20th International Insect Fair in Moscow (Russia, October 2023)

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Peter Khramov, 24.10.2023 23:57

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Last weekend we had pleasure to take part in the Moscow Insect Fair and Exhibition (and yes, it was 20th anniversary of such events in the Russian capital)…

There were a lot of Lepidopterans, as it always has been…

And Lycaenidae species particularly…

This time the fair was held at a new address — on Leninsky prospect / Lenin avenue (and yes, we still have a lot of avenues, streets, etc. named in honor of Lenin and other Bolsheviks here in Russia). The ceiling in the new place is remarkable. Or it seems so when you lying on the floor drunk after the Great Entomologists Party (it begins in evening hours shortly after the end of the Fair working hours)…

The place is not small at all, but we’ve got so many entomologists and collectors in Moscow and so many guests from other Russian regions and from other countries that it’s difficult to get through people sometimes…

While life is boiling in full swing!

So many people… Their entomological interests might be addressed in different directions…

But the Moscow Insect Fair is always good reason to meet and connect with nice persons!..

By the first evening of the Fair my vision has become somewhat blurry… motion blurry…

And somewhat more so an hour later…

It’s a shame that the Fair is becoming more and more “ordinary people” oriented and so there were many non-entomological sellers, who sell Arctic Fox fur, live laboratory mice, semiprecious and non-precious stones, leather goods/accessories for your pets, etc. That said, who knows if holding of the exhibition would be possible financially without such sellers and their clients? And what our relatives who were lucky to go with us to such event would do, if they couldn’t buy some imitation jewelry without all these sutlers? I bought something myself at “non-entomologist” part too :--)

The second day was somewhat calmer…

But the event aura is still bright…

And saturated…

And the sellers are kinder… And their discounts are more convincing…

And entomological nets sellers who try to sell their goods in autumn are even kinder still…

Both days we saw a lot of nice things at the Fair…

And some beautiful parts outside it too…

The sky was (and still is) grayish though…

As for the Moscow and Russia generally — there are not so many bears on the streets now (some of them are out, completing secret government mission) but we’ve got plenty of entertainment and really chip vodka nevertheless. So you are just most welcome to Russia where mystery Russian souls will be waiting for you in spring 2024 when the next Moscow Entomological Fair will take place!

PS. The average March temperature in Moscow is 0°C (32°F). And it was only -7°C (19.4°F) in 2018. And down to -22°C (-7.6°F) one of the nights…

PPS. As for Lenin, here is popular song about him. Try to join in singing! Russian language sounds not so coarse when we sing such a song!