On the morning of June 27, 2026, the Kunming Animal Museum at the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) opened its latest thematic exhibition, "Explore the Insect Kingdom." The opening ceremony brought together over fifty insect enthusiasts and featured remarks by Yang Darong, Honorary President of the Yunnan Entomological Society and researcher at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, along with Xiong Jiang, a researcher from KIZ and council member of the CAS Kunming Branch Association of Senior Scientists and Technicians. Other attendees included KIZ researcher Li Xueyan, Xu Xiaolu from the Office of Research Development, and Wu Libin, Deputy Director of the Museum.

Following the opening ceremony, Xiong Jiang and Yang Darong shared stories from their early careers in insect research, while Li Xueyan delivered a lively popular science lecture on insects for students in attendance. The exhibition features an extensive collection of rare specimens and live insects, offering visitors a comprehensive look into the remarkable world of insects.

Yunnan is home to over half of China's known insect species, making it a veritable "insect kingdom." The exhibition traces the evolutionary journey of insects spanning hundreds of millions of years and clarifies taxonomic distinctions by displaying arthropod relatives such as spiders, centipedes, and crabs alongside true insects. Highlights include nationally protected specimens: the golden-armored beetle (Cheirotonus gestroi), the Chinese tiger swallowtail butterfly (Luehdorfia chinensis), and the Yunnan leaf insect (Phyllium yunnanense), each showcasing unique survival strategies. The national first-class protected golden Kaiser-i-Hind butterfly (Teinopalpus aureus) is also on prominent display.

The live insect section offers particularly engaging experiences: visitors can observe the complete metamorphosis of the common bluebottle butterfly, the ambush tactics of the orchid mantis, a representative "ant kingdom" colony, and other live specimens. The exhibition explains how different mouthparts, legs, and wings equip insects with diverse feeding and locomotion abilities, and introduces the roles insects play in agriculture, medicine, scientific research, and ecosystem maintenance.

The exhibition is a permanent installation, with guided tours available by appointment. The Museum also plans to host "Explore the Insect Kingdom" science exploration activities and release popular science videos and photo features to share the survival wisdom of insects with the public.

Exhibition