Infection, Immunity & Microbionts Special Interest Group (SIG)
2026-04-16 10:00 - 2026-04-17 16:30 (Europe/London)
Infection, Immunity & Microbionts Special Interest Group (SIG)

Date: Thursday 16th – Friday 17th April 2026

Venue: Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath

Join our Infection, Immunity & Microbionts Special Interest Group for a two-day conference at the Milner Centre for Evolution, Bath.

Abstract submissions for oral and poster presentations are welcome from all research areas across the broad themes covered by the SIG (infection, immunity, microbiomes and symbionts). In addition, we plan a specific session focusing on functional consequences of insect immune interactions. Note that for this meeting we are happy to invite contributions from those who consider these topics within non-insect invertebrates, provided the research is relevant to insect systems.

Day 1: Symbionts and Microbiomes

Day 2: Pathogens and Immunity

There will be a conference dinner on the evening of Thursday 16 April, available at an additional cost. More information to follow…

Registration will be open shortly!

Keynote speakers

Ann Tate, Vanderbilt University, Tennessee, USA

Dr. Tate is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, USA. Her research investigates reciprocal ecological and evolutionary feedbacks between hosts and parasites. She uses a combination of theoretical approaches and experiments in insect model systems to understand how molecular details influence variation in population-level processes. Current areas of investigation include the evolution of pleiotropy in immune signaling networks, the role of co-infection in structuring ecological interactions across biological scales, and the evolution of stage-structured immunity across modes of metamorphosis.

Before moving to Vanderbilt she was a USDA NIFA postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Houston, USA, mentored by Tim Cooper. She completed my Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University (advised by Andrea L. Graham), and received her B.S. from Rice University, USA.

Stuart Reynolds, Emeritus Professor of Biology at the University of Bath

Born in Yorkshire but growing up in Lancashire, Stuart studied at Cambridge and did his PhD there too, working in the laboratory of Simon Maddrell on the stretchiness of insect cuticle. After a postdoc at Bristol with Charles Neville, he was lucky enough to win a Harkness Fellowship that took him to Seattle, USA, where he worked on the control of moulting with his heroes Jim Truman and Lynn Riddiford.

Returning to the UK in 1977 he took up a lectureship at Bath, where he has been ever since, working on all sorts of insect-related research problems, but especially the antagonistic co-evolutionary interactions between insects and their specialist pathogens.

Now retired, he is currently pottering about thinking about the evolution of metamorphosis and the evolution of host and vector ranges in parasites. He comments that he has always been interested in too many things at once and doesn’t see why he should stop now. He has been a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society since 1974 and organized a number of meetings for the Society including the memorable 2014 European Congress of Entomology at York. He was RES President in 2010-2012. He lives in rural Somerset, where he lives in a crumbling old house and likes gardening very much.

Call for abstracts

Abstract submissions for oral and poster presentations are welcome from all research areas across the broad themes covered by the SIG (infection, immunity, microbiomes and symbionts). In addition, we plan a specific session focusing on functional consequences of insect immune interactions. Note that for this meeting we are happy to invite contributions from those who consider these topics within non-insect invertebrates, provided the research is relevant to insect systems.

The deadline for submissions is Friday 6th March (5pm). Please note that all presenters must also register to attend the event.

Abstract Submission Form

Sponsorship

We would love to hear from companies who wish to support this event through an exhibition stand or sponsorship opportunity. Please see details of packages available below, or contact fran.fleming@royensoc.co.uk if you have any queries.

Sponsorship brochureDownload

Insect Hour: Pesticides, dogs & insect declines
2026-05-13 13:00 - 14:00 | https://www.royensoc.co.uk/event/insect-hour-pesticides-dogs-insect-declines/
Insect Hour: Pesticides, dogs & insect declines

Welcome to the first event in our online talk series exploring Grand Challenges in Entomology.

Insect Hour will be held every second Wednesday of the month* from 1pm-2pm (UK time). All are welcome – talks are free to attend and open to both RES members and non-members.

Register to attend below, grab a cuppa or sandwich and join us on Zoom! There will be time for questions and discussion towards the end of the session.

