Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Order a flight of infused ya dong shots.
Tep Bar
Thai-Chinese makes up Bangkok’s largest diaspora.
Nai Ek Roll Noodle
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
7 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
8 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
9 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
10 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States New Jersey Toms River Insectropolis
AO Edited

Insectropolis

A "Bugseum" dedicated to all things insect-related resides behind a pest control company.

Toms River, New Jersey

Added By
Rachel Gould
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Butterflies at Insectropolis in New Jersey.   mriggen/cc by 2.0
Butterflies at Insectropolis in New Jersey.   mriggen/cc by 2.0
Beetle display.   Joe Mabel/cc by-sa 3.0
Butterflies at Insectropolis in New Jersey.   mriggen/cc by 2.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Lovingly known as the "Bugseum of New Jersey," Insectropolis is designed to enlighten visitors about the crucial role these creepy crawlers play in the natural ecosystem. The museum guides visitors through what it calls a “bug-themed city,” complete with thousands of specimens from all reaches of the globe, and live insects that can be observed doing what they do best.

Insectropolis aims to illuminate the world of bugs by upending the misconceptions and aversions held against insects with fun facts about their anatomy, practices, and habitats. Begin your visit at the Bug University, where you'll get a rundown of the basics—how bugs are identified and classified—before moving on to the specifics of their anatomy and how they eat, communicate, interact, and protect themselves from predators.

From there, crawl like a termite through the Mud Tube, and take a gander at the complex society of the honey bee from the Hive Airport. As you make your way through the space, knowledgeable staff will tempt you to touch tarantulas and scorpions with care. 

Insectropolis also provides a cultural context to these ancient creatures, with tales of the revered scarab beetle in Egypt, butterfly folklore of Native American peoples, and Chinese cricket fights. The museum doesn't shy away from the dangerous side of bugs though, such as how they spread disease among humans. The exhibit comes to a close with informative flyers about the West Nile Virus, and offers for a free termite inspection.

Related Tags

Insects Museums Museums And Collections Entomology

Know Before You Go

Insectropolis is located behind Ozane Pest Control. The museum is open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission is $10 for all visitors except for children under 2 years of age. Insectropolis additionally hosts a program of special events, including art shows relating to insect themes, cockroach naming for Valentine’s Day, gardening gatherings, and more. 

Community Contributors

Added By

Rachel Gould

Published

March 18, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.insectropolis.com/aboutthebugseum_ourmission.htm
  • http://www.insectropolis.com/ourexhibits.htm
  • https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11969
Insectropolis
1761 U.S. 9
Toms River, New Jersey
United States
40.014925, -74.216397
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Cathedral of the Air

Manchester Township, New Jersey

miles away

Hindenburg Crash Site

Lakehurst, New Jersey

miles away

Popcorn Park Zoo

Lacey Township, New Jersey

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Jersey

New Jersey

United States

Places 158
Stories 33

Nearby Places

Cathedral of the Air

Manchester Township, New Jersey

miles away

Hindenburg Crash Site

Lakehurst, New Jersey

miles away

Popcorn Park Zoo

Lacey Township, New Jersey

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Jersey

New Jersey

United States

Places 158
Stories 33

Related Stories and Lists

25 Places to Learn to Love Creepy, Crawly Critters

List

By Roxanne Hoorn

25 Places to Really Bug Out

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Chlosyne leanira alma at the Bohart Museum of Entomology

    Davis, California

    Bohart Museum of Entomology

    This museum boasts the ninth-largest collection of insects in North America.

  • Taxidermied butterflies.

    Amherst, Massachusetts

    University of Massachusetts Entomology Collection

    This miniature museum is home to a vast array of insects.

  • Giant ant models on the exterior of the Biology/Physics Building

    Mansfield, Connecticut

    Army Ant Guests Exhibit

    A giant ant model welcomes visitors to an exhibit about symbiotic organisms that live with army ant colonies.

  • The Bee Museum, Rhodes.

    Rhodes, Greece

    Bee Museum of Rhodes

    Learn about the sweet, storied legacy of beekeeping in ancient Greece.

  • Beautifully pinned insects

    Santa Fe, New Mexico

    The Harrell House Bug Museum

    Thousands of mounted insects, and some live ones, hide within an otherwise ordinary shopping mall.

  • Beetles

    Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

    Museo Bichos Querétaro (Querétaro Bugs Museum)

    One man's personal collection of more than 2,000 creepy-crawlies from around the world.

  • One of many beautiful dioramas.

    Pokhara, Nepal

    Annapurna Natural History Museum Butterfly Collection

    Feast your eyes upon hundreds of Nepal's native butterflies and moths.

  • The Museum’s Facade

    Genoa, Italy

    Civic Museum of Natural History Giacomo Doria

    Genoa's collection of over 4 million zoological, botanical, and geological specimens from around the world.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.