Violin Spider Joins Cast at Insect Zoo

The violin spider, known for its severely venomous bite, is one of the newest residents at the Ralph M. Parsons Insect Zoo at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in Exposition Park.

Using the zoo’s bioscanner--a video-operated camera--visitors can get close-up views of this and other arachnids, such as the black widow, orb weaver and green lynx spider.

A variety of live insects and interactive displays are also on exhibit. Call (213) 744-3558.

SCIENCE FOR FAMILIES

Children and their families can learn about the birds and animals of the local mountain environment in programs offered by the William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom and the Sooky Goldman Nature Center on Sunday. “Tykes on Hikes,” for children 4 to 7 and their parents, will begin at 10 a.m. Reservations are required. “Family Fun Frolic,” an easy-paced nature hike for families, will begin at 1:30 p.m. Call (310) 858-3834.

FOSSILS / GEOLOGY

Participants will learn about local geology and perhaps unearth some 16-million-year-old marine fossils in the Santa Monica Mountains. The outing will be led by paleontologist John Alderson and is offered through the Wilderness Institute on Saturday at 9 a.m. Call (818) 991-7327.

ASTRONOMY

“Robot Explorers,” spacecraft that have relayed amazing views of distant planets back to Earth, will be the topic of the Los Angeles Valley College Planetarium program on Friday at 8 p.m. Call (818) 781-1200, Ext. 335.

ORNITHOLOGY

An audiovisual program, “The American White Pelican,” will be presented at the Whittier Audubon Society meeting on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Whittier Community Center. Call (310) 699-2021.

HEALTH / MEDICINE

Dr. Irvin Chen, director of the UCLA AIDS Institute, will discuss “AIDS and HIV: Basic Research to Drug Development” as part of the UCLA Alumni Assn. Faculty Lecture Series at the James West Alumni Center on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. For reservations, call (310) 206-0622.

“Depression: the Biological-Psychological Connection,” will be the subject of a community education seminar at Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital in Marina del Rey on Thursday at 7 p.m. Preregistration is required. Call (800) 356-2824.

Oncologists Marilou Terpenning and Melani Shalin will present an overview on breast cancer treatments at the Breast Cancer Recovery Plus meeting at the Center for Women’s Health in Culver City on Saturday at 2 p.m. Call (310) 478-9463 or (310) 479-3846.

The physiological changes in the body caused by aging, as well as ethical and legal issues, will be explored in the “Biology of Aging,” a UCLA Extension class beginning Sept. 22. The 11-session class will meet in the School of Public Health. Call (310) 825-7093.

USC’s colloquium series on “The Future of Research in Aging” continues on Thursday e with a presentation on “The Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging,” by postdoctoral research fellow David Corina in Room 224 of the Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center at noon. Call (213) 740-8242.