Royal Entomological Society

Young Verrall Lecture 2025
2025-03-01 14:30 - 15:30 (Europe/London)
Saturday 1 March, 2024 The Catalyst Building, University of Staffordshire, Leek Rd, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF

Join the Amateur Entomologists’ Society and Royal Entomological Society for the Young Verrall Lecture taking place on Saturday 1 March in Stoke-on-Trent.

This free talk ‘Defend, Deal, or Depend? Plants and Insects in Partnership’ given by Dr Ben Clunie from Harper Adams University, is aimed at young entomologists, particularly those 7-11 years, but open to all, will be in person as part of the Staffordshire Invertebrate Science Fair, a free family event from 10:30-16:00 with stands, activities, and talks all about invertebrates.

Find out more about the Staffordshire Invertebrate Science Fair: https://www.facebook.com/staffsbugfest

Professor Iain Couzin will be giving the 2025 Verrall Lecture at Imperial College London, on Wednesday 5 March.

Dr Ben Clunie

Dr Ben Clunie is an applied entomologist with expertise in integrated pest management and agroecology. He has a PhD that explored novel solutions for biological control of wireworm from Swansea University and has developed experience in working with entomopathogenic fungi, biopesticides and plant-insect interactions. His research focuses on finding sustainable solutions for agriculture that reduce conventional pesticide inputs and developing environmentally friendly alternatives for pest management.

Verrall Lecture 2025
2025-03-05 16:30 - 17:30 | Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ
Wednesday 5 March, 2025 Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building

The Verrall Lecture is an annual public event organised by the Royal Entomological Society, open to all and free to attend. The lecture takes place on the first Wednesday in March to coincide with the Annual Meeting of the Verrall Association of Entomologists, the Verrall Supper, which begun in 1887 by G.H. Verrall and is now organised by the Entomological Club. The Verrall Supper is not an RES event.

In 2021, RES joined with the Amateur Entomologists’ Society to organise the first Young Verrall lecture, with the same lecturer speaking to a younger audience. This takes place on Saturday 1 March at Staffordshire University as part of the Staffordshire Invertebrate Science Fair. Further details will be announced soon.

We are pleased the 2025 Verrall Lecture will be hosted by Imperial College London’s Centre for Environmental Policy.

Verrall Lecture 2025

From Democratic Consensus to Cannibalistic Hordes: The Remarkable World of Insect Swarms

Professor Iain CouzinDirector of the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior

Iain Couzin is Director of the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and a Professor and Speaker of the Excellence Cluster “Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour” at the University of Konstanz, Germany. Previously he was a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University, and prior to that a Royal Society University Research Fellow in the Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, and Junior Research Fellow in the Sciences at Balliol College, Oxford.

His work aims to reveal the fundamental principles that underlie evolved collective behavior, and consequently his research includes the study of a wide range of biological systems, from neural collectives to insect swarms, fish schools and primate groups.

In recognition of his research he has been recipient of the Searle Scholar Award in 2008, top 5 most cited papers of the decade in animal behavior research 1999-2010, National Geographic Emerging Explorer Award in 2012, the Scientific Medal of the Zoological Society of London in 2013, a Web of Science Global Highly Cited Researcher 2018-2022, the Lagrange Prize in 2019, the Falling Walls Life Sciences Award and the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (Germany’s highest research honor) in 2022, and the Rothschild Distinguished Fellowship at the University of Cambridge in 2023.

Registration

To attend in person, we encourage you to register for free at the bottom of the page to avoid queues at the venue. There is also the opportunity to turn up on the day.

The lecture will start at 16:30, there will be tea and coffee available from 16:00 outside the lecture hall. There will be an RES stand and rare books on display, so do arrive early to meet key members of the RES team.

If you are unable to attend in person, the talk will be recorded and shared after the event.

Location

The Verrall Lecture will take place in the G16 Lecture Theatre of the Sir Alexander Fleming Building at Imperial College London.

Sir Alexander Fleming BuildingImperial College RoadLondonSW7 2AZ

The nearest Tube station is South Kensington, a short walk from Imperial College London. Piccadilly, District and Circle line trains stop at South Kensington. This station is not step-free.

You can find a map of the campus here, the Sir Alexander Fleming Building can be found off Imperial College Road in grid square B3.

Verrall Supper 2025 - External Event
2025-03-05 17:30 - 21:00 | The Rembrandt, 11 Thurloe Place, Knightsbridge, London, SW7 2RS, United Kingdom
RES is supporting The Entomological Club with the online registration and ticketing for the Verrall Supper 2025

Please note: This is not an RES event and all enquiries must be made to the Verrall Association. Contact Ed Turner here.

Applications for subscriptions with tickets to the Supper will be closed on 12 February 2025. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accept any cancellations nor offer refunds after this date.

Subscribe to the Verrall Association and attend the Verrall Supper

The Verrall Supper 2025

The Verrall Supper (and annual meeting of the Verrall Association of Entomologists) is an annual dinner organised by the Entomological Club, to enable entomologists at all stages to meet, talk about insects, exchange ideas and learn from each other.

This year’s will be held on Wednesday 5 March 2025 at the Rembrandt Hotel, Cromwell Rd, London. Members gather from 5.30pm in the bar, and dinner is served at 7pm. Dinner includes wine or soft drinks if preferred.

A subscription to the Verrall Association and attendance at the supper is open to all entomologists, whatever their speciality and whether they are professional or amateur, retired or students. Many attendees also go to the annual Verrall Lecture, held before the supper at the Natural History Museum, given by a distinguished entomologist and organised by the Royal Entomological Society.

Subscriptions to The Verrall Association are for the year and entitle you to come to the Verrall Supper. The Verrall Supper is financed entirely from the annual subscriptions.

The amount paid as subscription is optional, but the ‘suggested subscription’ is calculated to cover the costs of the evening.

The Entomological Club recognises that not everyone can afford the recommended subscription, so people are encouraged to pay what they can afford. Traditionally some have chosen to pay more to allow this flexibility, and we invite everyone to consider this, and support the entomological community if they are able to. We also invite those who are unable to attend the Verrall Supper to pay a nominal amount (e.g. £10) to maintain their subscription – this money will also be used to subsidise others who cannot pay the full amount.

Please note that the venue of the Verrall Supper can only accommodate 180 people, so please do sign up early! Applications for subscriptions with tickets to the Supper will be closed on 12 February 2025. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accept any cancellations nor offer refunds after this date.

For all matters connected with the Verrall Association and the Supper, please contact Ed Turner.

Annual Subscription 2025

Please choose the subscription you wish to pay below. We encourage everyone to pay the recommended amount or more, to allow students and others who are unable to pay the recommended amount to attend the Verrall Supper.

Bursaries Available

We encourage anyone just starting in the field of entomology, including students and those beginning with entomology as a non-professional, to apply for the Van Emden Bursary. This will cover the recommended subscription and up to £40 of travelling expenses to attend.

Please apply directly through The Entomological Club website and do not complete the form below until you are notified.

Subscription

By purchasing below, you are registering for a 12 month Subscription to the Verrall Association of Entomologists.

Pricing for 12 month Subscription and for attendance to the Verrall Supper displays a recommended value of £75. You do however have the option of offering more (or less) towards the event.

Your subscription confirmation and ticket to the Verrall Supper will be sent to you by e-mail. Please bring this and either a business card or name tag with you to place on a table and reserve your seat.

Please note that refunds and any bookings will not be possible after 12 February 2025.

