The Big Bug Breakout

A hair-raising raid on an American insect museum is now the subject of a fascinating documentary series

- By Robyn Lucas

Shows about robbing banks and diamond heists aren’t huge hits for nothing – the sheer drama and audacity of it all has millions of viewers on the edge of their seats. But a new documentary based on a different kind of robbery is making waves right now and if creepy-crawlies aren’t your thing, the story behind it may well raise the hair on the back of your neck.

Bug Out focuses on one of the biggest insect robberies in history: the theft of 7 000 creatures worth $50 000 (about R750 000) from glass cases and display shelves at the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion in the US, the world’s first insect museum.

The 80 rare and potentially deadly creepy-crawlies included scorpions, tarantulas, rhinoceros cockroaches and a six-eyed sand spider, one of the most venomous arachnids on the planet.

Making things even more bizarre was the fact the thieves also stabbed two insectarium uniforms into the wall with kitchen knives, leaving them dangling there as a chilling calling card.

John Cambridge, the chief executive of the insectarium, was gobsmacked by the robbery, which took place in August 2018.

“They took so many insects and unless they are opening up their own museum we all are going to be excited about, it would be impossible to provide the right maintenance for them,” he said at the time.

“So I almost hope some of them were sold at this point.