Monday was Bugmobile Day at Curtis Memorial Library. Using a hands-on approach and live specimens, Emma Balazs of the Chewonki Foundation explained the unique characteristics of bugs.

After introductions, Balazs prepped the kids about how to treat their creepy little friends tucked away in the tote behind her, letting kids know if they didn’t want to meet a hairy tarantula, they could simply hold up their hand as a “stop sign” — very few opted out.

With a staff of about four to five depending on the time of year, Balazs said they run a pretty tight schedule with 21 presentations across the state this week alone.

“This is one of many presentations that we do as part of Chewonki’s traveling natural history programs,” Balazs said.

The kids who attended, about 25 in each of two groups, were already quite astute entomologists — breaking into a rendition of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” changed to “Head, Thorax, Abdomen — Six Legs,” without even being cued.

Balazs said Chewonki runs many programs out of their Wiscasset campus but this one takes staff all over the state with small presentations in classrooms during the school year and large gatherings in libraries, campgrounds and resorts in the summer.

Although Maine has no lack of insects, Balazs’ guests were considerably larger than the average spider you have hanging around your porch.

With a walking stick from Vietnam, a tarantula and a millipede, Balazs didn’t come with anything smaller than the size of an adult hand.

Balazs said her bugs were more exciting than native species and better for viewing — especially for children who are more intrigued than adults, a few of whom squirmed as the bugs were shown around the room.

“Usually we get to teach people a little more about bugs than they already know,” Balazs said.

As part of the interactive lesson, Balazs had volunteers dress up, one as a fly and since the presentation also includes crustaceans, a lobster.

Balazs said the presentations with creepy crawlies are usually a big hit with the kids.

“A lot of kids, when they’re young, don’t have any preconceived notions. They don’t have these ideas of certain animals being bad or undesirable to interact with so they all get really excited to see them for the most part. It’s usually folks who are older who have the aversion to them for whatever reasons,” Balazs said.

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