* Excluding August, September, and January

Talk summary

The extent and rate of insect declines are much discussed. Dave will focus on one driver of insect declines – our use of pesticides. He will highlight the global extent of pesticide use, but with a particular focus on use in gardens and as flea and tick treatments on domestic pets. He will explain the latest evidence that these uses are resulting in widespread contamination of rivers with potent insecticides.

The talk will be chaired by one of the RES Trustees or Events Committee.

Speaker

Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology at University of Sussex

Dave has published more than 350 scientific articles on the ecology of insects. He is the author of Bumblebees (OUP 2010), and of several bestselling popular books including A Sting in the Tale (2013), A Buzz in the Meadow (2014), The Garden Jungle (2019) and Silent Earth (2021), collectively translated in 20 languages.

Goulson founded the Bumblebee Conservation Trust in 2006, a charity that has grown to 12,000 members.

Awards: Zoological Society of London’s Marsh Award for Conservation Biology (2013); elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2013); British Ecological Society Public Engagement Award (2014); Zoological Society of London’s Clarivate Award for Communicating Zoology (2020).

In 2015 he was named number 8 in BBC Wildlife Magazine’s list of the most influential people in conservation. In the 6 years 2018-2023 he was named as a “Highly Cited Researcher” by Thompson ISI. He is an “Ambassador” for the UK Wildlife Trusts.

Insect Week 2026
2026-06-22 00:00 - 2026-06-28 23:59
Stand tall for the small this Insect Week

Insect Week is our annual celebration of the little things that run the world, dedicated to encouraging people of all ages to learn more about insects.

The Royal Entomological Society organises the week, supported by a large number of partner organisations with interests in the science, natural history and conservation of insects.

We look forward to all types of activities relating to insects including: art workshops, bug hunts, talks, exhibitions, discussion panels, media programmes, interactive exhibitions, art performances, school visits. If you would like to host an activity, please contact Fran Sconce.

Find out more at www.insectweek.org

What is an insect?

Why are they important?

What is an entomologist?

Get involved

Find an event

Visit the Insect Week Events page to find an event near you during Insect Week. We will be listing some of these nearer the time.

Planning an event during Insect Week?

Submit your event here and we will advertise it on our websites.

Want to organise an event but not sure where to start?

Visit our Organise an Event page for information to help you get your event up and running for Insect Week.

Biological Records

Biological records build a picture of where an insect species occurs (distribution), when it occurs in the year (phenology) and the habitat the insect is associated with (ecology). To monitor insect species, and see whether they are increasing or decreasing, we need detailed biological records to be collated over time. Your records can help ‘measure the health’ of insects in the UK.

Learn how to Record Insect Species here.

Competitions

Insect Week Photography Competition

The Insect Week Photography Competition is back again this year! Submit your best insect-themed photos for prizes and features. Be sure to read the Terms & Conditions before entering.

Insect Week Art Competition

Photography not your thing? We also have an Art Competition – Visit the Art & Photography Competition page to enter now.

Instar Magazine

Instar Magazine

Why not check out our digital magazine for young entomologists?

Find out more about insects and those people who study them in an exciting third edition of our digital magazine.

Read about metamorphosis, insect mouth parts, how insects hear & how to draw them!

Read Instar magazine online.

Social Media 🦋🐞🐝🐛

Follow @RoyEntSoc on social media platforms for more updates, great photography, interesting news and fun things to do, including our campaigns throughout the week.

Just tag us at @RoyEntSoc in posts with images, text, reels or your preferred medium and we will endeavour to share and feature as many as possible through our stories or reposts during #InsectWeek – Let’s do our best this week to share our love, respect and knowledge of insects.

#StandTallForTheSmall

Follow us on social media for updates and share your insect news and events using @royentsoc #InsectWeek

Bluesky (RES)

Bluesky (Journals)

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

YouTube

Get involved

XIII European Congress of Entomology - External
2026-06-29 08:00 - 2026-07-03 17:00
Welcome to ECE 2026

Join us in Tours, France, in the heart of the Loire Valley, from June 29 to July 3, 2026 for the XIII European Congress of Entomology.

