Touring The Museum

We will be begin processing and accepting reservations for programs after August 25.

Read through this page and then please fill out this form:

If you have filled out the form over the summer and have not heard from us by early September, please email [email protected]

If you are looking for additional UC Davis science-based experiences, we can recommend the following programs, though we are not sure of their availability:

Bee Haven https://beegarden.ucdavis.edu/visit-us/reservation/
Botanical Conservatory https://conservatory.ucdavis.edu/get-involved/tours
Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology (visitors must be Grade 3 and older) https://mwfb.ucdavis.edu/outreach
Raptor Center https://crc.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/education
Goat Teaching and Research Facility https://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/facilities/goatHorse Barn https://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/facilities/horsebarn

For the arts at UC Davis, we have these resources:

UC Davis Design Museum https://arts.ucdavis.edu/visitthedesignmuseum
Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art: https://manettishremmuseum.ucdavis.edu
Gorman Museum of Native American Art: https://gormanmuseum.ucdavis.edu
Mondavi Center (Performing Arts): https://www.mondaviarts.org
UC Davis Department of Music: https://arts.ucdavis.edu/music-events

How do I schedule a tour with the Bohart Museum of Entomology?

Individuals, friend groups and families may visit during our public hours on certain Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1:00-4:30 pm and during our special weekend open houses.
Groups (scouts, classes, camps, etc) must pre-arrange their visit with a guided tour.
Fill out this form and someone will be in touch with you. PROGRAM INQUIRY FORM
If needed, email [email protected] or call (530) 752-0493 for any questions or clarifications.

Which days of the week are available for tours?

Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. are possible tour times.
Monday and Friday bookings require special authorization and are generally limited to UCD courses that meet on those specific days. Weekend appointments are also rare and dependent on staffing and special circumstances.
Guided tours are by appointment only.
We can only accept one reservation a day and only a few reservations per week. See the Google calendar below for reference, although it is not always going to be complete.

What’s included in the tour?

Tours run 45-60 min long and involve an introduction to entomology and curation techniques with time for questions.
Next we step into the actual research collection (pinned insects) and have a unique experience exploring the lepidoptera (butterflies/moths).
We conclude with live insects. Our "petting zoo" has friendly, non-biting/stinging walking sticks and roaches. We have live tarantulas and black widows, but we don't handle them. Holding or touching insects is completely optional. We respect everyone's boundaries and expect visitors to respect each other's.
We also ask that words like "eww," "ick," and "gross" be replaced with "curious" or "interesting."

How much do tours cost?

$5 per person
Fees are waived for current UC Davis students, staff and faculty.
Payment can be online via an invoice or checks can be mailed in or presented in-person. Cash can be presented in-person.

Payment is required within a month after the program, but payment in advance or day of is also acceptable. Cash must be the exact amount as we cannot provide change. Make checks payable to UC Regents with "Bohart Museum Tours" in the memo. A receipt will be provided. The EIN/W-9 tax number for UC Regents is 94-6036494

How many people can join a tour?

Up to 25 participants, including chaperones.
If more than 25 people, we will need to book a second or third tour on the same day.
Our programs are geared for first graders to older adults.
If you are with a kindergarten or a pre-school, please consider our educational loan program or a traveling program. We understand that homeschool groups can include a range of ages and that is okay as long as the majority of attendees are grade 1 and older.

What is the parking situation?

There are hourly and daily parking options in lot 47 and lot 1- both are a short walk to the Bohart. For visitor car parking, visit: https://transportation.ucdavis.edu/visitor (The fees often change with the new fiscal year on July 1.)
Download the parking app and load it with your car's information and your credit card, in advance of your visit.
The closest parking lot to the Bohart is lot 46, but this is reserved for UC Davis staff and faculty Monday-Friday.
Cars with handicap plates or placards can park for free anywhere on campus, including lot 46.
With advanced notice, buses can park for free in the Unitrans parking lot along Garrod Drive. Click here for the guidelines.

UC Davis has a bus system, Unitrans, that moves all over the city of Davis. We encourage people to carpool, ride the bus onto campus or bike/walk onto campus, if you can. Parking violation tickets can be expensive.

What should I wear/bring?

Tours involve standing for extended periods—stay hydrated and eat beforehand. There is no food allowed in the collections.
The collection space is tight, so backpacks, bags and water bottles will need to be stored in a designated spot in the museum before entering the collection.
Photography is allowed of the collections.