The Insect Hall exhibits approximately 10,000 insects, representing over 2,600 species. The exhibition is divided into two parts: systematic and zoogeographical.
The systematic part of the exhibit is designed to demonstrate the variety of insects, arranged in their systematic order. This ranges from the earliest forms, including dragonflies, mayflies, and cockroaches, up to the most evolutionarily advanced insects like flies and wasps. Overall, 18 insect orders are represented in this section of the exhibition.
This hall features biological groups of insects, including beetles, butterflies, Hymenoptera, dragonflies, and Orthoptera, with exhibits designed to illustrate their unique behaviors and habitats.
The displays also feature some of the world’s most impressive insects, such as the Hercules beetle, the Goliath beetle, the Atlas moth, and the thorny stick insect.
In addition to the systematic insect exhibit, we also present the zoogeographical distribution of butterflies. The Australian, Ethiopian, Indomalayan, and Holarctic realms are represented by some of the most colorful and beautiful members of this order. The Australian realm display stands out with its enormous, vibrant birdwing butterflies.
A significant portion of the Neotropical exhibit is dedicated to the butterfly collection of entomologist Alfonsas Palionis, gathered during an expedition to Brazil in 1931.
We feature a collection of wild Lithuanian bees, showcasing over 140 different species of these Hymenoptera. Visitors can also view nests of social insects and explore the Lithuanian butterfly collection donated by Vitalijus Bačianskas, which includes more than 400 different butterfly species.
The hall also features two dioramas: “Beneficial Lithuanian Insects” and “Insects in Various Biotopes.”