Student Forum 2025
2025-03-31 10:00 - 2025-04-01 17:00 | University of Reading, RG6 6AH
Monday 31 March – Tuesday 01 April, 10:00 – 17:00 University of Reading and Online

We are delighted to announce details for our 2025 Student Forum! This annual two-day event run by the Royal Entomological Society’s student representatives is aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students studying insects.

It provides an opportunity to network and discuss ideas with other students, consider options for your future careers in entomology, and share your research in a welcoming space. The programme also includes talks and careers advice from invited insect scientists and interactive workshops to help develop skills to help further your careers. Please note due to their interactive nature, workshop will only be available to those joining in person.

The 2025 event will be run both in-person at the University of Reading and the talks will also be live streamed online.

Invited speakers

We welcome the following invited speakers who will provide keynote talks and share their experiences and advice on careers in entomology.

Dave Goulson, University of Sussex

Dave Goulson is Professor of Biology at University of Sussex, UK. He 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.

Franziska Kohlt, University of Leeds

Franziska Kohlt is a historian of science, science communication scholar and practitioner, with a focus on environment, health, and children’s culture, and the interplay of rhetoric, narrative and science. Her entomological interests cover the perceptions of insects, the narratives that shape them, and their ideological histories. She is currently working on a monograph on how Victorian Psychology and Fantastic Literature a language in which to communicate new scientific knowledge, its implications.

Chris Foster, University of Reading

Chris Foster is a lecturer at the University of Reading with teaching and research in entomology and landscape ecology. He also leads work on the insect collections within the Cole Museum of Zoology at Reading and co-ordinates the UK ground beetle recording scheme. He is interested in how the involvement of students at all levels in insect science, recording and outreach can promote insect conservation, with a particular passion for getting out in the field. Chris is a fellow of the Royal Entomological Society and involved in the society’s committee work.

Programme

Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract. The deadline has now passed and the full programme is available below.

Programme – Student Forum 2025Download

Registration

Registration is now open at the bottom of this page and covers the cost of both days of the conference, including refreshment breaks, lunches, and a poster session with drinks.

Please note there are discounted rates for student members of the RES, so if you are not a member already, consider joining today. Student membership is just £15 per year with one year’s free trial.

To access the discounted rates you will need to login to your account.

In-person registration deadline: 17:00 (GMT), Friday 7 March

In-personRES Student Member£40Non-member£60

Online registration deadline: 17:00 (GMT), Friday 21 March

OnlineRES Student Member£10Non-member£25

Social event

We welcome delegates to join us after the poster session on Monday evening for an insect themed pub quiz! Get ready for a night of buzzing brains and entomological excitement and join us for an engaging and light-hearted evening that will test your entomological knowledge, whilst continuing to network with others.

The social will take place at Zerodegrees, Reading and attendees are encouraged to order food in advance (a menu will be circulated to attendees closer to the date). Drinks maybe be purchased on the night.

Sponsors

Many thanks to Koppert for kindly sponsoring our 2025 Student Forum.

Thank you also to Watkins & Doncaster, nhbs and CABI for kindly providing prizes for the event.

RES Student representatives

Idris AdamsUniversity College London

Ben HawthorneNewcastle University

Vera KaunathUniversity of Potsdam

Big Give 2025
2025-04-22 12:00 - 2025-04-29 12:00
Green Match Fund 2025

Have your donation doubled between midday 22 and midday 29 April

Read more about the campaign

Help secure a future for the Large blue butterfly

Find out more and donate between 22 – 29 April

From midday 22 April until midday 29 April, we’re taking part in the Big Give Green Match Fund to raise £20,000 for conservation science.

About the Large blue

The iconic Large blue butterfly is a globally endangered species and was declared nationally extinct in 1979.

Thanks to the unique expertise of our conservation science team over the past 30+ years we have successfully reintroduced this rare species to Gloucestershire and Somerset, with new sites currently being identified. Seeing the Large blue fly across these landscapes has been a real conservation success story, one that truly bucks the trend of biodiversity decline.

However, over the course of the last ten years, there have been several extreme weather events which have seen the populations of these and associated species decline, making this iconic butterfly particularly vulnerable to climate change.

About the Big Give

The Big Give’s match funding campaigns offer a unique opportunity for you to double the difference you can make in the world for the causes close to your heart.

Their Green Match Fund is committed to amplifying the impact of every donation, doubling the difference for global efforts to protect and preserve our planet, making your support twice as powerful in driving meaningful change.

Help us raise £10,000 which will be match funded via Big Give – That means your contributions will be DOUBLED, giving us £20,000

The RES have a membership of over 5,000 entomologists and insect enthusiasts. Just £1 from each member takes us half way to our target.

Your kind donation will help to fund monitoring and vital equipment to carry out survey work:

A donation of £20 could help to train new people to monitor Large blue butterfly populations.

A donation of £50 could enable our team to undertake more ecological surveys on the current sites and research potential new sites for the species to thrive.

A donation of £100 could support us with installing additional temperature data loggers on Large blue sites to monitor the impact of extreme weather events.

A donation of £200 could pay towards the establishment of a new Large blue colony.

Have your donation doubled between 22 – 29 April

Find out more and donate between 22 – 29 April

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on this and other RES research projects

Subscribe to our newsletters

Insects and Culture
2025-05-20 10:00 - 16:00 | Natural History Museum, London, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London, SW7 5BD
Tuesday 20 May, 10:00 – 17:00 Natural History Museum (Neil Chalmers Lecture Theatre), London

Do you have an interest in the ways that insects have influenced art, culture and wider society?

Have you ever worked with artists, performers, musicians, writers or anyone in the creative sectors? Or had a desire to do so?

If so, you are invited to a FREE meeting at the Natural History Museum where the group of artists who exhibited work in the Insect Odyssey exhibition in 2022 (see Antenna 46/3) will meet to discuss their coming exhibition in February 2026 in Bath and explore possible collaborations.

There will be a morning of short talks from entomologists and artists, including Dr Erica McAlister Hon.FRES and after lunch there is a look behind the scenes of the Diptera and Lepidoptera departments.

The event will be capped at 40 to ensure everyone is able to attend a behind the scenes tour.

If this meeting is a success, the Society is considering holding more meetings in this vein.

Programme – Insects and CultureDownload

The event is exclusive to RES Members and Fellows only.

The event is free to attend but if you wish to make a donation towards the cost of our events, you can do so here:

Donate to the RES

Royal Entomological Society Photo Exhibition 2025
2025-06-16 10:00 - 2025-07-20 17:00 | World Museum Liverpool, William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN
Visit World Museum Liverpool for the Royal Entomological Society Photo Exhibition

Organised by the Royal Entomological Society, celebrate Insect Week at World Museum Liverpool with this photographic exhibition featuring a selection of stand out images from the Royal Entomological Society’s annual photography competition, which is open for entries until 31 October 2025.

Insect Week, which runs between 22 – 29 June 2025, is organised by the Royal Entomological Society and supported by partner organisations throughout the UK and Europe. Wherever you live, it’s an opportunity to take part in insect science, get to know insects, learn from experts, and have fun.

Find the exhibition between 16 June and 20 July 2025 in the Museum’s Bug House gallery.

The Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday and bank holidays.

Exhibition supported by Mitie

Read more

Accessibility

Museum Website

RES Insect Week photo exhibition at World Museum Liverpool

Insect Week 2025
2025-06-23 00:00 - 2025-06-29 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 @InsectWeek 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 with @InsectWeek 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 #InsectWeek25 – Let’s do our best this week to share our love, respect and knowledge of insects.

#StandTallForTheSmall

Our socials:

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

Note – We do not provide recordings of events or presentations as standard, unless otherwise stated.

