World Report: February 21, 2003 Vol. 8 No. 18
- This Issue:
- Table of Contents
- Cover Story
- Cover Story - Spanish Version
- Mini-Lesson
- Comprehension Quiz
- Teacher's Guide and Worksheets
This Room Is Bugged!
Bugs aren't usually welcome in any house, let alone a palace. But at Queen Paola's request, the Royal Palace in Brussels, Belgium, is home to a million Asian jewel beetles. The ceiling and chandelier of the 19th-century hall are crawling with their glowing wing cases. In the changing light, the color shifts from shining green to blue to emerald green.
Artist Jan Fabre used dead beetles' wing cases to create this wild work of art. It took him three years to collect enough. He got help from scientists, researchers and chefs in Asia, where the bugs are a tasty snack.
Last summer, Fabre spent three months pasting the wings in place. His work created quite a buzz in Belgium!
