Humans and bugs — arthropods — have long had a love-hate relationship.

Many children are fascinated with bugs. As they mature, the interest frequently fades and is often replaced with indifference, annoyance or even disgust.

Statements like: “I hate roaches!” “I hate flies!” “I hate mosquitoes!” “I hate spiders!” and, the classic line, “Ahh! Get it off me!” become more common.

While such exclamations will likely remain popular for as long as humans and bugs exist and share space, The University of Alabama’s natural history museum, in partnership with the Tuscaloosa Public Library, is hoping to reignite people’s childlike wonder with bugs at the first “Bama Bug Fest,” a free event at the Warner Transportation Museum July 27 from 4-8 p.m.

“In the last three years we’ve held an event called Moth Fest in association with national Moth Week,” said Dr. John Abbott, director of museum research and collections at UA’s Alabama Museum of Natural History. “So, in trying to promote insects more broadly, we’ve transformed Moth Fest into Bug Fest to take in all sorts of insects and arthropods and share with the public, UA faculty, staff and students just how great bugs are in our lives.”

Abbott said the event will have a multitude of bug-related food, items and activities for all ages featuring ants, butterflies, beetles, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, cicadas, plant-hoppers, roaches, crickets, crustaceans and more.

Learn more about Bama Bug Fest by reading the full article on the UA news site.