Building on a rich tradition of international gatherings, ECE 2026 invites the global entomological community to share knowledge, foster collaboration; and explore the vital – and fascinating – role insects play in today’s world. From ecosystem services and sustainable innovation to the challenges of pests and invasive species, ECE 2026 will tackle it all.

ECE 2026 is the ideal forum for exploring this duality and the infinite diversity of insect species, evolutionary strategies, and insect-human interactions. With a rich program of plenary and keynote lectures, symposia, and poster sessions, our goal is to stimulate interdisciplinary dialogue – from fundamental science to applied innovation, from the molecular scale to global policy, and from biodiversity conservation to sustainable development.

Expect an inspiring scientific program, a warm atmosphere, and the French art de vivre – lively discussions by days, Loire valley gastronomy by night.

📅 Registration opens 10 July 2025🔗 Read more at www.ece2026.org

We look forward to welcoming you warmly to Tours in 2026.

Bienvenue à Tours!

(On behalf of the Organizing Committee)

The organizing committee of ECE2026 is proud to announce the Royal Entomological Society is a Gold Sponsor the XIII European Congress of Entomology, to be held in Tours, France from June 29 to July 3, 2026

Read more about ECE2026 and their supporters

Abstract Submission and Registration

Ento26
2026-09-08 09:00 - 2026-09-10 17:00
8 – 10 September 2026, Centre for Student Life, Cardiff University

We are delighted to invite you to Ento26, the Royal Entomological Society’s annual meeting dedicated to insect science. Join the global entomological community, with opportunities to present your work, meet new contacts and build collaborations.

You can join discussions on social media using #Ento26

Registration coming soon

Registration

Call for Symposia & Workshops

Exhibition & sponsorship

Rydym wrth ein bodd yn croesawu Ento26 i ddinas Caerdydd!

We are delighted to be hosting Ento26 in the city of Cardiff!

We would like to thank the Ento Convenors for their support with the programme planning.

Our Convenors represent four institutions across Wales. Swansea University, Bangor University, University of Bristol and BioMonde, Bridgend.

Lucy Alford

Micah Flores

Wendy Harris

Benjamin Jarrett

Meet the Convenors

Call for Symposia

After a successful pilot at Ento25, we are now accepting proposals for in-person member symposia and workshops at Ento26, and welcome submissions that highlight the full diversity and creativity of the entomological community, including innovative approaches, interdisciplinary perspectives, and voices from all backgrounds and career stages. Proposals relating to our Grand Challenges in Entomology are especially welcomed.

Submission deadline: Monday 19 January

Submit your application

Want to know more about the history of Ento?

Visit the Ento conference info hub

Join our international community and save on registration to all RES events

Sponsorship

Download the full sponsorship brochure

Purple Modern Sponsorship Proposal

Registration – coming soon

Advances in Hemipteran Research 2026
2026-10-29 10:00 - 2026-10-30 17:00
Advances in Hemipteran Research 2026

Thursday 29 October – Friday 30 October 2026

Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS), Brussels, Belgium

The Royal Entomological Society has expanded its former Aphid Special Interest Group to cover all hemipterans and is delighted to be working with the Aphid Research Network BAPOA, supported by INRAE, the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, on this joint event.

Too often, specialists work in isolation from others with whom they have much in common. All hemipterans have piercing mouthparts. Species from many families transmit plant viruses. On the other hand, they are hugely diverse. Some feed on plants, others on animals. They live on land, fresh water and even in the sea. Some are abundant pests, some are of conservation concern. Understanding commonalities and differences in terms of evolution, ecology, behaviour, physiology and systematics leads to improvements in practical outcomes.

Come and share your latest findings from the population to the molecular level and absorb those of others. Becoming more of a generalist can advance your specialism!

The call for abstracts and registration will be open in February 2026.

Conference dinner

Dinner at Le Roy d’Espagne for the evening of Thursday 29 October will be included in the conference price. This will comprise a three-course set menu and more information will be provided on registering.

