Things get big and buggy at Morton Arboretum

Itsy-bitsy spiders they are not.

David Rogers' "Big Bugs" sculptures made their debut Friday at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, attracting plenty of attention and leaving many onlookers, well, bug-eyed.

Sue Stott of Yorkville spotted the giant insects from the nearby Reagan Memorial Tollway and had to make a trip to the arboretum to check them out up close.

"I guess I'm a kid at heart," she said. "They're so well done, and I love the natural habitat that they're in."

Twelve bugs made primarily of wood and twigs -- including a praying mantis, spider, dragonfly, ladybug and grasshopper -- line Meadow Lake and the visitors center along with a daddy longlegs, which is making its first appearance with the bunch.

The giants -- the ants alone are 25-feet long -- are part of a traveling sculpture exhibit and will be on display through July 20 at the arboretum, 4100 Route 53.

Since 1994, Rogers and his exhibit have visited 40 venues across the country.

"It's interesting to learn what they really look like when you get close," said Bianca Gavin of Naperville.

Anamari Dorgan, arboretum manager of exhibits, hopes the sculptures will help visitors see the connections among insects, people and trees. One-third of the human food supply is pollinated by insects.

"We thought this would be a great way to get (people) outdoors," she said. "We want them to come here and then keep exploring when they leave, too, to look in their own backyard for evidence of this relationship."

Panels near each sculpture give information about the bug's behavior and benefits. Children also can pick up "Bug Detective" guides to solve riddles about each creature as they tour the grounds.

Greg and Zoe Sharafinski, ages 6 and 4, were especially impressed with the praying mantis and dragonfly sculptures.

"The bugs were really cool because you could get so close and they're just big and the kids love getting right up in there and exploring," said their mom, Christy Sharafinski, of Lisle.

Sharafinski also enjoyed chatting with Rogers, who was on hand to talk to visitors about his artwork.

Rogers, who lives on Long Island, has been creating things out of wood since he was 15. Over the years, he has built boats, cabinets and garden furniture. His work then evolved into sculpting dinosaurs and eventually bugs.

While he enjoys his time in the shop, he said the interactions with people who view his creations are the best part of the experience.

He hopes visitors enjoy seeing critters that may otherwise go unnoticed.

"The role reversal in scale is an interesting experience for people," he said. "I think that's why they're intrigued by it because the bugs are big, we're little and maybe we think about them differently, maybe we see them not as pests or dangerous or plant fear into young minds."

Xander Rosenquist, 7, of Plainfield isn't scared of bugs. In fact, they're his favorite creatures because "they're really cool and also they're kind of hard to see."

The sculptures were right up his alley.

"They're humongous," he said excitedly after examining the daddy longlegs, which is 17 feet in diameter. "I can't believe it."

But a love of bugs isn't necessary to appreciate Rogers' craftsmanship. Linda Mueller of Lockport isn't really a bug person but came to see them anyway.

"I like art, so I just like the uniqueness of the materials he used," she said.

The arboretum also is playing host to a wide range of bug-related activities and events in conjunction with the exhibit, including Bug Fest, guided bug walks and an Insect Orchestra.

For a full list of events, call (630) 968œ0074 or visit www.mortonarb.org.