Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- September 25, 2007
Great Insect Fair unravels the mysteries of bugs (:50)
[Click here to listen, or right-click to download and save MP3 audio file]
Suggested Intro:
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND AT PENN STATE'S GREAT INSECT FAIR. AND AN ORGANIZER SAYS THE EVENT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR VISITORS TO GET OVER THEIR FEAR OF BUGS. CHUCK GILL HAS DETAILS:
Story:
(:13) SPONSORED BY PENN STATE'S ENTOMOLOGY DEPARTMENT, THE GREAT INSECT FAIR FEATURES INSECT OLYMPICS...LIVE MUSIC...CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES...AN INSECT PETTING ZOO...AND EVEN AN INSECT DELI SERVING CANDIED CRICKETS KNOWN AS "CHOCOLATE CHIRPIES."
(:08) MOST PEOPLE HAVE AN AVERSION TO INSECTS, BUT PENN STATE EXTENSION ENTOMOLOGIST STEVEN JACOBS SAYS THAT ATTITUDE IS REALLY A CULTURAL PHENOMENON:Jacobs Actuality:
(:16) "IN OTHER COUNTRIES THEY ARE MUCH MORE TOLERANT OF PESTS, AND EVEN EAT THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS. HERE, WE TEND TO HAVE A REAL PHOBIA ABOUT INSECTS. WE WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT THERE'S MORE TO INSECTS AND OTHER ARTHROPODS THAN JUST PESTS, AND THAT MOST OF THESE CRITTERS ARE ACTUALLY BENEFICIAL"
(:13) THE GREAT INSECT FAIR WILL BE HELD FROM 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 29 AT THE SNIDER AG ARENA, ON PARK AVENUE ACROSS FROM BEAVER STADIUM ON THE UNIVERSITY PARK CAMPUS. PARKING AND ADMISSION ARE FREE. FROM PENN STATE, I'M CHUCK GILL.
# # #
Learn more:
[AIRWAVES] [STORY INDEX] [NEWS RELEASES] [RELATED LINKS] [HOME]