B.U.G.S
B.U.G.S (Biodiversity Underpinning Global Survival) is the zoo’s cutting edge biodiversity and Conservation exhibit. It is also the main place where invertebrates – animals without backbones – are displayed in the zoo, including insects, spiders, millipedes and lots of other creepy crawlies.
Find out about ZSL's conservation work with bugs and other beasties.
About B.U.G.S.
Housed in an exciting building called the Milennium Conservation Centre, opened in 1999 as a UK Lotteries Fund supported project, B.U.G.S! is designed to explain what biodiversity - quite simply the variety of life on the planet - is all about, and why we need to conserve it.
There are over 140 species kept in BUGS, the vast majority of which are invertebrates, although we are also home to a few mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Invertebrates are fundamental to biodiversity - for example over 95% of animals do not have a backbone, and there are over 1 million species of insect! Invertebrates are vital for the survival of all ecosystems, as amongst other things they are primary pollinators and recyclers, and also provide food for other animals.
BUGS uses a combination of living animals and modern interpretation methods to bring the exhibit to life. The exhibit is also designed so there are views behind the scenes, so you can often see the keepers at work in the climate controlled breeding rooms!
Fascinating insect facts
Which insect has evolved to feed on the tears of buffalo?
Did you know there are over 200 million insects in the world?
Behind the scenes at B.U.G.S.
Find out all about the amazing Jungle Nymph with keeper Mark Tansley behind the scenes in B.U.G.S at ZSL London Zoo.
BedBUGS sleepovers
BedBUGS sleepovers give 8-11 year olds the chance to spend the night at ZSL London Zoo.
Experience the zoo in a whole new light by taking part in our sleepovers in BUGS!
Watch out for...
- The amazing leaf cutter ant nest at the entrance, walking out on their ropes where you can see them carrying leaves many times their own weight, right before your eyes (please don’t touch!)
- Huge locust swarm display
- Cockroach sink (yeuch!)
- Micrarium for miniature wildlife, like brine shrimps and Daphnia
- Giant orb spiders on their webs
- Cave crickets (look into the bubble if you dare…)
- Weird naked mole rats in their underground tunnels
- Incredibly beautiful moon jellyfish tank
- See directly into the hive of our Honeybees
- Discover why maggots are useful…
- See Bali starlings in their aviary, only a handful of which survive in the wild
- Spot our cute little rare Golden mantella frogs
- Polynesian tree snail breeding room, many species of which are extinct in the wild
Breeding
The International Partula Conservation Programme has been co-ordinated by ZSL since 1994 involves a managed breeding programme for 25 species of partula snail in 15 zoos worldwide, together with extensive work in the species natural range areas with local conservationists and government agencies.
