Insectarium de Montréal

Frommer's Review

Live exhibits featuring scorpions, tarantulas, hissing cockroaches, assassin bugs, praying mantises, and other "misunderstood creatures, which are so often wrongly feared and despised," as the Insectarium puts it, are displayed in this two-level structure near the rue Sherbrooke gate of the Jardin Botanique (Botanical Garden). Needless to say, kids are delighted especially by the creepy critters. More than 3,000 mounted butterflies, beetles, scarabs, maggots, locusts, and giraffe weevils also are featured, and during the summer, the Butterfly House is full of beautiful live specimens fluttering among the nectar-bearing plants. In September, visitors can watch monarch butterflies being tagged and released for their annual migration to Mexico. The annual award-winning "Insect Tasting" (Croque-insectes) dinner seems to have been suspended, which is a shame. But you can still buy lollipops with scorpions inside at the gift shop.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.