Explore insects at Stratford Cross - Insect Week 2025
2025-06-28 10:00 - 16:00
Celebrate Insect Week at the Royal Entomological Society’s Insect Garden at Stratford Cross, East London

Take part in interactive activities around the garden about insects, explore the different habitats, and meet insect scientist members of the Royal Entomological Society.

Location

Royal Entomological Society insect gardenEndeavour SquareLONDONE201JNUnited Kingdom

Accessibility

The garden has flat pathways around and through. There are some gravelly areas that may not be suitable for wheelchair users.

Contact

For any questions, contact Francisca Sconce at fran@royensoc.co.uk

Event activities around the garden

Pollination (led by Joshua Sammy)

Pollinators, and bee or not to bee activity on mimicking

Display of different flower shapes and importance for insect mouthparts

POMS FIT survey on flowers in the garden

Which insects pollinate different food types

Decomposition/Soil invertebrates (led by Victoria Burton)

Minibeasts hunt in leaf litter

Specimen display of insect in soil

White trays, pots and lenses.

Biocontrol (led by Jasper Hubert)

Predator & prey insects under the microscope, ladybirds, parasitoid wasp, lacewings

Why tolerating a little pest damage is important to maintain predator populations

Importance for agriculture/horticulture and the food we all eat

Gardening for insects (led by Hayley Jones)

What you can do for insects in small and large spaces

Hoverfly nectar feast display and information leaflet

Design your insect garden activity with poster, pens and paper

RES information (led by Fran Sconce)

About the RES

RES Books and bug hunting kit display

Drawer of pinned UK insect specimens

Insect Week 2025 leaflets

Evaluation (led by Kevin Burchell)

Kevin from Resources for Change will be evaluating our activities

Visitors can answer in person questions, or do an online survey

We will have self evaluation questions for after the event

Ento25
2025-09-09 00:00 - 2025-09-11 23:59
9 – 11 September 2025Technology & Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow

We are delighted to invite you to Ento25, 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 #Ento25

In-person registration

Online registration

Abstract submission

Plenary speakers

Accommodation & Travel

Exhibition & sponsorship

AGM 2025

Thank you to everyone who attended Ento25 and made this conference incredible.

Did you catch the Wigglesworth Memorial Lecture and all of the Plenary talks?

Watch them back on YouTube now

In-person registration

Registration for Ento25 is now closed. Please contact fran.fleming@royensoc.co.uk for any late registration or conference dinner requests.

Thank you to Glasgow Convention Bureau for their support of Ento25.

Ento25 Convenors

Gail Jackson, University of Edinburgh

Ali Karley, The James Hutton Institute, Dundee

Mauro Pazmino Betancourth, University of Glasgow

Fiona Highet, SASA, Edinburgh

Meet the convenors

Registration

We work hard to ensure registration costs remain accessible and offer significantly reduced rates for RES members. If you aren’t already a member, join today!

Become a member

Ento25 Programme

Ento25 FINAL PROGRAMME (higher Res)Download

As part of your in-person registration you will have access to:

Three days immersed in the current themes across insect science

The chance to present your work to the global entomological community

Four internationally renowned plenary speakers

Key themed topics led by keynote speakers

Workshops to develop skills and network interactively

Social events and activities to meet new colleagues and build collaborations

Refreshments and lunches throughout the conference

Civic Reception hosted by The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Glasgow

Option to attend conference dinner and cèilidh (additional cost)

Civic Reception

At 6pm on Tuesday 9th September, we are delighted to invite you to a Civic Reception at Glasgow City Chambers, hosted by The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Glasgow or one of their Bailies (Senior Councillors).

Glasgow City Chambers is a very short walk from the conference venue.

Join us for a welcome drink and introduction to Glasgow!

Conference dinner

Join us on Wednesday 10 September at the Ento25 conference dinner and cèilidh! Enjoy an evening socialising and dancing with colleagues old and new, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central, a 20-minute walk from the main conference venue.

Spaces are limited so book now to save disappointment. Tickets can be added to your registration booking and are priced at £65 per person and include:

An arrival drink

Dinner from a selection of street food stations

Half a bottle of wine

Tea & coffee

Dancing with a traditional Scottish cèilidh!

EntOlympics

We are delighted to welcome back EntOlympics – an entomology quiz for student and early career insect scientists. This is a pub quiz style activity where teams compete using their entomological general knowledge and insect ID skills for a team prize (kindly provided by NHBS)

Please tick to indicate your interest in taking part when you register. You will be assigned teams on the night. Committee Room 9 is a short walk from the main conference venue and you can purchase food and drinks at the venue.

Want to know more about the history of Ento?

Visit the Ento conference hub

Registration Fees

Early bird registration deadline: 17:00 (BST), Sunday 13 JulyStandard registration deadline: 17:00 (BST), Monday 25 August

Earlybird Prices (Valid up to Sunday 13 July)Student member – Full£110Member/Fellow– Full£220Associate member – Full£350Non-member – Full£350Student member – 1 day£55Member/Fellow – 1 day£115Associate member – 1 day£185Non-member – 1 day£185

Standard Prices(From 4 July – 15 August)Student member – Full£160Member/Fellow – Full£290Associate member -Full£440Non-member – Full£440Student member – 1 day£95Member/Fellow – 1 day£185Associate member – 1 day£265Non-member – 1 day£265

Not a RES Member or Fellow yet?

To join the Society as a standard Member, our 2025 membership fee is £68. Taking advantage of the Ento25 earlybird rate of £220 brings your full registration costs to £288 (a saving of £62 – plus discounted attendance to all of our conferences for the rest of the year and additional membership benefits)

Membership rates 2025

Student Membership£16 (first year free, proof of studentship required)Standard Membership£68Concessionary Membership(Resident of Low Income Countries)£25Concessionary Membership(Retired/Over 65 or resident of Middle Income Countries)£33Fellowship£91Concessionary Fellowship(Resident of Low Income Countries)£36Concessionary Fellowship(Retired/Over 65 or resident of Middle Income Countries)£49

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

If you are registering on behalf of someone else, please be sure to use the name and details of the person attending.

If you require any assistance with your purchase or would like more information, please feel free to email us at info@royensoc.co.uk.

Are you a RES Member or Fellow?

Log in to your membership account for access to discounted tickets.

The Ento25 In-person registration deadline has been extended – Final Deadline 25 August 2025.

There’s still time to take part – Want to join us for Ento25 Online?

Register here for Ento25 Online

Refund policy

If cancellation is received before 17:00 (BST), Friday 18 July, the full registration fee will be given.

If cancellation is received after 17:00 (BST), Friday 18 July, but before 17:00 (BST), Friday 15 August, 50% of the registration fee will be refunded.

No refunds will be given after 17:00 (BST), Friday 15 August

Ento25: Online
2025-09-09 10:00 - 2025-09-11 17:00 | https://www.royensoc.co.uk/event/ento25-online/
9 – 11 September 2025Technology & Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow

We are delighted to invite you to Ento25, 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 #Ento25

In-person registration

Online registration

Abstract submission

Plenary speakers

Accommodation & Travel

Exhibition & sponsorship

AGM 2025

Online registration

Online registration for Ento25 is now open! Join entomologists from around the world to present your work, meet new contacts, and build on your career! To register, please select from the tickets at the bottom of this page.

Ento 25 Convenors

Gail Jackson, University of Edinburgh

Ali Karley, The James Hutton Institute, Dundee

Mauro Pazmino Betancourth, University of Glasgow

Fiona Highet, SASA, Edinburgh

Meet the convenors

Registration

We work hard to ensure registration costs remain accessible and offer significantly reduced rates for RES members. If you aren’t already a member, join today!

