Entomological exhibition of IOC at the Rare Books Library in the Moorish Castle. Photo: Rudson Amorim
Anyone visiting the F campusiocVisitors to Rio de Janeiro will have the chance to discover a new attraction: the exhibition "The Entomological Collection Visits Rare Books," open to the public at the Rare Books Library in the traditional Moorish Castle.
Designed for visitors of all ages, the exhibition brings together specimens from the largest insect collection in Latin America and historical books from the 17th to the 21st centuries, in a joint initiative between the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz) and the Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health (ICiCT/Fiocruz).
The exhibition is part of the visiting circuit of the Museum of Life Fiocruz. Between December 2, 2025, and February 28, 2026, visits are conducted by obtaining a free ticket online. Access here.
Created in 1901, the Entomological Collection is the oldest in the institution, formed from the first studies of Oswaldo Cruz. Its creation dates back to the first scientific article in which the researcher described a new species of mosquito — a milestone that originated the collection which, today, brings together about 5 million insects from various groups.
A historical book from the Entomological Collection brings together scientific records and detailed illustrations of insects. Photo: Rudson Amorim
In addition to entomological specimens, the exhibition highlights how entomology has been documented throughout the centuries. The rare books section brings together historical publications that describe and illustrate insects, with richly detailed original plates, many of them colored and recognized as true works of art. These records directly relate to the insects on display, presented as references to the historical illustrations.
The exhibition also features representative specimens of biodiversity in general, information about the entomological collection itself, and curiosities about entomology, including aquatic insects. To make the experience even more interactive, the public can visit an Instagrammable panel with butterfly wings, designed as a space for photos and to connect with the world of the exhibition.
Researcher at the Entomology Laboratory and curator of the Entomological Collection of IOCMárcio Felix points out that the exhibition seeks to bring the public closer to the history and diversity of insects, linking science, collections, and historical heritage.
"The proposal is to present insects from the Entomological Collection, the largest and oldest biological collection of the F."ioc"The collection features representative specimens from all Brazilian biomes and the biodiversity of more than 130 countries. Entomology is a science with several centuries of history and has always sparked the interest of researchers, resulting in the description and illustration of insects in books and various other works over time," Márcio emphasized.
Fátima Duarte, head of the Rare Books section, and Márcio Felix, responsible for the Entomological Collection, sharing information about the collection. Photo: Rudson Amorim
The head of the Rare Books section at the Manguinhos Library/ICiCT, Fátima Duarte de Almeida Alves, emphasizes that the initiative reinforces the educational vocation of the space and engages with the public that visits the Moorish Castle:
“The Rare Books collection brings together titles from the 17th to the 21st centuries, many of them dedicated to entomology. It is very special to present these books alongside real specimens from the Entomological Collection, showing the public — especially the children who come through the Museum of Life — how these insects were studied and represented historically. It is an opportunity to promote heritage, environmental and scientific education, strengthening the link with biodiversity,” emphasized Fátima.
During the visit, the public will also find a special selection of items from the Rare Books Library collection, which help to contextualize the history of health, science, and the formation of Brazil. Among them:
Historical medical prescription forms;
Documents and artifacts related to the scientific daily life of different eras;
Records of measurements and standards used in colonial Brazil;
Works depicting the lives of Portuguese and indigenous peoples in Brazil, focusing on diseases that affected these groups;
Documents and books dating from 1905, a symbolic year for the institutionalization of scientific research in the Fiocruz;
Varied bibliographic collections, including scientific rarities.
Visit! Admission is free.
Exhibition “The Entomological Collection visits the Rare Books”
Days and hours of visitation: Tuesday to Friday, from 10 am to 16 pm
Where: Rare Books Library, in the Moorish Castle (Av. Brasil, 4.365 - Manguinhos, RJ)
Value: Free
Scheduling: Between December 2, 2025, and February 28, 2026, all visitors (including groups of more than ten people) must obtain a ticket online. Access here.
