Mississippi bug blues: Innovating approaches to invasive species awareness with diverse audiences in Mississippi

Mississippi Bug Blues (Bug Blues) is an educational outreach program of the Mississippi Entomological Museum (MEM) with the primary purpose of raising awareness for and educating the public on invasive insect threats to the state, emphasizing insect roles in biodiversity and conservation. Established in 2012, Bug Blues has been working for the past decade to broaden its approaches as well as its audience. Through long-standing partnerships with Mississippi State University, Starkville Oktibbeha School District, The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Bug Blues participates in dozens of events annually, reaching 40,000 people each in 2018-19.

Between 2020-2021, along with the rest of the world, Bug Blues learned how to adapt and reach the public in diverse ways. Beginning with engaging social media content and developing into video production of over 20 topical videos, many avenues of communication underutilized by Bug Blues were brought to the forefront. The most unique project, which is currently being finalized, is the development of an invasive insect species card game called “Insect Invasion”. Taking the role of an entomologist, players attempt to complete tasks while not being impacted by invasive insects. This game and corresponding curriculum will be debuted in the 2022-23 school year with local partner schools, with hopes for expanded distribution in the future. Though returning to in-person outreach, the last years have provided the opportunity for Bug Blues to hone skills for reaching a more diverse audience with diverse methods.