PICAYUNE, Miss. -- Students and families can explore and celebrate the insect world during the Crosby Arboretum’s 11th annual Bugfest Sept. 22 and 23 in Picayune.

The arboretum, a public garden operated by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, sponsors Bugfest to allow the community to foster curiosity and an appreciation of nature and adventure.

Participants can collect and identify insects alongside Extension entomologist John Guyton and others from the MSU Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology.

Highlights include night collecting, insect drawing and demonstrations on beekeeping and insect identification. Guests may also tour aquatic insect stations in the pitcher plant bog or the Piney Woods pond.

Preregistered school groups can experience Bugfest on Friday from 9 a.m. until noon. Home-school groups may attend from noon until 2 p.m. School groups must secure an arrival time by calling the conservatory at 601-799-2311. Small groups of five or less, however, are not required to preregister.

Families are welcome to participate in night collecting at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and in the general program from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

In addition, the Buggy Midway -- insect-based children’s crafts -- will be open on Friday evening and Saturday morning. The New Orleans Audubon Institute Bugmobile will be available from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The public event is $5 for adults, $2 for children, and free for arboretum members.

For more information, visit http://crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu.