Members of the Prince Edward 4-H Junior Master Gardeners recently participated in the Hokie Bugfest event on campus at Virginia Tech. 

During this program 4-H members visited exhibits to learn about different types of insects and arachnids. They talked to an insect pathologist, learned about beekeeping and even spoke with a Virginia Tech police officer about how insects can provide useful forensic information during investigations. 

The 4-H members watched a demonstration by “bug chef” and author David George Gordon, of Seattle, and had a chance to sample chocolate-covered crickets. 

Hokie Bugfest is the capstone event for 4-H members involved in entomology projects. Clubs may enter insect collections and have them judged by an expert panel. 

Prince Edward Junior Master Gardeners had been meeting for weeks under the guidance of volunteer Josie Fletcher with members collecting insects, identifying them and pinning them in a display case. The club earned an honorable mention award at Bugfest for their insect collection.