Nova Scotians and insect enthusiasts of all ages will have an opportunity to check out bugs like never before.

The Museum of Natural History will be the first Canadian venue to host Bugs: Outside the Box, an exhibit on loan from Outhouse Exhibit Services.

Opening Saturday, Feb. 8, it presents a selection of greatly enlarged insect sculptures, each showcasing the often hidden beauty of the natural world.

“The Museum of Natural History is the place to go to learn about all kinds of creatures that are important to science and necessary in the natural world,” said Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Tony Ince. “The displays and sculptures featured in Bugs: Outside the Box are larger than life, making it both fun and interesting, especially for children.”

Outhouse Exhibit Services has teamed up with Italian sculptor and naturalist Lorenzo Possenti of Ecofauna to create the travelling exhibit. The detailed works showcase the marriage of art and science.

“The connection between the art and science is great to see,” said Paul Nelson, Outhouse Exhibit Services. “The unexpected artistry and beauty of insects can usually only be fully appreciated under a magnifying glass, but the enlarged bugs let you see the beauty in the details.”

Cleverly camouflaged or flamboyant in their displays, insects’ diminutive size frequently keeps them from attracting people’s attention. The sculptures on display include butterflies with five foot wingspans and beetles that are four feet long. Intricate details not visible to the naked eye are showcased alongside educational topics, including a look at museum collections and taxonomy, and an exploration of the power of magnification.

The exhibit will be open until May 19. For more information, visit http://naturalhistory.novascotia.ca .

Source: Release