PR 02/04 1319 When the Bug Bite Bites: New Product Teaches Kids about the World's Beneficial Insects

TALENT, Ore., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Mention "bugs" to grownups and most people's thoughts turn to computers or insects. Mention bugs to kids, however, and you get a completely different reaction. Perhaps "A Bug's Life" had something to do with it, but most kids like bugs, both to look at and to collect.

That's good news. Beginning this week, kids across the United States and Canada will have 50 new bugs to look at, collect, and munch. Thanks to the Endangered Species Chocolate Company, a whole new product line known as Bug Bites(R) has been expanded to include insects from around the world. This latest generation of Bug Bites -- tasty little bite-sized squares of milk and dark chocolate with individually wrapped collectible trading cards -- joins a series of 48 insect cards already available in stores.

According to the Endangered Species Chocolate Company, the cards are meant to educate children and "the kid in all adults" about the world's beneficial insects. According to founder and president of the company, Jon Stocking, "Our company mission is to help in this small way to protect endangered species and their habitat. It is our hope that the more people know -- the kinder they are to all living creatures." Says Stocking: "Insects play an important role in our ecology. Without insects, we wouldn't have plants and the world would be a very different place."

The cards feature photography and factual information by graphic artist and entomologist, Dexter Sear. Sear is so passionate about insects he enthusiastically became involved in this project when Stocking approached him several years ago. Says Sear, "I want people to think of insects in a new way -- to really reconsider their attitudes toward these important creatures and the bug trading cards are a great place to begin." For the past 16 years, Sears has been traveling to some of the remotest areas of the world to shoot various insects in their habitat. His website: www.insects.org, provides information for adults and children to learn more about "very cool bugs" and "the planet's most diverse organisms." Sear's graphic design company, IO Vision, also designed the Bug Bite(R) packaging.

The 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 -inch "bug trading card" inside each package, contains such facts as "family," "order," and where and when the photo was taken, as well as interesting information on one side and a 4-color, close-up photo of the insect on the other. (You're literally staring some insects in the eyes -- that close up.)

Bug Bites(R) are made with certified organic chocolate. The company also makes Endangered Species Chocolate Bars featuring endangered animals, and Chimp Mints featuring 40 chimpanzees from the Jane Goodall Gombe Research Centre in Africa.

The Endangered Species Chocolate Company is located in Talent, Oregon. In its nine years of operation, more than $150,000 and countless product and materials have been donated to numerous organizations; among them are The Jane Goodall Institute, Defenders of Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation Society and American Forests. Links to these and other environmental and animal protection organizations are listed on the company's website http://www.chocolatebar.com -- EcoLinks. The company's products are distributed through North America in natural foods stores and specialty outlets. All products can be ordered and shipped to consumers through the company website http://www.chocolatebar.com -- ESCC Store.

SOURCE Endangered Species Chocolate Company