Meet the Beetles (Fall Course)

Meet the Beetles with Professor Greg Cowper

6 Thursdays from October 1 - November 5, from 6 - 7:30pm

Location: at the Parkway Central Library, Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street (between 19th and 20th streets), Philadelphia. This course meets in the Science and Wellness department (room 202).

This course requires pre-registration. Separate registration is required for each student. Sign up here or call 215-763-6529 x14 for assistance.

There are roughly 2 million named species on earth and approximately 400,000 of those species are beetles. That’s 20 percent of all life on earth, or put another way, every fifth species is a different species of beetle! Beetles are the most successful organism on the planet and play a critical role in the ecological functions supporting life on earth. This new 6-week course will examine their scientific placement, the reasons for their tremendous success, their adaptability, diversity, the ecological services they provide, their beauty and cultural impact.

1. Thursday, October 1, 2026 - Meet the Beetles.

The first class will discuss the scientific classification of beetles, their unique structure, their success, and why they matter for human survival.

2. Thursday, October 8, 2026 - Beetles are the Champions of Biodiversity.

One out of every 4 animal species on earth is a beetle. This class delves into why beetles are the most diverse group of animals in our lives, their adaptation strategies and range of sizes and shapes.

3. Thursday, October 15, 2026 - Beetles are Nature’s Clean-Up Crew.

We will discover how beetles recycle waste to keep ecosystems healthy highlighting native Pennsylvania species to explain how beetles break down animal waste and dead matter to return nutrients to the soil.

4. Thursday, October 22, 2026 - Beetles are Masters of Defense.

This class will cover the survival strategies beetles use to avoid predators looking to Pennsylvania natives as examples.

5. Thursday, October 29, 2026 - Beetles, both Friend and Foe.

This class will examine the relationship between beetles, plants, and agriculture. We’ll discuss herbivorous beetle pests, e.g., the Japanese Beetle, and predatory beneficial beetles like the lady beetle.

6. Thursday, November 5, 2026 - Beetles and Culture.

The final class will examine the influence beetles have had on various peoples and cultures throughout history from Egyptian to Amerindian civilizations, to the zeal of Japanese collectors. We will end with how each of us in our modern world can protect beetle populations through simple conservation actions.

An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles, Arthur V. Evans, Charles L. Bellamy, et al, Henry Holt Reference Book, 1996.

The Beetles of North America, Richard E. White & Roger Tory Peterson, Peterson Field Guide, 1998.

Beetles of Eastern North America, Arthur V. Evans, Princeton University Press, 2014.

Beetles of Western North America, Arthur V. Evans, Princeton University Press, 2021.

Greg Cowper is a curatorial assistant working in the entomology collection at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. He has recently completed a digitization project of field recordings of grasshoppers, crickets & katydids held in the Entomology Department’s collection. He is currently working on an Invertebrate Inventory of Valley Forge National Historical Park. Cowper has an ongoing installation at Eastern State Penitentiary highlighting the insect collection of a 19th Century inmate and its connection to modern Pr*son reform. He has been teaching for the Wagner since 2014.

What is the cost?

Wagner courses are free; donations are encouraged!

Are there minimum age requirements to enter the course?

The adult lecture courses are offered on an introductory college level. They are open to anyone seeking an introduction to various areas of the sciences as well as those familiar with the subjects who wish to broaden and update their knowledge. The courses also provide an excellent opportunity for motivated junior high and high school students to supplement their current science courses and to help prepare them for further study in these fields at a college level. The courses are appropriate as well for teachers seeking to expand their knowledge.

What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the course?

The Free Library of Philadelphia Parkway Central Branch is located between 19th and 20th Streets on the Parkway. It is close to many SEPTA lines, including buses, Regional Rail, and the Broad Street Line Race/Vine station. Most parking near the library is metered street parking. There is also a Philadelphia Parking Authority lot behind the library on Callowhill Street between 19th and 20th Streets.

Is the building wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The Wood Street entrance (at the back of the building) is wheelchair accessible and there are elevators in the building. Enter Wood Street by going south on 19th Street and drive west towards 20th Street. If the gate is down press the buzzer and security will open the gate. There are handicapped parking places right next to the building.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Click the "Contact the Organizer" link, email [email protected], or call 215-763-6529 x14.

Images:

Tetraopes, photograph by Greg Cowper.
Dynastes tityus, photograph by Greg Cowper.
Megasoma, photograph by Greg Cowper.
Goliathus, photography by Greg Cowper.
Lucanus, photograph by Greg Cowper.

The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a National Historic Landmark natural history museum and educational institution. It was founded in 1855 by William Wagner, a Philadelphian who had a dream of providing free science education to anyone who wanted to learn, regardless of background or ability to pay. Today, the Wagner offers more programs to more people than ever before! Your support helps us provide free education through its museum and a wide range of courses, lectures, field trips, and children’s science programs.

In keeping with its original charter, admission to the museum is FREE—donations are suggested to ensure the future and quality of Wagner's free education programs and to preserve its National Landmark building and collections.

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