Become a member

As part of your online registration you will have access to:

3 days immersed in the current themes across insect science

The chance to present your work online to the global entomological community

Three internationally renowned plenary speakers

Key themed topics led by keynote speakers

Registration deadline: 17:00 (BST), Sunday 7 September

Online registrationStudent member£40Member£80Associate member£200Non-member£200

If you are registering on behalf of someone else, please be sure to use the name and details of the person attending.

If you require any assistance with your purchase or would like more information, please feel free to email us at info@royensoc.co.uk

Are you a member? Log in to your membership account for access to discounted tickets.

Please note this page is for online registration. If you want to join in-person, please click the link below.

In-person Registration

Programme

Ento25 FINAL PROGRAMME (higher Res)Download

Note: Ento25 Online is a live stream of the conference talks and will not be recorded for later viewing.

Refund policy

If cancellation is received before 17:00 (BST), Friday 19 July, the full registration fee will be refunded.

If cancellation is received after 17:00 (BST), Friday 19 July, but before 17:00 (BST), Wednesday 3 September, 50% of the registration fee will be refunded.

No refunds will be given after 17:00 (BST), Wednesday 3 September.

Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2025
2025-09-09 13:00 - 14:00 | https://www.royensoc.co.uk/event/annual-general-meeting-agm-2025/
The Royal Entomological Society AGM to take place as an in-person and online event during Ento25

Find out more about Ento25

All members and fellows are welcome to join the meeting (online and in-person) to hear about RES activities over the last year.

View the AGM papers using the following links.

2024-2025 Annual Report

RES Annual Report 2025 Final V 2 AGM 2025Download

AGM 2025 Agenda

AGM 2024 Minutes

RES AGM Bye-law Updates

RES draft Amended Bye-Laws 2025

Read more about the RES AGM

Read the latest RES Strategy

We will also welcome our new Trustees

Please don’t forget to vote for our new Trustees and Committee Chairs.

The voting process

Online voting information will be emailed to the Membership and displayed on the website.

Voting will close on 26 August 2025.

Vote for RES Trustees

Candidates will be notified of the results before the AGM. Council will announce the results at the AGM on 9 September 2025, taking place during Ento25.

How to attend

To attend the AGM online, please register below for free. You will be sent the streaming link shortly before the meeting.

Green Planet Design Conference 2025 - External Event
2025-09-25 10:30 - 15:30
Green Planet Design Conference

25 September 2025 – 10:30 – 15.30

Kingfisher Suite, Camley Street Natural Park, Kings Cross, London

Join us alongside Mitie, Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Plantlife for our Green Planet Design Conference

Click here to read more and register

The Event

Join us for a day of interactive workshop sessions exploring how estate owners can create nature-positive assets.

We will look at how to support biodiversity while delivering real value for business.

The day will be led by Mitie’s Green Planet Design team alongside leading environmental charities, Plantlife, The Royal Entomological Society and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

The Venue

This year’s conference will take place in the heart one of London’s hidden gems, the Camley Street Natural Park near King’s Cross. The park is a unique natural reserve with woodland, grassland and wetland habitats.

The Event

10.30 – 15.30. Arrivals from 10.00 for a 10.30 start. Lunch and refreshments provided.

The day will be split into 4 workshop sessions, including a short walking tour.

Workshops led by:

Plantlife is best known for its hugely successful and impactful No Mow May initiative that’s struck a chord with millions of people across the UK, and does great work to raise the awareness of the importance of grasslands as a habitat to increase and maintain biodiversity nationally. Find out more

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is best known for it’s Bee the Change initiative, raising awareness of how we can all become part of conservation our pollinating insect population across the UK. Find out more

Mitie transforms places for customers with technology, innovation and their passion for excellence. Founded in 1987, Mitie are the UK’s leading facilities management and professional services company. Find out more

Who is attending?

Director of Estates and Building Services

UK Property Director

Global Head of ESG, Property Management

Group Sustainability Director

Director of Sustainability

Director of Supply Chain & Head of Charity

Environmental & Energy Manager

UK Head of Sustainability

Environment Advisor

Head of Forestry

Strategic Director

Head of Commercial and Supply Chain

Insects as Food and Feed (SIG) 2025
2025-10-09 09:15 - 16:30 | https://www.royensoc.co.uk/event/iaff25/
Insects as Food and Feed: delivering sustainable protein to the food system

Date: Thursday 9 October 2025 (09:15 – 16:30)

Venue: Elm Grove Conference Centre, The University of Roehampton: Home – Roehampton Venues

Listen to informative talks around the subject of insect protein, the benefits, ethics and issues surrounding the rearing of insects, their uses in pathology, industry, agriculture & farming, cattle feed and protein for human and non-human animal consumption.

Topics include:

Ethics of entomophagy: insect protein within the UK landscape

Nutritional value of insect protein in animal feed and human food

Application of insects/insect protein in food and feed formulation

The Insects as Food and Feed Special Interest Group (SIG) is slightly different from other SIG’s as it aims to offer a focus for an emerging industry rather that an area of study. As part of the Society’s Grand Challenges in Entomology, the Insects as Food and Feed SIG brings together a diverse range of people from across this embryonic industry such as scientists, farmers, food technologists, lawyers and chefs to examine the vast range of possibilities offered by insects as a novel source of protein for both human and livestock consumption and more.

This annual event will report on current research and industry innovations, plus offering open discussions with informed panels and opportunities for informal talks and networking. Anyone with an interest in the area is welcome to attend.

There will be an opportunity to meet informally for drinks and food after the event, and more information will follow closer to the date.

In Partnership with Michelmores: The Michelmores Sustainable Agriculture practice is dedicated to working with businesses whose technologies and practices are tackling the most pressing issues facing the agriculture sector: climate change and biodiversity loss.

We thank the Insect Welfare Research Society (IWRS) for support through a Small Meetings Grant.

Programme

Programme – IAFF 2025Download

Keynotes speakers:

Prof. Jonathan Birch, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience, the LSE

Talk title: The Minds of Insects and Why They Matter

Jonathan is a Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience at the LSE. In 2021, he led a Review of the Evidence of Sentience in Cephalopod Molluscs and Decapod Crustaceans that led to invertebrate animals including octopuses, crabs and lobsters being included in the UK government’s Sentience Bill.

In 2024, Jonathan published The Edge of Sentience: Risk and Precaution in Humans, Other Animals, and AI.

Dr. Jo Gould, Assistant Professor in Food Sciences, The University of Nottingham

Talk title: Talk Title: Insect protein functionality for structuring food products

Jo holds a BSc in Food Science and Nutrition and a Ph.D in Food Science from the University of Nottingham. Her Ph.D research focused on understanding the functionality and applicability of cocoa particles as a natural particulate emulsifier. Following on from her Ph.D, in a postdoctoral research role with the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacture in Food, Jo continued research into natural particulate emulsifiers confirming the role of lignin in the emulsifying properties of cocoa particles and utilising existing processes in the bioenergy industry to create hydrophobic natural Pickering particles from food waste.

Jo was appointed as an Assistant Professor in Food Science at the University of Nottingham in September 2017 and is part of the Food Materials Science Group. Research focuses on incorporating sustainable sources of protein – insect and plant proteins – into food microstructures, by understanding the relationship between processing – functionality – safety of an ingredient.

