The 2023 National Insect Expo is crawling closer, and exhibitors from Australia and New Zealand are preparing to descend on Woodend like moths to a flame.
This year’s expo is expected to attract about 12,000 visitors and 60 national exhibitors to the Woodend Buffalo Sports Stadium from September 22 to 24.
Expo director Bert Candusio said the phone has been ringing off the hook since February from people wanting to be involved.
“The response from all 32 exhibitors and over 6000 people who attended last year’s expo event was absolutely amazing so we planned early to give an even greater expo this year,” he said.
“This year’s National Insect Expo is bound to enthral each and every visitor with a vast array of insect themed displays.
“[These range] from rare collections of insects to specialist breeders of all sorts of amazing creatures related to insects [like] spiders, scorpions, millipedes, snails and more.”
Mr Candusio said there is an important conservation message the expo is trying to teach the public.
“Insects and their relatives are the key component of every terrestrial land ecosystem. They form the basis of all food chains and all other well known animals rely on them.
“If you want to preserve the koala, start by preserving its habitat and the parasitic wasps that control lerp insects that cause tree die-back.”
The expo will also include insect collections, insect research projects, spider breeding methods, and there will be free special give-aways for younger children.
The expo will run from 10am to 5pm, with tickets available at the door or online. Details: cvric.com.au/expo-2023.