Exhibition and Sponsorship

Join us in supporting our upcoming joint event! Connect with industry professionals, showcase your brand, and engage with an audience of approx. 150 delegates.

A range of sponsorship and exhibitor packages are available to suit different objectives and budgets, each offering valuable exposure and benefits. We are also happy to discuss bespoke packages tailored to your specific goals and needs.

Scroll down for exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities

Keynote speakers:

Prof. Thierry Hance, Université de Louvain-la-Neuve

Talk title: Demographics, sociality, behaviour and interactions: some evolutionary advantages of aphid populations

Thierry Hance’s laboratory

The Ecology of Interactions and Biological Control (EDIC) laboratory analyses multitrophic interactions between aphids (Aphididae), their parasitoids and the facultative symbiotic bacteria that give aphids complementary properties, as well as the viruses they can transmit to host plants. To gain the most comprehensive possible understanding of these interactions and their consequences, the team employs a variety of approaches, ranging from behavioural analysis to genome sequencing and the study of physiological aspects related to developmental temperatures. More recently, the influence of facultative endosymbionts of aphids, particularly cultivable strains of Serratia symbiotica, has been investigated. Circulation of the bacterium in the food web has been demonstrated, as has its role in defending aphids against parasitoids and modifying the behaviour of their hosts.

Biography

Thierry Hance is a trained biologist who specialises in ecology and population biology, particularly with regard to insects. He completed his PhD at UCLouvain, researching the role of predatory insect populations in protecting crops against aphids in agricultural areas. Following postdoctoral research into the adaptation of certain species to low temperatures at an Agriculture Canada research station, he was appointed a qualified researcher at the FNRS in Belgium in 1991. There, he developed research topics on the evolutionary relationships between plants and insects, and between hosts and parasitoids. Aphididae are at the centre of the models that I have studied in interaction with their parasitoids. Since becoming a professor at the Catholic University of Louvain in Louvain-la-Neuve in 1996, he has developed a research laboratory focusing on the ecology of interactions and biological control (EDIC). His research focuses on the ecology and population dynamics of insects and mites, some of which are of interest in agriculture. He has also developed practical biological control models for use in cereals, orchards, and greenhouses, with the aim of replacing pesticides. The expertise and technology developed in the EDIC laboratory has led to the establishment of a company specialising in producing insects for biological control purposes (www.viridaxis.com). He is currently focusing on the relationship between agriculture and biodiversity through European projects on the importance of landscape heterogeneity and crop management, including agroecological approaches.

Website: https://www.uclouvain.be/en/research-institutes/eli/eliv/team-hance

Prof. Saskia Hogenhout, John Innes Center

Talk title: Building resilience to insect-vectored plant pathogens

The Hogenhout Lab

The lab of Saskia Hogenhout investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-microbe-insect interactions (MPMII), with two main research directions. One focuses on the virulence strategies of insect-transmitted phytoplasmas, specifically how their effector proteins reprogram plant development and suppress immunity to benefit both the pathogen and its insect vector. The second explores the biology of sap-feeding hemipteran insects—including aphids, leafhoppers, and froghoppers—by generating population genomics resources and studying how their salivary proteins manipulate plant processes to facilitate feeding and transmission.

Biography

Saskia A. Hogenhout received her BSc and MSc from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 1994 and completed her PhD at Wageningen University in 1999. She began her independent career at The Ohio State University, where she was appointed Assistant Professor in 1999 and promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2005. In 2007, she relocated her lab to the John Innes Centre in the UK and became an Honorary Professor at the University of East Anglia in 2013. She was elected a Member of EMBO in 2023 and a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2024.

