The Montreal Insectarium is the largest insect museum in North America and one of the largest in the world. Opened in 1990, the museum proudly displays both live and dead bugs.
The primary aim of the museum is to educate the public on the importance of bugs to the world ecological systems. The museum also focuses on scientific research. Visitors can see, touch and even taste some of the world's most intriquing insects.
4581 Sherbrooke Est
Montréal, Québec
Telephone:(514) 872-1400
Visit the Montreal Insectarium
While in the area, visit other nearby museums via the free shuttle service between the Insectarium, Botanical Garden, Olympic Park, Biodôme and Viau metro station.
Take advantage of the three day Montreal Museums Pass available at the Insectarium that gives you free access to 32 museums and major attractions starting at $35.00.
The live insect displays are divided by world ecosystems in the Diversity Room and include such specialties as the giant desert hairy scorpion and the Hercules beetle. The focus of this collection is how insects adapt to survive to their environments.
More than 75 vivariums showcase everything from the common bumblebees, honeybees and anthills to the diving beetles and the Indonesian walking stick insects, that are part of a permanent collection of stick insects from around the world.
The mounted insect collections contain over 144,000 species, a valuable resource for identifying anthropods.
Insect tastings, "Butterflies go Free" and the "Monarch Odyssey" are three of the Montreal Insectarium's most popular annual events.
In 2009, "Butterflies go Free" takes place between February 9th and April 26th. While the last two weeks of August are devoted to The Monarch Odyssey. From 9 to 5, Thursday to Sunday, guides are available to show off the special collections such has the annual Hallowe'en creepy spiders exhibit.