Watch Bug City

1998
1 Season
7.4 (5)

Bug City is an engaging educational television show produced by Schlessinger Media that first hit the airwaves in 1998. The series was beloved by children and parents alike for providing entertaining and interactive content that succeeded in demystifying the world of insects. Far from being just another run-of-the-mill children's show, Bug City goes above and beyond to inspire its audience to appreciate the smallest creatures in our ecosystem – insects.

The premise of Bug City is deceptively simple, as the show takes its audience on an intimate journey into the world of bugs. Guided by the ever-enthusiastic and informed host, Dr. Art Evans, a real-life entomologist renowned for his engaging style, each episode explores different types of insects, introducing terms like arthropods, beetles, and arachnids while explaining their significance in our ecosystem. The depth of expertise and passion that Dr. Evans brings to the show is infectious, cultivating a sense of fascination and wonder in the audience about insects that is rare for a show of its ilk.

Each episode of Bug City focuses on a different kind of bug, taking the viewers right down into the microscopic gardens and underground tunnels where these insects thrive. These segments are filled with fun facts about bug behavior and anatomy which Dr. Evans presents in a way that is digestible and intriguing for young learners. From their feeding habits to their mating rituals, from their roles in pollination to their uses in medicine, even the most squeamish viewer is likely to finish an episode with a newfound respect for these creatures.

This is further augmented by the use of up-close and personal camera shots and CGI which give viewers a bug's eye view of things, making the experience all the more immersive. To supplement the learning process, children engage in activities related to the episode's topic. These react, apply, and extend activities allow kids to apply lessons learned from the bug under spotlight in a practical, hands-on manner, which is a crucial feature for any educational show targeting kids in their formative years.

Another notable feature of Bug City is its use of humor. The show undoubtedly understands its audience and uses light-hearted humor to keep the engagement levels high. Dr. Evans interacts with a puppet partner named Pinacate, a charming bug who provides comical relief and occasional child-like curiosity, exemplifying the educational show trope of the goofy sidekick and helping to balance the informational content with entertainment.

Despite its primary target being children, Bug City does in no way shy from touching complex scientific concepts all related to the world of bugs. Language is catered to the young audience, breaking down scientific jargon into easy, relatable terms, while also allowing older viewers to enjoy and appreciate the show. Whether it's discussing the life cycle of a butterfly, the intricate work processes of an ant colony, or the peculiar features of a stick bug, Bug City ensures there's something for everyone, respecting its audience's intelligence irrespective of their age.

True to its objective of making science fun and accessible, Bug City concludes each episode with 'Bug Bites', exciting titbits of information about insects that, ironically, leave viewers hungry for more knowledge. Helpful tips for spotting and observing these bugs in their natural habitat further encourages viewers to step out and interact with the natural world.

In conclusion, Bug City is a television series that accomplishes much more beneath its seemingly simple exterior. It offers a mix of education and entertainment, allowing its audience to learn about the wonderful world of insects in the most enjoyable way possible. This show uses a combination of scientific facts, practical activities, humor, and the infectious enthusiasm of its host, Dr. Evans, to ignite a spark of curiosity and appreciation for the smallest members of our ecosystem: bugs. Despite being created in the late 90s, Bug City remains a timeless classic in the realm of educational TV shows, continuing to enthral new generations of bug enthusiasts.

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Seasons

10. Spiders & Scorpions

April 29, 1998

Found in virtually every climate and habitat, spiders are arachnids (not insects), and this program examines all facets of spider life -- webs and the spider's use of silk, eating habits, growth and molting, mating habits and care of the young. Scorpions, resembling miniature lobsters, are relatives of the spider, and they each possess a poisonous stinger. The program reviews the lifestyle of scorpions and later presents tips on creating a spider habitat for common house or garden spiders. Part of the Bug City Video Series, an engaging series created to help kids learn about insects and arachnids. Grades 1-6.

