The newly renovated space features a butterfly garden, insect cafe, and a whole lot more.
For the past seven month , stingrays have coasted across the pinch armoured combat vehicle floor and African penguins have dip into the H2O at theAudubon Aquarium , but the gaggle of visitant usually snapping photograph were nowhere to be found .
That ’s because the space has been close since November to undergo a $ 41 million dollar renovation to unite the aquarium and nearby insectarium under one roof along the New Orleans Riverfront . With the ambitious project now complete , the result is a monumental nature resort area that draws locals and tourists likewise .
The biggest modification to the space was transplanting theAudubon Insectariumfrom its premature location in the US Customs House in the French Quarter to the aquarium ’s family along the Mississippi River . The insectarium houses more than 50 coinage , from Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dearest bees to frog beetles , and feature exhibits on issue like how insects utilize camo as Department of Defense and why these creatures are so authoritative to their ecosystem .
Photo courtesy of the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium
There are plenty of chance to get up - close - and - personal with the microbe , including six spaces where guests can get close to the worm and a brand - new , stunning garden overlooking the river with century of butterfly exemplify 20 different coinage vanish around in the open air .
But perhaps the bountiful hook is a cafe dubbed Bug Appetit where guests can taste waxworms , cricket , and other edible species that are eaten around the worldly concern . Along with educational station about the eco - friendly benefits of eating hemipteran and cookbooks that visitor can flip through , the coffee shop offers samples of louse - laden solid food like umber chip ( and cricket ) cookies , a sweet spiced apple chutney with poached waxworms , and snackable crispy cajun crickets that savor like a barbeque helianthus seed . If you ’re brave enough to down a few creepy crawlies , you ’ll leave with line-shooting rights and a stamp proclaiming your courageousness .
On the fish tank side , the blank space is cleave up by home ground around the world , from the Louisiana bayous right in the marine museum ’s backyard to the Amazon River river basin and Gulf of Mexico . Guests will still be able to visit old favourite like the aquarium ’s 300 - Ezra Loomis Pound green sea turtle nominate King Midas and a rarefied white gator experience as Chompitoulas , along with sand tiger shark , South American sea nettle , and more .
Photo by Susan Poag
The synergistic elements are n’t just in the insectarium . The aquarium features a 60 - foot - long touch consortium with shark and stingrays and a free - flying bird exhibit with 60 dame representing 15 different species flying overhead .
The Audubon Aquarium & Insectarium is open day by day from 10 am to 5 pm . individual attractive force tickets for the aquarium or insectarium start at $ 30 for adults and $ 25 for kids . The Audubon Nature Institute also offers two- and three - attraction compounding passes that start at $ 50 for adults and $ 45 for kids . slate can be purchasedonline .
Photo courtesy of Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium
Photo courtesy of Digital Roux Photography LLC
