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Zoo InternQuest is a seven-week career exploration program for San Diego County high school juniors and seniors. Students have the unique opportunity to meet professionals working for the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and Institute for Conservation Research, learn about their jobs, and then blog about their experience online. Follow their adventures here on the Zoo’s website!
For our second day interns met with Ester Chang, one of the Zoo’s Senior Insect Keepers. Ms. Chang is one of the keepers who is fortunate to work with exotic invertebrates from around the globe. Ms. Chang talked to us about how the Zoo receives their insects and how insects help the world around us.
[caption id="attachment_115251" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
As we walked into the insect house, we were greeted by Ms. Chang who encouraged us to walk around, and look at some of the unique invertebrates that the Zoo houses. The largest enclosure is that of the leafcutter ants. In the back of the exhibit, there are cameras pointed at areas where the ants tend to be so visitors can get a closer look.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115256" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Many of the Zoo’s insects are from other zoos or from foreign countries such as Malaysia. The Zoo will usually collaborate with zoos from all over the nation to trade insects between facilities. The Zoo may also order their insects from collectors who are located in foreign countries. For instance, this insect is the Peruvian fire stick, which is native to the Peruvian rainforests.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115252" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
In front of the ant exhibit, Ms. Chang spoke to us about her job, and the many invertebrates in her care. Ms. Chang originally majored in English and had minored in Entomology. It was her internships with insects that cemented her love and passion. One piece of advice she gave is that you must be curious about insects because many, like the ants shown above, do not show their emotions, but do so in their behavioral patterns.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115255" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Once Ms. Chang finished answering our many questions, she invited us to make our way behind the scenes where all the action happens. Before we went in the back we had to pass through a series of doors. Within these doors, we had to check for any insects that could possibly be on us.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115253" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
In the room behind all the exhibits are more insects that are not currently on exhibit. Each enclosure had plants matching the insect’s diet or native needs for protection or perch, which is a branch or plant that an invertebrate may rest upon. Many of the exhibits even had large lamps that are used to recreate the insects' native habitats.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115250" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Behind the scenes, to the right of the main enclosure is another ant colony that the Zoo does not currently have on display. Both colonies’ queens are eight years of age and are interchangeable for the exhibit. When colonies are exchanged all the ants of one colony must be taken out of the exhibit because they can only survive under guidance of their original queen. They are moved around if one colony seems to be having a hard time in the public exhibit or is showing that the plants do not match their needs.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115259" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Ms. Chang then asked if we would like to see some of the insects up close. We, of course, agreed although some of us were a bit hesitant. Ms. Chang told us that the stigma against insects was most likely caused by our instinctual fear of animals that can be poisonous and venomous, and additionally, pop culture. Many monsters in large blockbuster movies are based off insects. This gives us the impression that insects are horrible creatures when really they help us enormously without us knowing. This is the New Guinea spiny stick which is quite large once you see the comparison to her hand, but it was not harmful… just a little breathtaking.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115257" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
This is the jungle nymph, which is one of the heaviest insects second only to a species of beetle. It is not a praying mantis like many of us thought at first glance. It has small, leathery wings on its back that it allowed us each to touch without becoming irritated. Ms. Chang told us that she usually interacts with the insects to move them in their enclosures. Often times, they may have to be moved while she is tidying their habitat or trying to set down their next meal.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115258" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
The last invertebrate we were able to handle was the Puerto Rican Millipedes. These small millipedes were passed around in a circle as the millipede walked from hand to hand. It felt as though velcro was lightly passing over your hand, and it was amazing to see all their legs moving so swiftly. Our time with Ms. Chang opened our eyes to the bug world and showed us that insects shouldn’t be looked at as disgusting. Instead, we should be more open-minded to learning more about these unique invertebrates. One important takeaway from our meeting with Ms. Chang is that you don’t have to love insects, but just know, we wouldn’t be here without them.[/caption]
Alicia, Photo Team
Week One, Winter Session 2016
As we walked into the insect house, we were greeted by Ms. Chang who encouraged us to walk around, and look at some of the unique invertebrates that the Zoo houses. The largest enclosure is that of the leafcutter ants. In the back of the exhibit, there are cameras pointed at areas where the ants tend to be so visitors can get a closer look.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115256" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Many of the Zoo’s insects are from other zoos or from foreign countries such as Malaysia. The Zoo will usually collaborate with zoos from all over the nation to trade insects between facilities. The Zoo may also order their insects from collectors who are located in foreign countries. For instance, this insect is the Peruvian fire stick, which is native to the Peruvian rainforests.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115252" align="aligncenter" width="400"] In front of the ant exhibit, Ms. Chang spoke to us about her job, and the many invertebrates in her care. Ms. Chang originally majored in English and had minored in Entomology. It was her internships with insects that cemented her love and passion. One piece of advice she gave is that you must be curious about insects because many, like the ants shown above, do not show their emotions, but do so in their behavioral patterns.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115255" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Once Ms. Chang finished answering our many questions, she invited us to make our way behind the scenes where all the action happens. Before we went in the back we had to pass through a series of doors. Within these doors, we had to check for any insects that could possibly be on us.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115253" align="aligncenter" width="400"] In the room behind all the exhibits are more insects that are not currently on exhibit. Each enclosure had plants matching the insect’s diet or native needs for protection or perch, which is a branch or plant that an invertebrate may rest upon. Many of the exhibits even had large lamps that are used to recreate the insects' native habitats.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115250" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Behind the scenes, to the right of the main enclosure is another ant colony that the Zoo does not currently have on display. Both colonies’ queens are eight years of age and are interchangeable for the exhibit. When colonies are exchanged all the ants of one colony must be taken out of the exhibit because they can only survive under guidance of their original queen. They are moved around if one colony seems to be having a hard time in the public exhibit or is showing that the plants do not match their needs.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115259" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ms. Chang then asked if we would like to see some of the insects up close. We, of course, agreed although some of us were a bit hesitant. Ms. Chang told us that the stigma against insects was most likely caused by our instinctual fear of animals that can be poisonous and venomous, and additionally, pop culture. Many monsters in large blockbuster movies are based off insects. This gives us the impression that insects are horrible creatures when really they help us enormously without us knowing. This is the New Guinea spiny stick which is quite large once you see the comparison to her hand, but it was not harmful… just a little breathtaking.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115257" align="aligncenter" width="300"] This is the jungle nymph, which is one of the heaviest insects second only to a species of beetle. It is not a praying mantis like many of us thought at first glance. It has small, leathery wings on its back that it allowed us each to touch without becoming irritated. Ms. Chang told us that she usually interacts with the insects to move them in their enclosures. Often times, they may have to be moved while she is tidying their habitat or trying to set down their next meal.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_115258" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The last invertebrate we were able to handle was the Puerto Rican Millipedes. These small millipedes were passed around in a circle as the millipede walked from hand to hand. It felt as though velcro was lightly passing over your hand, and it was amazing to see all their legs moving so swiftly. Our time with Ms. Chang opened our eyes to the bug world and showed us that insects shouldn’t be looked at as disgusting. Instead, we should be more open-minded to learning more about these unique invertebrates. One important takeaway from our meeting with Ms. Chang is that you don’t have to love insects, but just know, we wouldn’t be here without them.[/caption]
Alicia, Photo Team
Week One, Winter Session 2016