Prof. Tim Parr, Professor in Nutritional Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Nottingham

Talk title: The nutrient composition of insects: determining factors that influence nutrient composition for feed and food

Tim is a Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry from School of Biosciences and the Food Systems Institute at the University of Nottingham. His research examines metabolic adaptations which production animals can undergo to enhance nutrient production efficiency and quality.

His most recent published research has been working on projects examining how manipulation of insect’s diet effects their growth and their nutrient body composition, and how adaptable this is.

Ben Brown, Co-Founder & COO, InsectBiotech

Talk title: Optimising Black Soldier Fly larvae use: waste residue conversion as the future of feed

Ben is a seasoned entrepreneur and operational leader with over 20 years of experience as Chief Operating Officer across multiple industries, including healthcare tech, manufacturing, and CRM. He successfully built and exited several start-ups, combining strategic insight with deep financial expertise.

Originally trained as a marine biologist, Ben brings a unique blend of scientific rigor and operational acumen. Ben holds an MBA from SDA Bocconi, and B.Sc & B.Comm from the University of Western Australia.

Exhibition

If you are interested in exhibiting at this event, please contact fran.fleming@royensoc.co.uk

Convenors

Daniel Amor – daniel.amor@bristol.ac.uk

Kieran Robertson – krobertson05@qub.ac.uk

Read more about the Food & Feed SIG

Registration

Registration for in-person attendance is now closed, but there are still a few places available. Please contact fran.fleming@royensoc.co.uk for more information. There are significantly discounted rates for RES members, so if you are not a member already, consider joining today!

To access discounted member rates, you must be logged into your account before registering.

Attending the Insects as Food and Feed Conference qualifies for 6 BASIS CPD points, supporting your continued professional development. A sign-in sheet will be available at the event.

In-person registration deadline: 17:00 (GMT), Monday 29 September 2025

In-personRES Student Member£25RES Member/Fellow£55Standard Registration (Associate members and Non-members)£100

Online registration deadline: 17:00 (GMT), Thursday 9 October 2025

OnlineRES Student Member£10RES Member/Fellow£20Standard Registration (Associate members and Non-members)£70

External - XII International Symposium on Aphids
2025-10-13 08:00 - 2025-10-17 17:00
XII International Symposium on Aphids

13-17 October 2025, Yongpyong, Korea

Organized by Prof. Seunghwan LEE, Laboratory of Insect Biosystematics, Division of Entomology, Seoul National University (SNU), Korea.

For more information and details of how to register, please visit the official ISA website here.

New Scientist Live 2025 – External Event
2025-10-18 10:00 - 2025-10-20 17:00
New Scientist Live 2025

Sat 18 – Sun 19 October 2025, Mon 20 Oct Schools’ Day.

ExCeL Centre London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL

Come and see the RES at New Scientist Live

Visit us at the Royal Entomological Society stand at New Scientist Live 2025.

Meet some live insects, find about why insects and entomology is important in our world, talk with entomologists and hear about careers with insects.

Orthoptera Special Interest Group (SIG) 2025
2025-11-05 12:00 - 17:00 | https://www.royensoc.co.uk/event/orthoptera-2025/
Orthoptera Special Interest Group (SIG) 2025

Join us at The Natural History Museum, London 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. The programme includes around ten short talks, with posters and livestock presented during refreshment breaks. The meeting is followed by an optional supper and drinks in the NHM common room.

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

Abstracts

Please contact one of the SIG Convenors below directly if you would like to present a talk or poster, or bring along some live specimens.

SIG Convenors

Darron Cullen: d.cullen@hull.ac.uk

Judith Marshall j.marshall@nhm.ac.uk

Ed Baker: edward.baker@nhm.ac.uk

Beulah Garner: b.garner@nhm.ac.uk

Programme

Programme – Orthoptera SIG 2025Download

Registration

Registration is now open at the bottom of this page. Please note there are discounted rates for members of the RES, so if you are not a member already, consider joining today!

To access discounted member rates, you must be logged into your account before registering.

We welcome those attending in person to join after the event for a buffet dinner at NHM. Tickets can be added when registering for an additional £15.

In-person registration deadline: 17:00 (GMT), Monday 27 October

In-personRES Student Member£5RES Member/Fellow£10Standard Registration (Associate members and Non-members)£15

Online registration deadline: 17:00 (GMT), Monday 3 November

OnlineRES Student MemberFreeRES Member/Fellow£5Standard Registration (Associate members and Non-members)£10

ESA 2025 - External Event
2025-11-09 08:00 - 2025-11-12 17:00
Say Hello to the Royal Entomological Society Team at the Entomological Society of America (ESA) meeting 9-12 November 2025 in Portland, Oregon

Heading to the Entomological Society of America (ESA) meeting in Portland, Oregon?

Come and meet the Royal Entomological Society team at Booth 206!

We’d love to connect, chat about all things entomology, and share what’s new at RES.

See you there! 🪲

Why This Year is Unmissable:

Innovative Ideas: Dive into groundbreaking research and cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future of insect- science.

Legacy of Knowledge: Honor the rich history and contributions of entomologists who have paved the way for today’s advancements.

Passionate Community: Connect with a vibrant network of professionals who are as enthusiastic about insects as you are.

Exclusive In-Person Experience:

No Virtual Presentations: Immerse yourself fully in the live, interactive sessions and hands-on workshops.

Networking Opportunities: Forge new friendships and professional connections that will last a lifetime.

Memorable Moments: Create lasting memories with fellow entomologists in the beautiful city of Portland.

Read more on the ESA website

Outreach, Culture & Education SIG 2025
2025-11-22 09:00 - 17:00
Outreach, Culture & Education Special Interest Group (SIG) 2025

We are excited to invite you to the next RES Outreach SIG meeting at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh on 22 November. Come and join us and…

Be inspired…

By our guest speakers:

Entomologist, farmer and conservationist Dr Sarah Beynon, shares her experience of Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm and her latest conservation projects

Naturalist, ecologist and TV presenter Nick Baker, who is embarking on a new Scottish wood ant project

Be creative…

In workshops with:

Curator Ashleigh Whiffin, Engagement Manager Ashley Mackenzie-White, and Artist Ed Harrison will share how the Wild Wings of Hope project was delivered at NMS and give delegates a taster of these creative workshops.

Jessica Symons, the anthropologist and digital consultant who brought us Giant Insect World, will be guiding us to create modern, dynamic experiences

Be collaborative…

Throughout the day, with:

A dedicated poster session to network, chat and see what exciting entomology outreach projects have been going on

Opportunities to meet like-minded people and plan your next outreach venture, whether it’s a small local project or a major event for Insect Week!

If you love entomology outreach, this is the place for you!

Read more about the RES SIGs

Programme

Programme – Outreach, Education and Culture SIG 2025Download

Registration

Registration is now open at the bottom of this page. Please note there are discounted rates for members of the RES, so if you are not a member already, consider joining today!

To access discounted member rates, you must be logged into your account before registering.

Registration Fees

In-person registration deadline: 17:00 (GMT), Friday 14 November

In-personRES Student Member£20RES Member£40Standard Registration (Associate members and Non-members)£60

Irish Entomologists' Meeting 2025
2025-12-01 09:30 - 16:30
Irish Entomologists’ Meeting

The Royal Entomological Society and the Student Entomological Society of Ireland are delighted to host an Irish Entomologist’s Meeting on 1st December 2025. This full day meeting will be hosted at University College Dublin, where we will hear from those involved in, using or supporting entomological research. Whether you’re an entomologist working in Ireland, interested in Irish entomology, or interested in a trip to Dublin – everyone is welcome! Lunch and refreshments will be provided on the day.Abstract submissions are now closed.

