Insect Zoo at Kansas State
Manhattan, KS
- Admission
- $3
- Accreditation
- None listed
not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Everything below is directory information drawn from public sources and the zoo's own site.
Animals at Insect Zoo at Kansas State
We haven't confirmed this zoo's animal list yet.
Feathers & Fangs from visitors
What people who've been to Insect Zoo at Kansas State say
A Feather is something this zoo does well; a Fang is something it gets wrong. Left by people who've been, and read by us before they appear.
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About Insect Zoo at Kansas State
The K-State Insect Zoo is a live insect and arthropod exhibit run by Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. According to the zoo's About page, it was established in 1999 and features many exhibits of live insects and their arthropod relatives in naturalistic settings. The zoo's stated mission is to foster a better understanding and increased awareness of the microcosmic natural world and of the important roles that insects and their relatives play in it.
The zoo occupies the old dairy barn at The Gardens at Kansas State, at 1500 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66506. The zoo's directions page describes the building as a limestone barn within the KSU Gardens, with the entrance under the big elm tree. The zoo's home page says visitors can discover more than 80 species. It is not an AZA-accredited facility.
History
The zoo's About page states that it was established in 1999. It places the zoo in the old Dairy Barn at The Gardens at Kansas State, which is the same limestone barn the directions page describes.
Exhibits and habitats
The About page says the zoo displays live specimens in naturalistic settings and invites guests to take in the sights, sounds and smells of live creepy crawlies. Animals named on the page include giant cockroaches, beetles, stick insects (both giant walking sticks and prickly sticks), praying mantises, centipedes, scorpions and tarantulas.
The zoo's home page says there are more than 80 species to discover.
Conservation and programs
The zoo is part of a university and its programming centers on education. Its website lists walk-in visits during regular hours, private guided one-on-one tours, and classroom field trips. The zoo's Field Trips page describes structured classroom lessons for up to 22 guests per session, which can be tailored to a school's curriculum. Scheduled visits can be reserved through an online booking page at insect-zoo.appointlet.com, which the zoo's home page links for checking reservation availability.
Groups of 15 or more are strongly encouraged to call ahead because of occupancy limits, according to the zoo's website.
Planning your visit
As listed on the zoo's website, walk-in hours are 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, year-round. The website lists these closures: July 4, Election Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and the first week of January. The zoo says a campus closure does not automatically close the zoo and directs visitors to its Google Business Page for current status. Ticket pricing is listed on the zoo's website.
Visitor parking is in lot B8, reached by turning off Denison Avenue just south of the Denison and Jardine Drive traffic light. The zoo says no parking permit is needed but visitors must register their vehicle by texting a name and a photo of the license plate to 785-380-9139. Limited drop-off parking exists along Denison Avenue, and the website advises that vehicles should not be left unattended there. Visitors are directed to enter the Gardens near the fountain and follow the path toward the limestone barn.
The zoo's phone number is 785-380-9139. It can also be reached at kiffnie@k-state.edu, and its website links to a Facebook page.
What we haven't confirmed
Everything above came from public sources. These specifics we haven't stood behind yet:
- Accessibility details for the barn building
- Exact number of animals
Insect Zoo at Kansas State compared with nearby zoos
How Insect Zoo at Kansas State lines up against other zoos in the same state. We don't have coordinates for it yet, so these aren't ranked by distance.
| Zoo | Admission | Hours | Size | AZA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insect Zoo at Kansas StateThis zooManhattan, KS | $3 | Tue–Sat 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM (walk-in). Closed 4th of July, Election Day; other holiday/emergency closures posted on Google Business page. | — | No |
| Clay Center ZooClay Center, KS | Free | Monday–Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. | — | No |
| David Traylor Zoo of EmporiaEmporia, KS | Free | Daily 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM. | — | Yes |
| Great Bend ZooGreat Bend, KS | — | Daily 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (except Thanksgiving and Christmas). Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas. | — | No |
Distances are straight-line. A dash means we haven't confirmed that detail yet, not that the zoo lacks it.
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Insect Zoo at Kansas State: common questions
Is the Insect Zoo at Kansas State AZA accredited?
No.
Where is it located?
In the old dairy barn at The Gardens at Kansas State, 1500 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas.
What are the walk-in hours?
As listed on the zoo's website, 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with a list of holiday closures on the website.
What animals are on display?
Species named on the zoo's website include giant cockroaches, beetles, stick insects, praying mantises, centipedes, scorpions and tarantulas.
Do groups need to reserve?
The zoo strongly encourages groups of 15 or more to call ahead because of occupancy limits. Scheduled visits and private tours can be reserved online.
Where do visitors park?
In lot B8, with vehicle registration by text message as described on the zoo's directions page.
Something wrong here? Tell us — we correct in place, with a dated note.