Our museums will be closed until further notice to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Our first priority is the well-being and safety of our guests, staff and volunteers. Stay up to date with NHMLAC's response to COVID-19. Nuestros museos estarán cerrados hasta nuevo aviso para minimizar la propagación del COVID-19. Ve la respuesta de NHMLAC ante el coronavirus (COVID-19).

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Bugs

Exhibitions

Macrophotograph of Mantisfly, Genus Plega. Photo by Lisa Gonzalez.

Spiky, Hairy, Shiny: Insects of L.A.

Coming soon!

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Nature Lab

Live animals and hands-on interactives show you L.A.’s wild side.

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Discovery Center

Dig for dinosaurs, wonder at live insects, and organize your own diorama.

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Yellow and black malachite butterfly resting on purple flower

Butterfly Pavilion

Watch butterflies take flight around you in this seasonal exhibition.

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A really close up portrait of a beautiful green Lynx Spider against a pink background

Spider Pavilion

Walk among spiders and their magnificent webs in this unique, open-air experience.

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Stories

Explore the Wild Outside

When yards and gardens become more wildlife friendly, the experience can be magical

Itsy-Bitsy Made Big

Our Insect Expert Trains Her Lens on the Tiny

Mind-Blown Science: The Ant-decapitating Fly

Violence in the insect world: a new type of ant decapitation

Oak Wasp Galls

Let me introduce you to a tiny parasitic wasp that makes a unique nursery for its offspring.

Be a SuperProject Hero

In Los Angeles, you can find nature in some unexpected places. NHM's SuperProject keeps track with help from the community.

Green-eyed insect with black and white striped abdomen on a baccharis flower.

Not Another Boring Bush

Maiz Connolly shares her macro photos of wild behavior on the coyote bush

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Entomology

With over 800,000 described species—more than half of all known living organisms—insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth.

Community Science

Community science (sometimes called citizen science) mobilizes volunteers to work alongside scientists to help answer questions about the world.

students kids classroom activities education resources

Offsite Resources

BioSCAN

This first-of-its-kind scientific investigation is discovering and exploring biodiversity in and around one of the world’s largest cities: Los Angeles.