Gallery Talk

A collection of pinned butterflies and moths.
February 2, 2017

This Thursday’s EVO group got to do something unusual: a trip upstairs to see a gallery talk on entomology! Led by one of the Peabody’s lepidopterists (a person who studies butterflies and moths), the talk introduced us to just a few of the museum’s millions of specimens. 

If you’re surprised to hear about insects at the Peabody (since there aren’t many on display), there’s a reason - when exposed to light, insects often fade and begin to lose their magnificent color. Usually, all of these specimens are kept behind the scenes in our entomology lab and are rarely seen by the general public, so it was a special treat to witness all of those vibrant hues!