9. Ladybugs & Fireflies

April 29, 1998

Two of the most popular members of the insect world are ladybugs and fireflies. The colorful ladybug provides pest control by eating insects that would feed on flowers, vegetables and fruits. Another favorite, the firefly, is a type of beetle that can produce its own light source in an effort to attract a mate. In the studio, Dr. Art discusses these complex, blinking insects and, in an experiment, tries to replicate the bursts of light that fireflies produce. Part of the Bug City Video Series, an engaging series created to help kids learn about insects and arachnids. Grades 1-6.

8. House & Backyard Insects

April 29, 1998

Almost everyone has seen them buzzing around the house or crawling around outside. Insects such as cockroaches, fleas, termites, snails, slugs and earthworms are part of everyday life. This program describes many of these creatures' habits and how they affect humans. Ways to cockroach-proof your house are discussed, and Dr. Art presents a technique used to find small insects living down in the soil and leaf litter right in your own backyard. Part of the Bug City Video Series, an engaging series created to help kids learn about insects and arachnids. Grades 1-6.

7. Flies & Mosquitoes

April 29, 1998

Masters of flying, flies have only two wings (compared to four on many other insects), but still manage to move incredibly fast. Mosquitoes are a slender, delicate type of fly best known for their habit of biting. From mosquitoes to houseflies to fruit flies, this program explains the complete four-stage metamorphosis, the predators of flies and the "benefits" of maggots. Part of the Bug City Video Series, an engaging series created to help kids learn about insects and arachnids. Grades 1-6.

6. Crickets, Grasshoppers & Friends

April 29, 1998

This program reveals the incredible jumping, chirping and camouflaging skills of crickets, grasshoppers and katydids, as well as other related insects like the praying mantis and the walking stick. Dr. Art shows students how to make a cricket habitat and provides instruction on where to find crickets, what to feed them and what to expect from a pet cricket. Part of the Bug City Video Series, an engaging series created to help kids learn about insects and arachnids. Grades 1-6.

5. Butterflies & Moths

April 29, 1998

Butterflies and moths are beautiful and delicate, yet some, like monarch butterflies, are strong enough to fly hundreds of miles in their yearly migration. This program explores interesting facts about both types of insects, explains their amazing metamorphosis and shows how to tell them apart. In the studio, Dr. Art and Christina examine monarch caterpillars and build a caterpillar habitat in order to watch them transform into butterflies. Part of the Bug City Video Series, an engaging series created to help kids learn about insects and arachnids. Grades 1-6.

4. Beetles

April 29, 1998

There are over 350,000 types of beetles identified by scientists. Revered by the ancient Egyptians as well as other cultures, beetles have a unique role on the planet as the recycling agents for decaying matter. In this program, Dr. Art demonstrates how to make a beetle habitat by setting up a colony of meal worms (the larval form of darkling beetles), allowing students to watch them grow and observe the life cycle. Part of the Bug City Video Series, an engaging series created to help kids learn about insects and arachnids. Grades 1-6.

3. Bees

April 29, 1998

From the queen bee to the worker bee, this program shows exactly why bees are so busy and why we should appreciate them. As they gather food, bees pollinate plants and allow them to grow for another season. Some types of bees create extraordinary nests of honeycomb in which they lay eggs and store honey. A riveting display by Dr. Norman Gary shows bees in their egg, larval and pupal stages, and even shows a newborn hatching! Later, Dr. Art Evans explains how to make a bee's nest with plastic straws. Part of the Bug City Video Series, an engaging series created to help kids learn about insects and arachnids. Grades 1-6.

2. Aquatic Insects

April 29, 1998

Dragonflies and damselflies, water striders and backswimmers -- these are just a few of the amazing aquatic insects presented in this program that shows how thousands of species of insects have adapted to life in the world of water. Dr. Art provides tips on collecting and keeping aquatic insects, and then demonstrates how to make an aqua-scope through which students can observe these fascinating water dwellers. Part of the Bug City Video Series, an engaging series created to help kids learn about insects and arachnids. Grades 1-6.

1. Ants

March 24, 1998

Learn more about ants! In this program, Dr. Art demonstrates how to make a formicarium -- an artificial ant nest that allows students to observe how ants live, work and behave daily. Grades 1-6.

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