Are you familiar with Insect Lore? They are the original Butterflies by mail company selling butterfly habitats where you can watch your butterflies metamorphosis from a little caterpillar to a beautiful winged insect. I had no idea but the company actually started in the San Joaquin Valley just a short drive from Bakersfield in a town called Shafter. It was founded by an entomologist named Carlos White whose love of insects inspired him to develop kits that would allow children and other bug lovers to witness the life of a butterfly. Since 1965 Insect Lore has expanded their bug lineup, you can now purchase ant, ladybug, silkworm and even frog kits. In addition they sell bug catchers, viewers and several other fun science related kits and toys. Earlier this week Penelope and I made the short trip to visit the Insect Lore store and their Bugseum. Penelope loves all creepy crawlies, well most of them, spiders are the exception, so I knew she was going to love this place. Here are a few pictures of her visiting with her buggy friends.

Insect Lore Shafter, CA

Butterflies!

Ants!

Checking the bugs out up close...

Spiders!

The only spider she will touch, a dead one...

Try and find me!

Bugs bugs everywhere

Eeewww!

Petting the cute Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, awww.

I see you...

Look twins!

Scorpion!

More pretty butterflies...

I can't wait till we are settled in our new home I plan to buy a few of Insect Lore's kits for Penelope to have fun with.