Enhancing outreach collections with live insects

Outreach insect drawers serve as valuable educational tools, showcasing insect diversity and fostering curiosity. However, these static displays often fail to bridge the emotional gap between people and insects. Here, I discuss how by incorporating live insects, namely male bumble bees and carpenter bees, into outreach events might help to reduce fear and foster empathy amongst the public. I argue that, by integrating live insects with traditional displays, we can inspire deeper connections and encourage conservation efforts, ensuring that people see insects as living organisms worth protecting, rather than just specimens behind glass. Future research questions and suggestions regarding evaluation of outreach collections are discussed.