Victoria Bug Zoo Inc.

08/30/2024

Our sweetest boy Chad IV has passed on. He will be loved forever!

08/17/2024

08/16/2024

A collection of George pics just for u ✨

08/09/2024

BEETLE AND FROGS BAGS HERE NOW!! Get ‘em while they are fresh 😎😎 Available online and in store!

08/07/2024

Click the link in our bio for more information and to apply to our third annual Halloween market!

Applications will close September 10th.

Market date: October 13th 🪲✨

08/06/2024

Email us ASAP to secure your tarantula! If you have any questions about this list or the process of getting one, email us at [email protected]

Questions in the comments will not be monitored as much as emails.

07/31/2024

It’s Weevil Wednesday everyday until these bad boys are out of stock! Will update the online store today so they can be available to all!!

07/20/2024

New pinned bug drop coming soon! They will be sprinkled out into the giftshop over the next few weeks. A Dorcas titanus goes out today!

07/17/2024

Bugs for sale!

***no holds on spiders***

07/09/2024

Our beautiful Atlas Moths have started to hatch! They won’t be around long so come and visit while they are still out. 🦋

After they pass, they will be pinned and framed and put up for sale in the giftshop. ✨

07/06/2024

New shirt drop!!! Available online and in store 😎

07/04/2024

Have you seen this little girlie lately? She is a wasp!

How can you tell an ant from a wasp? Look for that long stanched waist! That being said sometimes it’s very hard to notice (like on a velvet ant, a flightless wasp).

06/28/2024

Starting June 29th, our summer hours start!

Everyday 10a-5p

((July 7th we are open special hours ~ 12:30-6:30))

06/18/2024

Patches are in!! In store and online. 😎😎

06/13/2024

Some beautiful bugs created at our Build a Bug station today at the James Bay Picnic!

06/07/2024

TONIGHT! Purchase tickets online through the link in Instagram bio.

See you there!

06/06/2024

Have you seen any of these little guys recently?

Take a guess at what kind of insect they turn into! The answer will be revealed later today! 🤔

05/24/2024

BUGGY BAGS ARE IN! Thank you for these INCREDIBLE new additions to our gift shop.

05/18/2024

Admission change alert! Adults will be increasing from $16 to $18 starting June 1st. Operational costs have gone up quite a bit in the last few years and we wanted to continue our discounted rates for youth, seniors, and students so increasing just Adult admission was our best bet. Thank you so much for your continued support! Any online bookings made before June 1st will have the $16 price for adult admissions. Everything booked on or after June 1st will have the increased price of $18.

05/14/2024

One week after .sjr ‘s Opening Night, we will be bringing in local artists to share the Zoo space for the month of June!

Date: June 7th
Time: 5:30p-7:00p
Cost: $5

We have decided to open this up to be 16+ event instead of an 18+ event because we can! Sarah’s opening night will continue to be an all ages event.

Please reserve your tickets online for both events as tickets will not be available at the door.

This event will have a $5 admission fee due to operational costs and the lack of educator inside the zoo. A staff member will be inside to make sure the animals are safe and well, however there will be no tour.

Tickets available through the link in our Instagram Bio. They will not be available in person.

The gift shop will be open throughout the event! All art purchase will be done through the artist.

05/09/2024

Time to get yourself a little treat! These babies are now available online and in store!

05/06/2024

The secrets out! Our first ever art show is a collection .sjr ! The following week we will open up the gallery to local artists to share the space with Sarah Ritchie in a MONTH LONG gallery exhibit inside the Bug Zoo.

Head to our website to reserve your spot. Must have a reservation to enter. You can reserve your spot on the homepage of our website!

Reservations will open for the Community Art Show on June 7th next week.

05/04/2024

shirts are IN!! They will be online soon! Fingers crossed their prints come in soon too!

04/30/2024

The amount of artists we accept will be dependent on how many pieces each artists submits.

There is no commission fee for any art that is sold, however we will be requiring everyone selected to pay a $20 fee to participate. This is so that the staff can be paid and the entrance fee to the exhibit be by donation to the bugs. We will not be offering animal handling during this event to keep costs at a minimum for us and you!

If your pieces are of a more adult nature, we will ask that they be collected at the end of the night. If they are PG, they can be left up for the remainder of the month. It will be your job to handle all sales of your work and mark when pieces have sold. You would be in charge of all fees associated with the creation of your collection.

For all remaining art, take down is 5p-7p June 27th.

Instillation must be completed between 4p-6p June 6th and 4p-5p June 7th.
Any pieces of an adult nature must be covered until 4p on June 7th.

All art must be nature themed and BUG related or BUG adjacent!
We request that your finished collection be show via photos or other by June 1st. All payments must be done by June 1st. If you cancel or drop out of the show after June 6th at 12am, you will not receive a refund of fees.

Though we will keep an eye on the art left at the Zoo during the month of June, we are not liable for any damage that the bugs or humans cause to it.

Submissions Due May 7th @ noon. Applicants will be notified if they got in by May 10th.

04/18/2024

Just ordered! Incredible prints (AND T SHIRTS) from ! Some beautiful new gift-shop stock just in time for summer. These will also be available online.
We will let you know when they have arrived and are available!

04/15/2024

Our Chinese Green Mantis Ootheca are starting to hatch! This means yours will hatch soon, as well! Keep misting them everyday with water and they will hatch in no time. 💚

We hope to get in Melanogastor Fruit Flies in later this week or next week. We currently don’t have any now. We will let you know when we do though!

That being said, if you are waiting for babies, we will have some ready by this weekend! Due to high demand we will not be able to put any on hold. They are pick up only!

10-15 babies for $14.99

04/07/2024

Countdown to Stag Beetle Pinning Workshop! Book online (link in Instagram bio)! One week left to book.

04/01/2024

Not many locals know this but we have our very own giant millipede here in Victoria!

You don’t see them very often during the day as they typically are nocturnal. This little guy must have been extra eager to party!

They are called the Mega Victorian Millipede and can be found throughout the island but mostly up in Sooke!

Fingers crossed you’ll see one on your next hike!

03/27/2024

We are open regular hours this weekend!

Keep in mind that it is also Spring Break for folks across Canada and the States! It will be busier than normal but remember that your admission is good ALL DAY! Just make sure to get a hand stamp before you leave. Tours are ongoing and circular so come in at any time! There is no need to book online, walk-in admission is always available.

03/25/2024

Did you know we sell specimens in store (only)? They aren’t zoo grown but they are friend about good friends over at ! They will have something super cool coming to our store soon! *cough* at home pinning kits *cough*