Campus Life

Hidden Gems: Frost Entomological Museum

The collections at the Frost Entomological Museum include a variety of specimens, from invasive species to those native to the United States, like the king swallowtail butterfly shown here. Collections in the museum are used for research, education and outreach, alongside displays and exhibits. Credit: Frost Entomological Museum. All Rights Reserved.

"Hidden Gems" is a new ongoing series highlighting many of the places and experiences available across Penn State to the campus and local communities. Have a suggestion? Email your Hidden Gem to news@psu.edu to be considered for publication in this series.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The wide world of insects is open for exploration at the Frost Entomological Museum at Penn State. Visitors to the facilities can get up-close and personal with weird and wonderful creatures from around the world, ranging from Pennsylvania pollinators to fossils or invasive species.

The museum, open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m during the week, offers a glimpse at the hard work done by entomologists every day. That includes exhibits on how to collect insect specimens, the use of natural history collections in education and outreach, and the history of the museum itself. Special events like Penn State's Night at the Museum, the Great Insect Fair and Parents and Families Weekend offer extended hours to explore the collections.

Undergraduate students can enroll for internships through the Frost museum, as well as independent research within the collections. Effective fall 2024, the museum will launch a new course, "ENT 320: Insect Natural History and Collections," to examine insect natural history. The museum also offers opportunities for volunteers to assist in preservation and collection work.

Last Updated February 29, 2024