Insect Agency

This exhibition has now closed.

Recommended for all ages

Queensland Museum Tropics. Map

Ticks no longer available for sale.

Insects are everywhere, in a mind-blowing diversity of shapes, colours and species.

Insect Agency, an exhibition developed by Queensland Museum, explores the surprising variety of ways insects do good - for the planet and humanity.

From maintaining healthy ecosystems, pollinating our crops, to providing inspiration for new technologies, they are six-legged superheroes.

Discover more than 1,000 insect specimens, from the tiniest wasps to brightly coloured butterflies, dracula ants, dung beetles and stick insects
Experience nearly all 349 species of Queensland butterflies on display – which make up more than 75% of Australia’s 450 or so butterfly species
Learn about the Dracula Ant, whose jaws can snap shut at a speed of 320 kilometres per hour!
Discover the internal structure of a Giant Bull Ant nest cast in aluminium especially for the exhibition – highlighting that ants (and termites) are our underground ecosystem engineers
Test your skills with Metamorphosis Match and learn all about insect life cycles!
Get interactive with our digital Bug Builder and Insect Sorter games.
Feature your flutter with our exclusive in-exhibition photo opportunity and quadroscope!

Get up-close and personal with insects at Queensland Museum Tropics.

This exhibition is supported by the Entomological Society of Queensland.

A jewel beetle, Pseudotaenia frenchi. Image: Queensland Museum, Geoff Thompson
Male Richmond Birdwing butterfly, Ornithoptera richmondia. Image: Queensland Museum, Geoff Thompson
A jewel beetle, Pseudotaenia frenchi. Image: Queensland Museum, Geoff Thompson
Male Richmond Birdwing butterfly, Ornithoptera richmondia. Image: Queensland Museum, Geoff Thompson