Although the company Microfauna Exposiciones was founded in 1992, its creators began a career that started a long time before (more than 45 years ago), throughout which and up to now they have dedicated all their time to the knowledge and spreading of nature and environmental conservation issues with the world of insects as the main base.
The report of activities carried out by Microfauna Exposiciones is as follows:
1990
- Before its creation, Entomofauna Insectarios –the precursor company of Microfauna Exposiciones– was set up to initiate the development in Spain of centres for the dissemination of entomology through permanent exhibitions, travelling exhibitions, documentaries and publications.
- Campaigns and fieldwork were carried out for the supervised collection of specimens of Iberian and tropical entomological faunas under scientific capture permissions for use in educational and dissemination projects.
- A captive breeding programme was initiated for Iberian and tropical insects, including CITES species like Parnassius apollo and special interest species like Graellsia isabelae, as well as nurseries for genetic reserves and environmental education.
1991
- Development of scientific exchange of entomological specimens for the formation of taxonomic collections through the network of museums and entomological associations worldwide. Collection of biological samples of the world’s entomofauna.
- Establishing lines of action for permanent and traveling exhibits for the dissemination of Entomology through museum facilities, educational centres and environmental programs.
1992
- Year of the foundation of Microfauna S.L., whose corporate purpose is to promote and raise awareness of topics related to the world of invertebrates through exhibitions of scientific and educational interest.
- Construction of the first insectarium in Spain, installed in Safari Madrid in Aldea del Fresno. Exhibition of a scientific collection of insects from all over the world.
- Creation and production of different exhibitions in Spain:
- “Los pequeños grandes olvidados” (The little greats forgotten) for Juvenalia of the Community of Madrid.
- “Los pequeños descubrimientos del nuevo mundo” (The small discoveries of the new world) for the Nature Pavilion of Expo 92 in Seville, commissioned by ICONA (Institute for the Conservation of Nature).
- Production of the exhibition “El Maravilloso mundo de los Insectos” (The wonderful world of insects) for Alcampo Zaragoza with the collaboration of Ibercaja.
- “Butterflies for Edge’92”, an art exhibition at the Madrid European Capital of Culture event.
1993
- Setting up of exhibitions entitled “El mundo de los insectos tropicales” (The world of tropical insects) in various Spanish shopping centres: La Vaguada (Madrid), Parque Sur (Madrid), Los Arcos (Seville), Hipercor (Jerez de la Frontera), Preco (Madrid) and some others.
- Creation and first tour of the exhibition “Los más raros insectos del mundo” (The rarest insects in the world) through the halls of the Obra Cultural de Caja Madrid in Aranjuez, Alcalá de Henares, Morata de Tajuña, Ciudad Real, Manzanares and Madrid.
1994
- Creation and production of several exhibitions in Spain:
- Exhibition “La Microfauna del Amazonas” (Microfauna of the Amazon) in C.C. La Ballena (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria).
- Exhibition “Insectorama” for the Spanish Pavilion in Cartuja (Seville).
- Participation in the television series “Universo Insólito” (unusual universe), a series of documentaries on the life of insects: script writing, scientific support and contribution of living and naturalised species.
1995
- Creation of the travelling exhibition “La era de los insectos” (the age of insects), presented in several Spanish cities under the sponsorship of the Patronato de Cultura de San Sebastián and the Pamplona Planetarium.
- Creation of various collaboration agreements with public bodies on nature issues, highlighting the production of a photographic documentary for the future “Guide to the identification of lepidoptera protected by the CITES agreement” in collaboration with the SOIVRE.
1996
- Production of several travelling exhibitions in various cities in Spain:
- “Los tesoros de las selvas” (Treasures of the jungle) exhibited in several cities in Spain.
- “Tarántulas en acción” (Tarantulas in action) created for the Obra Cultural de Caja de Madrid.
1997
- Creation of the travelling exhibition “Vivitos y Coleando” (alive and kicking), inaugurated in Madrid and exhibited in 6 different Spanish cities.
