Science Community Focus
Little Things that Run the World
Television chat show presenter Jonathan Ross played host to mini beasts of all sorts when he launched National Insect Week 2014, at the Natural History Museum in June. Highlighting the theme of this year’s events –‘Little Things That Run The World’- Jonathan said: “You might not think insects can be fun but they are! They’re also hugely important and National Insect Week is a great way of improving everyone’s knowledge about them and the role they play in habitats not just in the UK but across the world. I never knew there was so much to learn about insects!”
Now in its sixth year, National Insect Week is organised by the Royal Entomological Society (RES) which partnered with the Natural History Museum – home to the largest collection of invertebrates in the world - to set off a chain of events across the UK during the week, from bug hunts and bioblitzes to minibeast safaris and moth nights. This year’s launch event at the Natural History Museum also featured a ‘Question Time’ style panel of eminent entomologists – chaired by Jonathan Ross – who answered questions from the public about insect species and the role they play in different habitats.
Up close and personal, Jonathan Ross with stag beetle at the launch of National Insect Week 2014.
National Insect Week coordinator Luke Tilley said: “We’re delighted Jonathan could join us for the launch of Insect Week 2014 which has proved even more popular this year with more than 350 events being held right across the
UK. All of them will play a vital role in our campaign to inform and educate people of all ages about insects and how they really do run the world.”
The launch event was attended by Year 4 pupils from Drayton Park, Highbury, as well as partners of National Insect Week who include the Natural History Museum, the National Trust, the RSPB, the Royal Horticultural Society, the Association of Science Education and the Environment Agency which provided the insects for the day.
A royal bioblitz was also staged in the grounds of Highgrove, the private residence of TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, to celebrate National Insect Week 2014.
Schoolchildren from across the country joined a team of entomologists to take part in the invertebrate bioblitz, a snapshot of insect activity, in the organic Highgrove gardens. The Prince of Wales has previously taken part in a National Insect Week bioblitz at Clarence House in June 2012.
The schoolchildren were all winners in this year’s Green Ambassador Awards run by the World Wildlife Fund and supported by HRH The Prince of Wales. The awards highlight the very best examples of where pupils have put environmental issues at the heart of their school.
The Royal Entomological Society’s (RES) team of entomologists were on hand to help the pupils hunt for insects in the Highgrove gardens. RES Honorary Fellow Peter Smithers presented the schoolchildren with their Green Ambassador Awards.
Highgrove Bioblitz 27th June Blister Beetle (family Meloidae) - credit Wanyoike Wamiti
The Highgrove bioblitz revealed comb-footed spiders, damsel bugs, froghoppers and 500 moths of different species caught overnight in a moth trap.
LABMATE UK & IRELAND - SEPTEMBER 2014
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