Programme

Programme – Irish Entomologists Meeting 2025 v2Download

Registration

Registration is now closed.

To access discounted member rates, you must be logged into your account before registering.

Deadline for registration: Friday 21 November

In-personRES Student Member£8RES Member£15Standard Registration (Associate members and Non-members)£30

BES Annual Meeting 2025 - External Event
2025-12-15 08:00 - 2025-12-18 17:00
Say Hello to the Royal Entomological Society Team at the British Ecological Society (BES) Annual Meeting 2025 in Edinburgh 15-18 December.

Heading to the British Ecological Society (BES) Annual Meeting 2025 in Edinburgh?

Come and meet the Royal Entomological Society team at stand LT7!

We’d love to connect, chat about all things entomology, and share what’s new at RES.

See you there! 🪲

Each year, the BES Annual Meeting attracts around 1500 delegates and provides opportunities to meet new colleagues, develop your career, learn new skills, and share your science with the global ecological community.

BES will be offering an exciting programme of internationally renowned plenary speakers, diverse thematic sessions, engaging workshops, and a variety of networking events. We are delighted to be joining them at EICC Edinburgh for 2025.

View the programme

Read more on the BES website

Entographica: The Invertebrate-Inspired Art Exhibition - External Event
2026-01-29 10:00 - 2026-02-26 16:00
Entographica, an exhibition of invertebrate inspired art from the Entographic Collective.

Bath Royal Literature and Science Institute, Queens Square, Bath, UK.

A diverse range of invertebrate portraits from 15 artists, ranging from glass carbide beetles to delicate fabric flies, phantom moths to the surreal genitalia of spiders and much more.

View works of art designed to inspire a fresh rapport with the smaller champions of the natural world, an introduction to a world of intricate and complex beauty that will fire imaginations and lead to a new understanding of the vital role they play in maintaining our planet.

More information can be found here: Home – Entographica or contact Peter Smithers at peter@royensoc.co.uk

Details

The exhibition will run from 29 January to 26 February 2026.

Monday – Saturday 10am – 4pm.

Free entry.

The Entographica exhibition is supported by RES Goodman Fund.

Behaviour Special Interest Group (SIG) 2026
2026-02-10 09:30 - 17:00 | https://www.royensoc.co.uk/event/behaviour-special-interest-group-sig-2026/
Behaviour Special Interest Group (SIG) 2026

Emerging themes: Novel techniques in insect behaviour studies

Date: Tuesday 10 February 2026 (9.30am – 5pm)

Venue: The Studio, Birmingham and online

The Behaviour SIG is a forum for the exchange of information, ideas and techniques relating to insect behaviour.

Insects have a major impact on our lives, as they pollinate, as well as devastate, crop plants, transmit diseases and may serve as a potential source of nutrition. With over one million species described and four million hypothesised to exist, insects are the most diverse group of animals, and such diversity is reflected in their behaviour.

Insects can be great study subjects, as their behaviour can be fairly easily investigated at all levels of analysis, championing our understanding of biological phenomena in general. Not surprising that the 2017 Nobel prize was given for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying circadian rhythms using Drosophila.

Technological advancements in the last few decades have increasingly allowed the elucidation of insect behaviour that is now inspiring robotic technology, sensor development, neural processing and many more fields.

The aim of this meeting is for researchers and companies to share their experience of novel techniques and technology to advance the study of insect behaviour. Topics may include, but are not exclusive to, biotremology, monitoring and detection, air pressure influences, electroreception and gravitational waves. A full programme will be available in due course.

Call for Abstracts

We are offering opportunities for both 15 minute talks and poster presentations, in person and online, allowing as much of the community to participate as possible. Please complete the following form before the deadline.

Abstract submission is now closed.

Keynote speakers

Prof. Daniel Robert, University of Bristol, United Kingdom

Electric ecology and electroreception in arthropods

Daniel Robert is professor of bionanoscience at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol. He and his team investigate the biophysical mechanisms used by organisms to sense and acquire information from their environment. Paying due attention to selected insect species, he discovered the third principle of directional hearing in the animal kingdom, which is based on the mechanical coupling between the ears of small tachinid parasitoid flies (Ormia ochracea).

This discovery enabled the development of bio-inspired microscale subwavelength directional microphones. Looking at mosquitoes, fruit flies and tree crickets, Robert and his team discovered active auditory mechanics in invertebrates, a process emulating that reported in humans and other mammalian species. Spending some quality time in the company of Colombian bushcrickets, he and Fernando Montealegre-Z discovered that the mechanism used for auditory spectral analysis is analogous and evolutionarily convergent to that of humans.

With attention turning to pollinators and their sensory ecology, it became apparent that bees and flowers interact using static electricity, with bees showing their capacity to detect weak floral electric fields. Since then, Robert and his team showed that other arthropod species, such as spiders, caterpillars and treehoppers are sensitive to, and use electrostatic charge and associated electric fields in various sensory ecological contexts.

Collectively, Robert’s work reveals the existence of an electrostatic informational ecology, and the associated detection of electrostatic fields – aerial electroreception – which are omnipresent, enabling a sensory modality alien to humans.

Dr Diego M. Magalhães, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil

An Underrated Signal: Atmospheric Pressure as a Driver of Insect Behaviour

Diego M. Magalhães is a biologist with a focus on chemical ecology. After earning a Master’s in Ecology and a PhD in Zoology from the University of Brasília, he pursued research fellowships at EMBRAPA Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and at Rothamsted Research, delving into the volatile signals that guide plant, microbe, and insect interactions.

He is now a postdoctoral fellow at the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, and serves as a councillor for the Latin American Association of Chemical Ecology. His work investigates how organisms communicate through airborne chemicals and how these exchanges shape ecological processes, with the aim of turning this knowledge into sustainable and innovative strategies for pest management in agroecosystems.

Convenors

Jozsef Vuts, Rothamsted Research – jozsef.vuts@rothamsted.ac.uk

Jozsef is a chemical ecologist, working in the field of pest-host interactions. He currently leads research on ecology-inspired solutions for crop and agroforestry pest management, including the identification of microbe-derived attractants for the recruitment of pest natural enemies, developing methods to isolate natural products with semiochemicals properties from the rhizosphere, or the development of female attractants for a range of crop pests.

Jozsef applies a lab-to-field approach to his research, using laboratory techniques [dynamic headspace collection, high-resolution gas chromatography (GC), GC-coupled electroantennography (GC-EAG), preparative-scale GC, olfactometry] to characterize semiochemical bioactivity, and field experiments to confirm bioactivity at the field scale. Through his collaborative network both within and outside Rothamsted Research, he works with industrial partners and stakeholders to maximise the impact of his research.

Michelle Fountain, NIAB EMR – Michelle.Fountain@niab.com

Michelle specialises in the minimisation of pesticide use in fruit horticulture, improving pollination in fruit crops and incorporating modern fruit growing practices with Integrated Pest Management. The former includes research on improving pest monitoring by developing semiochemical manipulation of insects, optimising the use of biological control agents and enhancing and fostering local landscape ecology to provide the ecosystem service of pest control.

Her pollination research focuses on the delivery of insect pollinators to fruit crops through identification of key species and enhancement of habitat in and around crops, including wildflower and nesting resource establishment. She leads research on invasive pest species, such as, Drosophila suzukii, Halyomorpha halys and Anthonomus sp. and is a taxonomic specialist of Collembola, Araneae and fruit crop fauna. She communicates research to growers and agronomists and authors best practice guidelines and factsheets for pest control in fruit crops. She is also Convenor of the IOBC Expert Group: “Integrated Protection of Fruit Crops”

Exhibition and Sponsorship

We are delighted to welcome Zantiks as an exhibitor.

