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CRICKETS
Pakistan Carnivorous Desert Cricket
Schizodactylus monstrosus
DRAGONFLIES
Giant Petaltail Dragonfly
Petalura ingentissima
GIANT BEETLES
Macrodontia cervicornis
GRASSHOPPERS
Dragon Headed Grasshopper
Phymateus saxosus
CREEPY CRAWLIES
Scolopendra subspinipes
Archispirostreptus gigas
GIANT WASP
Tarantula Hawk
Pepsis heros
SPIDERS.SCORPIONS
Giant Purple Tarantula
Pamphobateus antinous
STICK INSECTS
Pink Winged Stick Insect
Parapodacanthus hasenpuschorum
Admission Fees:
$2 for 24 hours
$4.95 for 7 days
$14.95 for 1 month
Purchase a one-month admission fee to the online exhibit and receive 10% off a museum membership.
Please note that a portion of admission fees go directly to support SFCM's general program and exhibit development. For more information about the online exhibit, please email children@santafechildrensmuseum.org.
ABOUT THE COLLECTION
The response to Ollie's bug collection at SFCM has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Thousands of visitors have commented that they have not seen a comparable colection at any other museum.
There are 2,400 insects in 30 custom-made display cases. The smallest is 6x9 inches, and the largest is 8 feet tall by 5 feet wide.
Of the 2,400 insects, 550 of these are Santa Fe-area insects found by Ollie and his friends and associates.
The other 1,850 insects were purchased unmounted from 15 different dealers around the world from 1996-2007.
Ollie relaxed, set, and pinned all the specimens himself, after which he composed and arranged each display.
It is vitally important to know that purchasing exotic insects from overseas helps small, poor, local third-world economies, and it supports the tropical rainforests.
Having this collection on display at the SFCM is a great way to educate everyone about the importance of insects.
We must understand that insects are the caretakers of our worldwide environment. They do this instinctively. Humans should return the favor and take care of the environment in kind.
The collection also enables us to appreciate the inherent beauty in nature, and to see life forms about which we otherwise would never know.
Thank you for supporting SFCM, and enjoy the gallery of bugs!
For a $2 admission fee, experience this online gallery of Oliver Greer's incredible insect collection in Santa Fe, New Mexico, brought to you by Santa Fe Children's Museum.
CRICKETSPakistan Carnivorous Desert Cricket
Schizodactylus monstrosus
DRAGONFLIESGiant Petaltail Dragonfly
Petalura ingentissima
GIANT BEETLESMacrodontia cervicornis
GRASSHOPPERSDragon Headed Grasshopper
Phymateus saxosus
CREEPY CRAWLIESScolopendra subspinipes
Archispirostreptus gigas
GIANT WASPTarantula Hawk
Pepsis heros
SPIDERS.SCORPIONSGiant Purple Tarantula
Pamphobateus antinous
STICK INSECTSPink Winged Stick Insect
Parapodacanthus hasenpuschorum
ABOUT THE ONLINE EXHIBIT
This online gallery is made up of 475 images of Oliver Greer's insect collection that has been on display at Santa Fe Children's Museum since May 2011 and will continue as an annual summer exhibition. The online exhibit provides an opportunity to view the collection close up and from angles that are not possible when visiting it in person at SFCM.
To access all 475 images of this online gallery, please click the Enter Exhibit button to pay admission using paypal.
Admission Fees:
$2 for 24 hours
$4.95 for 7 days
$14.95 for 1 month
Purchase a one-month admission fee to the online exhibit and receive 10% off a museum membership.
Please note that a portion of admission fees go directly to support SFCM's general program and exhibit development. For more information about the online exhibit, please email children@santafechildrensmuseum.org.
ABOUT THE COLLECTIONThe response to Ollie's bug collection at SFCM has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Thousands of visitors have commented that they have not seen a comparable colection at any other museum.
There are 2,400 insects in 30 custom-made display cases. The smallest is 6x9 inches, and the largest is 8 feet tall by 5 feet wide.
Of the 2,400 insects, 550 of these are Santa Fe-area insects found by Ollie and his friends and associates.
The other 1,850 insects were purchased unmounted from 15 different dealers around the world from 1996-2007.
Ollie relaxed, set, and pinned all the specimens himself, after which he composed and arranged each display.
It is vitally important to know that purchasing exotic insects from overseas helps small, poor, local third-world economies, and it supports the tropical rainforests.
Having this collection on display at the SFCM is a great way to educate everyone about the importance of insects.
We must understand that insects are the caretakers of our worldwide environment. They do this instinctively. Humans should return the favor and take care of the environment in kind.
The collection also enables us to appreciate the inherent beauty in nature, and to see life forms about which we otherwise would never know.
