DEERFIELD, Mass. — Did you know that honey comes in different flavors depending on what flower field the bees go into?

Historic Deerfield kicked off its new "Six-Legged Legends" exhibit.

It’s where families can learn about the impact insects have had on shaping the New England area, as well as the role they play now.

Museum educator Faith Deering said caterpillars, in particular, are a huge factor in clothing.

"A small caterpillar known as the silkworm spins a cocoon and that cocoon is made of silk," said Deering. "And when it's pulled apart, you've got that strand of silk that can be woven into silk and fabrics. Silk and textiles."

Deering said honey comes in many different flavors depending on where the honey bees are getting their nectar from, and tasting the treat is one highlight here.

It was an eye-opening experience for many.

"I didn't know anything about silk moths," said Vermont resident Miles Powers. "I used to have bees, so I knew a bit about the bee thing, but I knew nothing about the different ways to stain and dye silk."

"We got to learn about caterpillars and how they turned into moths," said New Hampshire resident Fausto Godinez. "And that we got to make the candles."

Deering said there are more than 10 trillion insects on the planet and all of them contribute to how people conduct their daily lives, from pollenating our food to decomposing waste in the environment.

She said the goal of the exhibit is to make sure people understand the impact insects have.​

"People might walk into our kitchen where we do some cooking over the hart and the kitchen would be lit by candles. Hmm, well where did those candles come from? They came from the wax made by honey bees."

The Historic Deerfield insect exhibit will run Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 4:30 p.m. until August 28. On Friday, July 8, the museum will host an insect tasting event at Champney's restaurant at the Deerfield Inn.