We would love to hear from you if you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the event. The brochure below highlights some of the options available, including being present in the hub of the conference through exhibition and a Headline Sponsor. If you would like to partner with us or discuss other bespoke opportunities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Partner with us at our Behaviour SIG eventDownload

Read more about the Behaviour SIG

Registration

Registration is now open at the bottom of this page. Please note there are discounted rates for members of the RES, so if you are not a member already, consider joining today!

To access discounted member rates, you must be logged into your account before registering.

In-person registration deadline: 17:00 (GMT), Wednesday 28 January 2026

In-personRES Student Member£20RES Member£55Standard Registration (Associate members and Non-members)£85

Online registration deadline: 17:00 (GMT), Friday 6 February 2026

OnlineRES Student Member£5RES Member£15Standard Registration (Associate members and Non-members)£25

Note – We do not provide recordings of events or presentations as standard, unless otherwise stated.

Aquatic Insects SIG 2026
2026-02-26 09:30 - 2026-02-27 15:30 | https://www.royensoc.co.uk/event/aquatic-insects-sig-2026/
Aquatic Ecosystems in the Data Age

Date: Thursday 26 February 2026 (9.30am – 3.30pm) and Friday 27 February 2026 (9.30am – 12.30pm)

Venue: Online

Our Aquatic Insects Special Interest Group event brings together researchers, conservation practitioners and enthusiasts to explore cutting-edge approaches in aquatic ecosystem monitoring and management. Through hands-on workshops and expert presentations, participants will gain practical skills in modern analytical techniques while engaging with current challenges in freshwater biodiversity conservation.

The event will comprise of a full day meeting on Thursday 26 February with an optional morning workshop on Friday 27 February (included in the price).

Day 1: Thursday 26 February (9.30am – 3.30pm)

Conservation, Management, and Taxonomic Innovation

Day 1 features research presentations and interactive sessions on current conservation challenges and emerging taxonomic tools. The morning includes a keynote on freshwater biodiversity conservation followed by panels covering adaptive management, community-based monitoring, and policy integration. The afternoon centres on interactive sessions exploring pros and cons of environmental DNA applications for biomonitoring. The day concludes with discussions on building research networks and future collaboration opportunities.

Keynote speaker

Michael J. Samways, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Title: Dragonflies as sentinels in freshwater conservation (complementarity with other taxa, especially EPT)

Michael Samways (PhD, London University) is Emeritus Distinguished Professor at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He focuses on many aspects of insect conservation from philosophy through to strategy implementation, nationally and internationally.

Michael is recipient of the John Herschel Medal of the Royal Society of South Africa, Senior Captain Scott and Gold Medals of the South African Academy of Science and Arts, and Gold Medal of the Academy of Science of South Africa. He received the life-time Stellenbosch University Chancellor’s Award, IUCN/SSC Chair’s Citation of Excellence, and the Marsh Award from the Royal Entomological Society for outstanding and exemplary lifetime contribution in Insect Conservation. His latest book is Conservation of Dragonflies: Sentinels for Freshwater Conservation (CABI/RES, 2024).

Day 2: Friday 27 February (9.30am – 12.30pm)

Data-Driven Approaches to Aquatic Ecosystem Assessment

Hands-on Workshop in R-Machine Learning Applications in Ecology – facilitated by SIG Convenor, Arron Watson (Environment Agency & University of Birmingham)

This optional half-day workshop (included in the price) focuses on a hands-on R workshop exploring machine learning applications with aquatic macroinvertebrate and environmental data. Participants will learn to use packages like Random Forest for ecological data analysis, beginning with data exploration and visualisation of macroinvertebrate community datasets alongside environmental covariates such as water chemistry and habitat metrics.

SIG Convenor

Arron Watson, Environment Agency Arron.Watson@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Arron works for the Environment Agency in the statutory sector, overseen by the Defra group. They work towards cleaner rivers and a healthier environment for people and wildlife to enjoy.

Arron enjoys working with work aquatic invertebrates and data.

Aquatic Insects SIG

Registration

Please note there are significantly discounted rates for RES members, so if you are not a member already, consider joining today!

To access discounted member rates, you must be logged into your account before registering.

Online registration deadline: 17:00 (GMT), Wednesday 25 February 2026

OnlineRES Student Member£5RES Member/Fellow£10Standard Registration (Associate members and Non-members)£20

Verrall Lecture 2026
2026-03-04 16:30 - 17:30
Venue: Central London (venue to be confirmed)

Date: Wednesday 4 March

Speaker: Stanslav Gorb

Stanislav Gorb is Professor and Director at the Zoological Institute of the Kiel University, Germany. He received his PhD degree in zoology and entomology at the Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences in Kiev (Ukraine).

Gorb was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Vienna (Austria), a research assistant at University of Jena, a group leader at the Max Planck Institutes for Developmental Biology in Tübingen and for Metals Research in Stuttgart (Germany). Gorb’s research focuses on morphology, structure, biomechanics, physiology, and evolution of surface-related functional systems in insects, as well as the development of biologically inspired technological surfaces and systems.

He received the Schlossmann Award in Biology and Materials Science in 1995, International Forum Design Gold Award in 2011 and Materialica “Best of” Award in 2011. In 1998, he was the BioFuture Competition winner for his works on biological attachment devices as possible sources for biomimetics. In 2018, he received Karl-Ritter-von-Frisch Medal of German Zoological Society. Gorb is Corresponding member of Academy of the Science and Literature Mainz, Germany (since 2010) and Member of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany (since 2011). Gorb has authored several books, more than 500 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and five patents.

History of the Verrall Lecture

Registration

To ensure your spot at the event, we strongly recommend signing up in advance, as spaces are limited and tend to fill quickly. Early registration guarantees your place and helps us plan more effectively for everyone attending.

The lecture will start at 16:30, there will be tea and coffee available from 16:00 outside the lecture hall. There will be an RES stand and rare books on display, so do arrive early to meet key members of the RES team.

If you are unable to attend in person, the talk will be recorded and shared after the event.

Invertebrates in the Urban Forest
2026-03-05 09:30 - 16:30
Invertebrates in the Urban Forest

Thursday 5 March 2026 (9.30am – 4.30pm)

Location: Hyde Park learning Centre

The Forest Invertebrate Special Interest Group (SIG), in collaboration with The Royal Parks, invites you to an illuminating meeting exploring the complex ecological relationships between urban trees and their associated invertebrate communities. This event will cover a range of interdisciplinary themes, showcasing current research, emerging challenges, illustrative case studies, evidence gaps, and conservation priorities within urban treescapes.

1. From soil to canopy – the value of invertebrates in the urban forest

We invite abstracts around the topics of invertebrate biodiversity, ecosystem services, monitoring and assessment, flagship species, veteran trees, and the reciprocal value of urban forests to invertebrates.

2. Challenges to urban trees and their invertebrates

We invite abstracts around the topics of anthropogenic pressures, urban connectivity, invasive species, changing climate, and habitat fragmentation. We would also welcome case studies dealing with competing priorities in the urban treescape and successful public engagement.

Optional field visit

Wednesday 4 March 2026 (10am – 2pm)

We invite registered attendees to join us for a field visit to historic Richmond Park on Wednesday 4th March, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. During the visit, we will see and discuss applied examples of research and conservation that illustrate key themes from the meeting, set within the context of one of London’s most ecologically significant urban treescapes.

Please wear warm and waterproof clothing, and sensible footwear. You may wish to bring lunch/snacks with you.

