This is really bugging me!

Gotcha! I'm not really going to have a whinge, I've been going through photos from when JJ was here and completely forgot to post about the Siam Insect Zoo...which is on the way to Maesa Elephant Camp.

The zoo/museum is a small affair which appeared to be somewhat family run. The owner/collector happily filled us in on some of the non dead creeping, crawling displays on show, inside the building. Regrettably, many of the photos weren't up to par because of the protective glass.

Note the two butterflies on the right, one male, impaled on a pretty pink sewing pin and one female. Now look at the butterfly on the left. Half male, half female, or super glue?

Gynandromorph can and does occur in butterflies and moths, but it's extremely rare.

What can I say, except there was case after case of beautiful Lepidopteras and prehistoric looking bugs....and it's at about this time...

...that my dear, long time friend reminds me of the day I collected ALREADY DECEASED Christmas and metallic looking beetles OK, I confess...and some large shiny flies too to decorate my Aussie Bush Christmas Wreath. Hey! it looked great and thanks for bringing it up. It would have looked even more festive if I'd had these on hand.



From the dead exhibits we moved outside to the live displays, where a lovely young lady opened screened cage doors and lifted up lids on pots to reveal their wriggling, jumping, hopping contents. And, I have no idea why this one isn't stinging her...clearly I was not paying attention didn't know how to ask.

A Stick insect, trying his darndest to blend in with a garden steak.

The zoo also rears their own food grubs, worms and smaller critters for the live exhibits and has on show, insects in their various stages of egg, cocoon, larvae, pupa and caterpillar and so on. 

Leaf nests

I've seen a lizard that looks like a snake before, a Legless lizard, but his little guy looks like a snake with legs. Any ideas? Not quite sure what he's doing at an insect zoo.

From the undercover area we moved into the live butterfly aviaries, but, I must admit I was paying more attention to the plants...they were easier to spot.

Just an innocent game of reverse leapfrog, I'm sure!

If you're in the Mae Rim area or just really, really like insects, visit the Siam Insect Zoo website for more details on their whereabouts and the residents.

Snap's other blog Chiang Mai Thai