAES Wooster campus in late Autumn 2020. Check out our live construction feed here!
Although the Department of Entomology is providing basic funding for the renovation, gifts to our Buckeye Funder will secure long-term enhancements which better facilitate an interactive experience through staff, displays and outreach. Further, the permanent displays will be of a higher quality, and thus no need to replace in the near future.
"BugZooWoo" has more than 45 unique Insect and Arachnid Arthropod species, including some of the most impressive: Australian walking sticks, Hercules beetles, giant millipedes, bird-eating tarantulas and 9 species of exotic cockroaches! Program Coordinator, Jeni Filbrun, maintains this collection under the direction of Entomology Chair: Dr. Jamie Strange, Associate Chair: Dr. Andy Michel and Program Director: Denise Ellsworth.
An unfortunate reality is that many people fear bugs, creating the inability to appreciate and understand the significant contributions Arthropods have on the health of our planet. The BugZooWoo's collection of live animals are accessible and presented in a non-threatening way, allowing people of all ages to explore even the smallest wonders of nature in a safe environment, and enticing budding young entomologists into the exciting field of Entomology.
$50 helps the BugZooWoo purchase enough fresh fruits and vegetables for one day and enable visitors to "hatch" ideas of insect importance!
$100 fuels the BugZooWoo with new insect collections to excite visitors with the desire to learn more about the world of insects and allows us to develop a garden full of host plants that will provide leaves for the hungry collection.
$250 transforms old, outdated glass displays to new and dynamic vivariums that offer the animals a healthy environment and visitors a chance to get up close and personal with them (even when physically distanced) to learn how insects rule the world!
$500 allows the BugZooWoo to spread its wings and fly to new levels of high quality education for visitors young and young at heart as we hope to raise funds to add microscopes and large screens to project the importance of insects!
$1,000 transports the BugZooWoo from the collection of static displays to a new level of interactive learning which gives visitors the ability to travel many miles without leaving Ohio!
Since 1963, President’s Club has recognized the most loyal and generous donors to The Ohio State University. These donors offer their philanthropic and leadership support and share a continuing commitment to this great institution.