Please note this visit will be held the day before the main meeting, also the day of the Verrall Lecture and Supper. Places are limited so early booking is recommended to secure your place.

Call for Abstracts

The meeting will comprise a range of 15-minute presentations, 5-minute flash talks, posters, and ‘show and tell’ objects to illustrate work or studies being undertaken within the urban forest.

Please submit your abstract by 5pm, Friday 30th January or contact fran.fleming@royensoc.co.uk with any questions.

SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT

SIG Convenors

Meet the Forest Invertebrate SIG Convenors: Forest Invertebrates – Royal Entomological Society

Registration

Registration is now open at the bottom of this page. Please note there are discounted rates for members of the RES, so if you are not a member already, consider joining today!

To access discounted member rates, you must be logged into your account before registering.

In-person registration deadline: 17:00 (GMT), Friday 13 February 2026

In-personRES Student Member – 5 March ONLY£25RES Member – 5 March ONLY£55Standard Registration (Associate members and Non-members) – 5 March ONLY£100RES Student Member – 2 Days£35RES Member – 2 Days£65Standard Registration (Associate members and Non-members) – 2 Days£110

Young Verrall Lecture 2026
2026-03-07 10:30 - 16:00
Join the Amateur Entomologists’ Society and Royal Entomological Society for the Young Verrall Lecture, taking place on Saturday 7 March in Stoke-on-Trent.

This free talk given by Prof. Stanislav Gorb of Kiel University, Germany, is aimed at young entomologists, particularly those 7-11 years, but open to all, will be in person as part of the Staffordshire Invertebrate Science Fair, a free family event from 10:30-16:00 with stands, activities, and talks all about invertebrates.

When?

Saturday 7 March 2026

Where?

Ormiston Meridian Academy, Sandon Rd, Meir, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 7DF

Find out more about the Staffordshire Invertebrate Science Fair

Prof. Stanislav Gorb will be giving the 2026 Verrall Lecture in London, on Wednesday 4 March.

Stanislav Gorb is Professor and Director at the Zoological Institute of the Kiel University, Germany. He received his PhD degree in zoology and entomology at the Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences in Kiev (Ukraine).

Gorb was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Vienna (Austria), a research assistant at University of Jena, a group leader at the Max Planck Institutes for Developmental Biology in Tübingen and for Metals Research in Stuttgart (Germany).

Gorb’s research focuses on morphology, structure, biomechanics, physiology, and evolution of surface-related functional systems in insects, as well as the development of biologically inspired technological surfaces and systems.

He received the Schlossmann Award in Biology and Materials Science in 1995, International Forum Design Gold Award in 2011 and Materialica “Best of” Award in 2011. In 1998, he was the BioFuture Competition winner for his works on biological attachment devices as possible sources for biomimetics. In 2018, he received Karl-Ritter-von-Frisch Medal of German Zoological Society. Gorb is Corresponding member of Academy of the Science and Literature Mainz, Germany (since 2010) and Member of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany (since 2011). Gorb has authored several books, more than 500 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and five patents.

Find out more about the Verrall Lecture 2026

Student Forum 2026 - POSTPONED
2026-03-30 09:00 - 2026-03-31 17:00
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been postponed. More information will follow in the New Year.

We are delighted to announce details for our 2026 Student Forum! This annual two-day event run by the Royal Entomological Society’s student representatives is aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students studying insects.

It provides an opportunity to network and discuss ideas with other students, consider options for your future careers in entomology, and share your research in a welcoming space. The programme also includes talks and careers advice from invited insect scientists and interactive workshops to help develop skills to help further your careers. Please note due to their interactive nature, workshop will only be available to those joining in person.

The 2026 event will be run in-person at the The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Plenary talks will be recorded for members to view after the event, but will not be live-streamed.

Invited Speakers

Matt Rogers, Senior Lecturer, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Matthew (Matt) Rogers is an Associate Professor of Vector Biology in the Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. He has more than 25 years’ experience working on different aspects of the biology of Leishmania parasites, their vectors – sand flies and the transmission of leishmaniasis.

Matt graduated from Imperial College, London with a BSc in Biological Sciences in 1994. After a brief research assistantship on the chemotherapy of lymphatic filariasis at the International Institute of Parasitology, St Albans he obtained a MSc in Applied Parasitology and Medical Entomology from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in 1996.

Matt stayed in the Liverpool School for a further 10 years and completed a PhD in Leishmania-sand fly interactions and two post-doctoral appointments to work on the transmission of leishmaniasis during which he identified new aspects of the life cycle of Leishmania in their vector and the role of a glycan-rich biofilm secreted by Leishmania parasites in the sand fly for transmission and vertebrate infection. In 2006 he returned to Imperial College to work on the immunology of Leishmania infection by sand fly bite as a Wellcome Trust Advanced Training Fellow. During this time he developed an interest in field work through the KALANET programme, a community-wide clinical trial of insecticide-impregnated bednets against visceral leishmaniasis in India and Nepal, where he developed serological tools to measure vector exposure.

In 2009 Matt moved to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as a lecturer and in 2010, secured a prestigious David Phillips Fellowship in the Department of Infection and Immunity to study the immunology of Leishmania infection from sand fly bite in greater detail. In 2013 he transferred to the Department of Disease Control where he is an associate professor in Vector Biology. Matt’s current work focusses on the transmission biology of leishmaniasis and he collaborates with a wide network of molecular biologists, biochemists, glycobiologists, physicists, bioinformaticians and mathematical modellers to understand this process in better detail.

Matt’s lab has been funded by a number of UK and international research bodies, including: the UKRI (BBSRC and MRC), Wellcome Trust, the Royal Society, WHO, EU and BMGF.

At LSHTM Matt is the Programme Director for the MSc Medical Parasitology & Entomology (https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/courses/masters-degrees/medical-parasitology ) and organises several teaching modules – Core Parasitology and Entomology, Vector Biology and Vector-Parasite Interactions modules and the MSc Field Trip.

Lars Chittka, Professor in Sensory and Behavioural Ecology, Queen Mary University of London

Lars Chittka is the author of the book The Mind of a Bee and Professor of Sensory and Behavioural Ecology at Queen Mary College of the University of London. He is also the founder of the Research Centre for Psychology at Queen Mary. He is known for his work on the evolution of sensory systems and cognition using insect-flower interactions as a model system.

Chittka has made fundamental contributions to our understanding of animal cognition and its impact on evolutionary fitness studying bumblebees and honeybees.

More speakers TBC

Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities

Partnering with us offers a valuable opportunity to showcase your organisation and engage directly with future talent. We offer a range of sponsorship and exhibition options and are happy to create bespoke packages to suit your business needs.

Student Forum partnership brochureDownload

Contact fran.fleming@royensoc.co.uk for more information.

Call for Abstracts

We are looking for in-person talk and poster submissions. All presenters must register as a delegate to attend in-person.

Abstract deadline: 17:00 (GMT), Saturday 07 February

Submit your abstract

RES Student representatives

Meet the Student Representatives

Genevieve Kiero WatsonLancaster University

Idris AdamsUniversity College London

Rosy Christopher Newcastle University

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

Date: Thursday 16th – Friday 17th April 2026

Venue: Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath

Join us for our two-day Infection, Immunity & Microbionts SIG!

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…

We are delighted to host Ann Tate as our keynote speaker https://my.vanderbilt.edu/tatelab/.

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.

Call for abstracts and registration to follow…

Keynote speakers

Ann Tate, Vanderbilt University, Tennessee, USA

Further information to follow…

Call for abstracts

Details to follow…

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 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)

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