(photos by Chelsea Stromfeld)
Walking into the “Eww! What’s Eating You?” summer exhibit at the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, very quickly had me itching and twitching. Entering what mirrored a vintage carnival, the public is greeted by an entranceway of eight-foot-tall structures with images of head lice, hookworms and fleas. Talk about inviting!! But by the end, I was intrigued enough to circle the room for two hours.
The exhibit digs into the history and frightening facts of parasites from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt to the creepy critters that use human hosts for feeding territories. The carnival of creatures included both preserved and live specimens presented in creative games, interactive booths and hands-on activities. Created by Dr. M. Lee Goff, who has built an impressive career forensic entomology, this site of parasites is a must-see sight.
Family- and kid-friendly and perfect for those extraordinary children that enjoy learning about body-morphing Guinea worms, rash-causing hookworms, eye-invading Toxocara worms and blood-sucking leaches, the air-conditioned exhibit includes an extensive amount of information regarding the classification, diet and length of the scary ‘sects.
Some of the exhibit highlights include the “Funhouse,” which explores the idea of head lice through the creation of an oversized human scalp with interactive hair follicles, a high-jump striker for children to test their leaping abilities compared to insects like jumping spiders and fleas, and microscopes to inspect tapeworms, planarians and human blood cells.
Although the “Colon Crawl” and showcases of bristle worms and Chilean Rose Hair Tarantulas were not the most appealing areas in the room, the bouncy house and other children’s activities are great for a Saturday afternoon with the family. Just be sure to check your children’s clothing on the way out for any parasites or insects that just couldn’t resist.
Admission to the Science Center, 4801 Dreher Trail N., West Palm Beach, is $15 for adults, $11 for children ages 3 to 12 and $13 for seniors over the age of 60. Children under 3 and Science Center members are free. For more information, call 561/832-1988 or visit sfsciencecenter.org. Like the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium on Facebook and follow it on Twitter @SFScienceCenter.
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About Chelsea