- Extension of the travelling exhibitions “Los Tesoros de las Selvas” (Treasures of the jungle) and “Los más raros insectos del mundo” (The rarest insects in the world) to several Spanish cities.
1998
- Touring of the exhibitions “Vivitos y Coleando” (alive and kicking), “Los Tesoros de las Selvas” (Treasures of the jungle), “Los más raros insectos del mundo” (The rarest insects in the world) and “Tarántulas en acción” (Tarantulas in action).
- Design and production of a new travelling exhibition in collaboration with the Autonomous University of Madrid entitled “Nuestras mariposas” (Our Butterflies), which will focus on the conservation of the butterfly species that inhabit the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic and Canary Islands.
1999
- Touring of the exhibitions “Vivitos y Coleando” (alive and kicking), “Los Tesoros de las Selvas” (Treasures of the jungle), “Los más raros insectos del mundo” (The rarest insects in the world) and “Tarántulas en acción” (Tarantulas in action).
- Inauguration of the exhibition “Nuestras mariposas” (Our Butterflies) at Autonomous University of Madrid
- Design, production and setting up of the fixed exhibition “Los insectos relacionados con la muerte” (Insects related to death) for the Forensic Museum of Doctor Reverte at the Complutense University of Madrid.
- Insect photography work for the photo library of the Oxford Scientific Encyclopaedia, England.
2000
- Touring of the exhibitions “Nuestras mariposas” (Our Butterflies), “La era de los insectos” (the age of insects), “Vivitos y coleando” (alive and kicking) and “Los tesoros de las selvas” (Treasures of the jungle) to more than 20 cities in Spain.
- Production of content for the fixed exhibitions of the Insectarium and Butterfly Garden of the Biological Park of Madrid (now called Faunia).
- Design, production and assembly of the fixed exhibition “Los insectos y las culturas” (Insects and cultures) for the Doctor Reverte Forensic Museum at the Complutense University of Madrid.
2001
- Extension of the tours of the exhibitions “Tarántulas en acción” (Tarantulas in action), “Nuestras mariposas” (Our Butterflies), “Vivitos y coleando” (alive and kicking) , “Los tesoros de las selvas” (Treasures of the jungle) and “Los más raros insectos del mundo” (The rarest insects in the world).
- Inauguration of the Insectarium and the Butterfly Garden and production of the exhibition installation “La Noche” (the night) at the Biological Park of Madrid (Faunia).
- Production of the fixed and audiovisual exhibition “Insectos venenosos” (Poisonous Insects) for the Forensic Anthropological Museum of Dr. Reverte (Madrid, Spain).
2002-2004
- Extension of the itinerant exhibitions “Tarántulas en acción” (Tarantulas in action),“Nuestras mariposas” (Our Butterflies), “Vivitos y coleando” (alive and kicking), “Los tesoros de las selvas” (Treasures of the jungle) and “Los más raros insectos del mundo” (The rarest insects in the world). Being installed in more than 50 Spanish cities during these three years.
- Development of field work for the photography of Iberian butterflies in their natural habitats in several Autonomous Communities for the preparation of images for the future book “Mariposas, Tesoros de Biodiversidad” (Butterflies, Treasures of Biodiversity).
2005
- Extension of the itinerant exhibitions “Tarántulas en acción” (Tarantulas in action),“Nuestras mariposas” (Our Butterflies) and “Vivitos y coleando” (alive and kicking) around Spain.
- Opening of the exhibition “Joyas vivientes” (living jewels).
- Preliminary project presented to the Consejería de Medio Ambiente de la Comunidad de Madrid for the Centro de Naturaleza de la Barranca in Navacerrada (Madrid).
- Carrying out field work to photograph Iberian butterflies in their natural habitats in several Autonomous Communities in order to prepare images for the future book “Mariposas, Tesoros de Biodiversidad” (Butterflies, Treasures of Biodiversity).
2006
- Publication of the book “Nuestras Mariposas, tesoros de Biodiversidad” (Our Butterflies, treasures of Biodiversity) with Editorial Lunwerg.
