BUGmobile
Meet our insects on the move
The Columbus BUGmobile is Ohio State’s mobile insect zoo —an Airstream camper transformed into a hands-on classroom, museum, zoo and lab. We bring live arthropods and insect education to schools, libraries, community events and groups across the mid-Ohio region.
Request a visit
What to expect
Support the BUGmobile
A hands-on way to meet the tiny creatures that shape our world
Where else can you meet a desert millipede, an Australian walkingstick or a Madagascar hissing cockroach — and even hold one if you’d like?
The BUGmobile helps children and adults look closer, ask better questions and feel more comfortable around insects and other arthropods. If today's learners can be anywhere, science education can travel, too. Through guided, hands-on learning, visitors can replace myths with facts and discover why these small animals matter to ecosystems, food systems and everyday life.
Looking for the Wooster Bug Zoo?
Educational fun for audiences of all ages
Schools and classrooms
Libraries and programs
Community events
Youth groups and clubs
Nervous about bugs? You are welcome here.
You do not have to love bugs to enjoy the BUGmobile. Many visitors start out unsure, curious or even nervous. Our educators help each person learn at their own pace. You can look closely, ask questions and decide how hands-on you want to be.
See what to expectFrequently asked questions
Before you fill out our visit form, it helps if you know what kind of visit you'd like. Are you asking for the BUGmobile to appear at an event? We'll need some more details. We ask for the number of attendees, age ranges, dates and times, plus any topics or curriculum you'd like to request. If there are any special needs we should accommodate, you have a space to outline that request.
Requests should be made at least a month in advance if possible.
Our BUGmobile is suitable for learners of all ages, from babies to nonegenarians! Our education specialists can help guide your visit based on group size and needs. Learn more on our What to Expect page.
Hands-on encounters are part of many scheduled programs and open houses, but you never have to hold an insect to enjoy your visit. Visitors can look, ask questions and participate at their own comfort level.
We're happy to answer your questions about accessibility and address any mobility or sensory needs during your visit. Please email Jeni Ruisch, ruisch.2@osu.edu or call 614-247-4776.
If you find the BUGmobile at an event or out in the community, there's no cost to walk through our exhibit.
For BUGmobile visit requests at your school or event, we do have fees associated with a visit to help cover the cost of raising and caring for our animals, developing our learning materials, and mileage. Please see our BUGmobile Visit Fees page for more information.
The story
The BUGmobile began with a shared idea: create a mobile space where Ohioans could meet arthropods, ask questions and experience science in a new way. Support from alumni Daryl and industry partners helped launch the project to create a one-of-a-kind outreach space.
The source
The BUGmobile is supported by the Museum of Biological Diversity Insectary in Columbus. The Insectary team cares for arthropods used in education, outreach and research, giving visitors a safe and engaging way to learn from living collections.