Entomological exhibition of IOC at the Rare Books Library in the Moorish Castle. Photo: Rudson Amorim
Anyone visiting the F campusiocVisitors to Rio de Janeiro will have the chance to discover a new attraction: the exhibition "The Entomological Collection Visits Rare Books," open to the public at the Rare Books Library in the traditional Moorish Castle.
Designed for visitors of all ages, the exhibition brings together specimens from the largest insect collection in Latin America and historical books from the 17th to the 21st centuries, in a joint initiative between the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/Fiocruz) and the Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health (ICiCT/Fiocruz).
The exhibition is part of the visiting circuit of the Museum of Life Fiocruz. Between December 2, 2025, and February 28, 2026, visits are conducted by obtaining a free ticket online. Access here.
Created in 1901, the Entomological Collection is the oldest in the institution, formed from the first studies of Oswaldo Cruz. Its creation dates back to the first scientific article in which the researcher described a new species of mosquito — a milestone that originated the collection which, today, brings together about 5 million insects from various groups.
A historical book from the Entomological Collection brings together scientific records and detailed illustrations of insects. Photo: Rudson Amorim
In addition to entomological specimens, the exhibition highlights how entomology has been documented throughout the centuries. The rare books section brings together historical publications that describe and illustrate insects, with richly detailed original plates, many of them colored and recognized as true works of art. These records directly relate to the insects on display, presented as references to the historical illustrations.
The exhibition also features representative specimens of biodiversity in general, information about the entomological collection itself, and curiosities about entomology, including aquatic insects. To make the experience even more interactive, the public can visit an Instagrammable panel with butterfly wings, designed as a space for photos and to connect with the world of the exhibition.
Researcher at the Entomology Laboratory and curator of the Entomological Collection of IOCMárcio Felix points out that the exhibition seeks to bring the public closer to the history and diversity of insects, linking science, collections, and historical heritage.
"The proposal is to present insects from the Entomological Collection, the largest and oldest biological collection of the F."ioc"The collection features representative specimens from all Brazilian biomes and the biodiversity of more than 130 countries. Entomology is a science with several centuries of history and has always sparked the interest of researchers, resulting in the description and illustration of insects in books and various other works over time," Márcio emphasized.
Fátima Duarte, head of the Rare Books section, and Márcio Felix, responsible for the Entomological Collection, sharing information about the collection. Photo: Rudson Amorim
The head of the Rare Books section at the Manguinhos Library/ICiCT, Fátima Duarte de Almeida Alves, emphasizes that the initiative reinforces the educational vocation of the space and engages with the public that visits the Moorish Castle:
“The Rare Books collection brings together titles from the 17th to the 21st centuries, many of them dedicated to entomology. It is very special to present these books alongside real specimens from the Entomological Collection, showing the public — especially the children who come through the Museum of Life — how these insects were studied and represented historically. It is an opportunity to promote heritage, environmental and scientific education, strengthening the link with biodiversity,” emphasized Fátima.
During the visit, the public will also find a special selection of items from the Rare Books Library collection, which help to contextualize the history of health, science, and the formation of Brazil. Among them:
Historical medical prescription forms;
Documents and artifacts related to the scientific daily life of different eras;
Records of measurements and standards used in colonial Brazil;
Works depicting the lives of Portuguese and indigenous peoples in Brazil, focusing on diseases that affected these groups;
Documents and books dating from 1905, a symbolic year for the institutionalization of scientific research in the Fiocruz;
Varied bibliographic collections, including scientific rarities.
Visit! Admission is free.
Exhibition “The Entomological Collection visits the Rare Books”
Days and hours of visitation: Tuesday to Friday, from 10 am to 16 pm
Where: Rare Books Library, in the Moorish Castle (Av. Brasil, 4.365 - Manguinhos, RJ)
Value: Free
Scheduling: Between December 2, 2025, and February 28, 2026, all visitors (including groups of more than ten people) must obtain a ticket online. Access here.
The non-profit reproduction of the text is allowed as long as the source is cited (Comunicação / Instituto Oswaldo Cruz)
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