Overview

24 booths + graduate student-led Ask a Scientist Cafe
150 faculty, staff, post-doctoral fellows, students
75 community volunteers
5,000 visitors (approx.)

Theme insect

This year’s theme insect was the western hercules beetle, Dynastes grantii. This species is a type of rhinocerus beetle that is native to Arizona and is one of the largest in the US at 5-8 cm long. Males have horns for fighting and females do not. Adults feed on tree sap but are harmless to the tree. Moisture, such as falling rain, causes their grey outer cuticle to turn black.

Press