Who Needs Pokémon? Montreal's Insect Expo Is Bringing The Magic Of Mini Beasts To Life

Move over Palworld and Pokémon GO, Canada’s largest invertebrate expo is a real-life critter convention with a leg (or six) up on any video game or app. The Salon des Insectes de Montréal on March 9 will feature a sprawling showcase of live beetles, framed butterflies, carnivorous plants, reptiles, and more, to challenge any preconceived notions you have about creatures underfoot and overlooked.

Nearly 150,000 insects will be on display at Dawson College, allowing visitors to handle, learn about, or just see them up close, and maybe find a new appreciation of the insect world.

"We want to shift perspectives from fear and to fascination," event co-organizer Daniel Zimmermann told MTL Blog, who likens his live beetle collection to real-life pocket monsters. "I had a girl send me pictures of the rhino beetle she bought from me while watching Netflix with it," he said.

Zimmermann and fellow event coordinator Étienne Normandin of the UdeM Entomology Department have set out to prove that not all insects have an "ick" factor — some even make surprisingly cute pets.

Beetles and beyond

Zimmermann's interest in insects sparked unexpectedly on a trip to Japan, where he encountered the hobby of breeding and trading beetles. The experience introduced him to a culture where insect-related activities, like beetle wrestling and cricket companionship, are widespread.

But it wasn't until a chance encounter with an injured bug on the streets of Montreal that Zimmermann fully reconnected with his childhood interest.

"I randomly found a female stag beetle that somebody had stepped on but was still alive. Until that moment I hadn't connected the dots that Montreal had the same kind of beetles as Japan," said Zimmermann.

"I brought her home and tried to nurse her. She lasted for two more weeks," he said.

Zimmermann's affinity for invertebrate care set the stage for his business, Live Beetles Canada, which emerged soon after he recognized the untapped market potential.

The business of bugs

Live Beetles Canada specializes in the sale of stag beetles, rhino beetles, millipedes, and terrariums, bringing a slice of the wild into the homes of collectors. Each species Zimmermann stocks meets strict legal criteria and represents a step into largely uncharted breeding territory.

"All of the species we sell have to be native to Canada. They can't be pests. Nobody has really bred them before, so there's a learning process. Like, do they need sand? Do they need clay? What type of wood? It feels good when it works," he said.

With over 10,000 people showing interest online, enthusiasm for keeping live bugs as pets is crawling to new heights.

Zimmermann compares bug pet ownership to the cultural phenomenon of Pokémon, tapping into collective nostalgia and love for accumulating rare creatures.

"There's something in the human mind that gravitates toward cute, micro creatures that are colourful, friendly, and can be collected," said Zimmermann.

"I'm totally against animal hoarding, especially of reptiles, but there are people who just have stacks of isopod bins and they're happy. So, tapping into that rarity, collectible aspect [of live bugs] is a mission of mine," he said.

From curiosity to conservation

The expo is designed to be interactive, offering a chance to get up close and personal with creatures that, until now, many might have only seen through the glass of an exhibit.

"For the most part, people just kill them and observe them dead. I get the scientific value, but there's so much more that can be learned by watching the metamorphosis process, seeing how they interact, and actually handling them," said Zimmermann, who envisions the event as an annual, or more frequent, tradition to captivate the imagination of attendees.

"I think the most exciting thing is going to be the reaction on people's faces, especially the younger audience when they see living creatures that look like they're designed, beautiful, and bizarre. I can't wait to see people's minds get blown," he said.

A live butterfly enclosure.Courtesy of Salon des Insectes de Montréal.

"It's absolutely the best place to go if you're interested in bugs, invertebrates that are alive, or dried for arts. There'll even be some people selling tropical plants, crystals, fossils, pretty much anything natural science related you'll find at the show," said Zimmermann.

Vendors will span Monarch Reptiles, with dart frogs, geckos, and other "low maintenance micro pets," and Plantzza Hut with Venus Fly Traps and succulents. You can expect at least 30 eco-themed stalls, including Lady Bug MTL which helps avoid chemical pesticides to fight pests.

Tickets to attend the expo are available online for $13 for adults and $7 for youth (up to 15 years old). You can reserve your entry in three-hour time blocks between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Salon des Insectes de Montréal creates space to appreciate some of the most misunderstood members of the animal kingdom. Those who go might find beauty isn't just in the eye of the beholder but also in the wings of a butterfly or the shell of a beetle.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.