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Catching the insect bug: Insect Ambassadors spread their fascination with the six-legged world

July 11, 2007

When he was in seventh grade, Mike Hillstrom was happiest when he was playing with bugs.

A dozen years later, it’s still true. But now the bugs are a lot bigger and more exotic. And technically, he’s not just playing.

Mike Hillstrom, a fourth-year graduate student in entomology

Mike Hillstrom, a fourth-year graduate student in entomology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, coordinates the student-run Insect Ambassadors program, which brings K-12 students and other community groups face-to-face with crawly critters such as the Madagascar hissing cockroach Hillstrom holds here.

Photo: B. Wolfgang Hoffmann

Hillstrom, a fourth-year graduate student in entomology, is doing everything he can to help a new generation of kids catch the insect bug. As coordinator of the Insect Ambassadors, a student-run program based in the UW–Madison entomology department, he helps teach the public – especially kids – about insects and the vital role they play in our environment.

"Everybody has a concept of what an insect is, but it usually just relates to the four insects that bother them," says Hillstrom, a native of Neenah, Wis. "So it’s good to get out there and teach people about all the important things insects are doing."

Insect Ambassadors are undergraduate or graduate students, most of whom are studying in the entomology department. In presentations to area schools and community groups, the students give a brief introduction to insects and then display cases of mounted specimens. But the real fun begins when the Ambassadors bring out the live bugs, including Madagascar hissing cockroaches and walking sticks from Southeast Asia.

"Kids love playing with the live insects," explains Hillstrom. "And it gets (them) to open their minds about insects – that every insect isn’t scary and gross."

“Three-quarters of all animal species on the planet are insects. They play an incredibly important role in humans’ lives, both culturally and economically. It’s a great opportunity to teach and learn. But really, I’m always happy to go out and play with cockroaches or walking sticks with kids.”

Mike Hillstrom, graduate student in entomology

The program was created nine years ago and has been growing in popularity ever since. Insect Ambassadors started out giving only one or two presentations per semester; now they’re giving upwards of 15 to 20. Every presentation generates more requests – some from out of state.

"You’ll do a presentation one year for a single teacher with a class of 30, and then the next year, it’s hers and two other classrooms," says Hillstrom. "And they in turn tell other people, and suddenly it’s 600 kids and eight presentations and ‘Can you just come for the whole day?’ "

Hillstrom thinks all this positive buzz about insects is wonderful, and just what the insects deserve.

"Three-quarters of all animal species on the planet are insects," he says. "They play an incredibly important role in humans’ lives, both culturally and economically. It’s a great opportunity to teach and learn.

"But really, I’m always happy to go out and play with cockroaches or walking sticks with kids."