Thank you for supporting SFCM, and enjoy the gallery of bugs!
ABOUT THE BUG GUY
Oliver Greer has been collecting insects since 1976, when he found a dead wasp in his backyard in Tiburon, California, at age 10. That wasp is still in the collection.
His interest thus stimulated, three years later he became the lab assistant to Dr. David Kistner, the Professor of Entomology at Cal State Chico. Ollie worked there from 1979-1981, and Dr. Kistner taught him the basics of setting and pinning insects.
Ollie set hundreds of specimens for Dr. Kistner, and they went on display at the university's science building. For his work, Dr. Kistner bequeathed to Ollie an enormous beetle called Xixuthrus heros, which has become the crown jewel of the collection.
Then Howard Wurlitzer, a close friend of Ollie's family, gave him some exotic butterflies that Ida Pabst, Howard's adventurous grandmother, had collected in the early 20th century.
When Ollie moved to Santa Fe in 1986, he began finding local insects during his daily stroll to work. During the 23 years he was a chef at an old landmark Santa Fe restaurant, his friends and corworkers brought him insects they found in their homes.
Then in 1996, Ollie started buying unmounted insects from various dealers, and that's how his collection really took off.
From 1998-2004, Ollie took his growing collection to Santa Fe schools 33 times for his friends and coworkers' kids. But when he received his Executive Chef promotion in 2004 (or as he likes to put it, "When I failed upwards..."), he had no more time to show the bugs.
Now that the collection is at the SFCM, everyone can see the bugs there.
In addition to the 2,400 insects on display and featured in this online gallery, Ollie is currently working on 4,600 new specimens. He plans to have the new insects finished and on display in 2013. The online gallery will also be expanded to showcase the new bugs.
What started out as a childhood hobby has become an adult passion. Ollie believes that insects can teach us a thing or two. "We must learn from insects about peaceful coexistence."
Ollie considers himself strictly an amateur entomologist. Working for Dr. Kistner thirty years ago is the only professional experience he has had. All of his knowledge and the advanced level of his skills are self-taught.
He likes to refer to the movie CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND when discussing his collection. Referring to the famous "mashed potato scene," Richard Dreyfus's character explains to his bewildered family in the only way he can, by saying "This means something...this is important."
Ollie feels the same way about his collection: it means something, it is important.
Oliver Greer has been collecting insects since 1976, when he found a dead wasp in his backyard in Tiburon, California, at age 10. That wasp is still in the collection.
His interest thus stimulated, three years later he became the lab assistant to Dr. David Kistner, the Professor of Entomology at Cal State Chico. Ollie worked there from 1979-1981, and Dr. Kistner taught him the basics of setting and pinning insects.
Ollie set hundreds of specimens for Dr. Kistner, and they went on display at the university's science building. For his work, Dr. Kistner bequeathed to Ollie an enormous beetle called Xixuthrus heros, which has become the crown jewel of the collection.
Then Howard Wurlitzer, a close friend of Ollie's family, gave him some exotic butterflies that Ida Pabst, Howard's adventurous grandmother, had collected in the early 20th century.
When Ollie moved to Santa Fe in 1986, he began finding local insects during his daily stroll to work. During the 23 years he was a chef at an old landmark Santa Fe restaurant, his friends and corworkers brought him insects they found in their homes.
Then in 1996, Ollie started buying unmounted insects from various dealers, and that's how his collection really took off.
From 1998-2004, Ollie took his growing collection to Santa Fe schools 33 times for his friends and coworkers' kids. But when he received his Executive Chef promotion in 2004 (or as he likes to put it, "When I failed upwards..."), he had no more time to show the bugs.
Now that the collection is at the SFCM, everyone can see the bugs there.
In addition to the 2,400 insects on display and featured in this online gallery, Ollie is currently working on 4,600 new specimens. He plans to have the new insects finished and on display in 2013. The online gallery will also be expanded to showcase the new bugs.
What started out as a childhood hobby has become an adult passion. Ollie believes that insects can teach us a thing or two. "We must learn from insects about peaceful coexistence."
Ollie considers himself strictly an amateur entomologist. Working for Dr. Kistner thirty years ago is the only professional experience he has had. All of his knowledge and the advanced level of his skills are self-taught.
He likes to refer to the movie CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND when discussing his collection. Referring to the famous "mashed potato scene," Richard Dreyfus's character explains to his bewildered family in the only way he can, by saying "This means something...this is important."
Ollie feels the same way about his collection: it means something, it is important.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ONLINE EXHIBIT, EMAIL CHILDREN@SANTAFECHILDRENSMUSEUM.ORG...