- Production of the new exhibition “Universo en miniatura” (miniaturised universe) and opening at the Casa de las Ciencias in Logroño.
2007
- Extension of the exhibitions “Vivitos y coleando” (alive and kicking), “Tarántulas en acción” (Tarantulas in action), “Universo en miniatura” (miniaturised universe), “Nuestras mariposas” (Our Butterflies) to more than 21 Spanish centers.
- Lectures by Pedro Velasco on the biology, breeding and conservation of Graellsia isabelae at the Arthropod Conference of the Junta de Extremadura with participation in the “Proyecto Life” (Life project).
2008
- Production and installation of new exhibitions:
- “Continentes Vivos” (Living Continents) in three Spanish cities.
- “Los insectos más raros del mundo” (The rarest Insects in the world) in collaboration with the University of Zaragoza for Science Week.
- Design and production of the interactive book “Mariposas de Madrid” (Butterflies of Madrid) for its integration into the virtual portal of Obra Social Caja Madrid.
- Speaker at the Scientific Dissemination Conference of La Rioja on the subject of “Environmental Education”.
- Participation in the “Graellsia” project of the University of Orleans (INRA) and the University of A Coruña, with the breeding and provision of chrysalises of the species for scientific purposes.
2009
- Inauguration of the travelling exhibition “Futuro agua” (Future Water), created for Caja España in the Municipal Auditorium of Ourense and exhibited in four cities.
- Production of the exhibition “Supervivientes del microcosmos” (Survivors of the Microcosm) for the Caja Rioja Foundation.
- Installation of the exhibition “Universo en miniatura” (Universe in miniature) in the Central Library of Cordoba.
2010
- Itinerancy of the “Futuro agua” (Future Water) exhibition throughout Spain.
- Creation of an exhibition space for the Citröen, automobile French brand, with a garden of live butterflies at the presentation of the electric car at the Ecological Motor Show.
2011
- Publication in “Paraísos Magazine” of a report on the National Parks of Zambia (South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi, Kafué and Victoria Falls).
- Recording for TeleMadrid (Spanish TV channel) of the breeding programme of the Elizabethan Butterfly (Graellsia isabelae) for its programming in “Instinto Animal” (animal instinct).
2012
- Extension of the travelling exhibition “Los insectos más raros del mundo” (The rarest Insects in the world) in two more Spanish cities: Madrid and Cordoba.
- Collaboration with INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique) in the project of attraction by means of synthetic pheromone of the Saturniidae species: Eudia pavonia y Saturnia pyri.
2013
- Entomological scientific tour of the Aran Valley (Spain) and fieldwork to evaluate the population dynamics of lepidopteran species affected by climate change.
- Publication in “Hearst Magazine” of a report on Zambia’s National Parks –North Luangwa, South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi and Livingstone– on commission from the Zambia Tourism Board.
2014
- Start of the breeding programme of the protected species Graellsia isabelae for the Clavinova scientific project, to be carried out by the Department of Ecology of the University of Granada.
2015
- Project, design and integral development of the Nature Centre “InsectPark, Museo de la Microfauna” in San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Madrid, Spain) with the involvement of the Consejería de Medio Ambiente de la Comunidad de Madrid and the M. I. Ayuntamiento de San Lorenzo de el Escorial, managed by the founder of MICROFAUNA, S.L. Paloma Delgado González.
2016 to present
In the following years, both Pedro Velasco and Paloma Delgado have worked on the InsectPark project, developing environmental education programmes focused on insects and arachnids, aimed at educational centres as a complement to their subjects related to the natural environment.
They have carried out guided visits to the InsectPark centre and participative workshops to raise awareness among schoolchildren of the importance of conserving invertebrates as essential beings for the ecological balance of the planet.
This Nature Centre, which contains both live and naturalized species from all corners of the world, has become a reference point as an environmental tourist attraction in Madrid. InsectPark is an installation unique in Spain visited by a multitude of families, groups and schools, who come into direct contact with the world of insects and learn to value and respect it.