Website: https://www.jic.ac.uk/people/saskia-hogenhout/ Twitter: @SaskiaHogenhout

Dr Emmanuelle Jousselin, INRAE CBGP Montpellier

Talk title: Beyond Buchnera: the evolutionary consequences of symbiont turnover in Aphids

Biography

Emmanuelle Jousselin is a research scientist at CBGP, INRAE. Her research program focuses on understanding the evolutionary processes that structure interactions between phytophagous insects and their host plants, with a particular emphasis on aphids and their symbiotic bacteria. She combines molecular systematics, phylogenomic and macroevolutionary approaches to investigate host–symbiont coevolution, cospeciation, and the ecological and evolutionary drivers of symbiont turnover, which she has shown to be pivotal in aphid adaptation and diversification. Her recent work has focused on the phylogeny and the diversification of conifer-feeding aphids, and the evolutionary dynamics of nutritional symbionts in this group.

Sponsorship and Exhibition opportunities

Download the brochure

Hemiptera SIG 2026 sponsorship brochure

Orthoptera Special Interest Group (SIG) 2026
2026-11-04 12:00 - 17:30
Orthoptera Special Interest Group (SIG) 2026

Join us for the Royal Entomological Society’s annual Orthoptera meeting about grasshopper and cricket research, conservation, recording and more.

Our Orthoptera Special Interest Group (SIG) provides a forum for the discussion of all aspects of research and outreach involving Orthoptera, including behaviour, physiology, acoustics, ecology and taxonomy.

We welcome contributions from all enthusiasts, students, academics, and other professionals.

More information and details on how to register will follow in due course.

Insects as Food and Feed Special Interest Group (SIG) 2026
2026-11-19 09:30 - 2026-11-20 17:00
Insects as Food and Feed Special Interest Group (SIG) 2026

Date: Thursday 18th – Friday 19th November 2026 (timings TBC)

Venue: Central London (venue TBC)

After such a successful meeting in October 2025, we are pleased to announce that plans for IAFF2026 are under way! Keep an eye on this space for more details…

Here’s what our 2025 delegates had to say:

“Well organised, good agenda & speakers, valuable insights and diverse perspectives.”

“What a breath of fresh air. Compared to previous events I’ve been to, the breadth of topics covered was superb and the quality of the Keynote speakers excellent. This was everything you hope for at such an event.”

“It was packed with amazing information (relevant to my research) and rejuvenated my energies to move forward with studies.”

“I enjoyed the diversity of attendees, both academic and industry.”

Partner with us

We would love to hear from you if you are interested in partnering with us at IAFF26, as a sponsor or exhibitor. We are happy to tailor packages to suit your needs and budget. Packages will be available soon but meanwhile, please contact fran.fleming@royensoc.co.uk for more information.

Convenors

Dr Jessica Stokes, FRES

Jess is the Royal Entomological Society’s Project Officer. With a strong academic and industry background in vector-borne diseases, she maintains extensive links across academia and industry, including ongoing supervision and support of students. Elected a Fellow of the Society in 2025, she works across a broad portfolio of projects supporting emerging member needs, strengthening links between science and industry, and helping the RES develop innovative services for newly evolving areas of entomology.

Jess leads the Society’s work on insects as food and feed, supporting the development of best practice, policy-relevant guidance, and engagement with industry and other stakeholders.

Daniel Amor, University of Bristol

Daniel pursued a PhD at Nottingham, focusing on the relationship between insect protein structure and functionality in food systems – particularly in developing sustainable, high-protein snack products using compression popping. Following his PhD, Daniel continued as a researcher at Nottingham, contributing to a wide range of projects in soft matter biomaterials and biointerfaces, from fundamental biomaterials studies to clinical applications of non-fermentable fibre.

Daniel now teaches Biochemistry at the University of Bristol, where he co-convenes IAFF.

Kieran Robertson, Queen’s University Belfast

Kieran is a TEDx Speaker, Convenor of the RES Food & Feed Special Interest Group, Co-Chair and Secretary of the IWRS Early Career Committee, and a PhD Researcher at the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast. Throughout his PhD, Robertson seeks to research the application of insects and insect proteins in livestock feed to reduce soybean dependence and support sustainable agri-food systems.

ICE2028
2028-07-17 10:00 - 2028-07-21 17:00
XXVIII International Congress of Entomology 2028

We are excited to announce the XXVIII International Congress of Entomology (ICE2028) taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, hosted by the Entomological Society of Southern Africa in 2028.

More information TBC
