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Insect Week 2023
19 June 2023 – 25 June 2023
Our annual celebration of the ‘little things that run the world’ returns.
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
Thank you for celebrating Insect Week with us!
Insect Week 2024 will take place June 17-23, 2024.
Insect Week is a time to raise awareness for insects and spread the word about their place in the world and what we can do to learn more about them, encourage and protect them.
You can take part in any way you like: share your facts and photos with the global community to spread the love for insects. Popular events include garden tours, participating in identification workshops, and so much more.
Share your story with us by tagging us on social media using the hashtag #InsectWeek.
Insect Week 2023 Poster
Display this year’s poster at your school or event, featuring the 2022 under 18 photography competition winner, photo titled “Fresh Out Of The Shower” by Gustav Parenmark, age 16 of a Blue-tailed damselfly (Ischnura elegans). Download here.
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 here on this page nearer the time.
Plan an event
Amazing to hear you’re planning an event during Insect Week!
Submit your event here and we will advertise it on our website for more people to enjoy it with you.
Competitions
Do you enjoy nature photography or drawing animals?
If you’re the creative type, take photos or draw pictures for our Art and Photography Competitions
Taking part is easy
Simply visit https://www.insectweek.org.
No expert knowledge is needed: just share your facts and photos with the global community to spread the love for insects.
– If you’re the creative type, take photos or draw
pictures for our Art and Photography Competitions.
– Enjoy meeting people in-person? Look for related events in your area.
– If you’re more hands on, organise your own gatherings or events around some insect-related books and resources and submit your event for us to promote for you.
– Explore helpful educational resources on our website. We have lots of insect-related Learning Resources, including activity packs for teachers and home schoolers, mini-missions to do on your own or those you live with, and top tips for finding insects and exploring their habitats, or use our Discover Insects pages if you’re looking for something specific!
– Not local to rural areas? You can find insects everywhere, on your windowsill, in your car, on public transport and those little undisturbed corners of your home, so you can still take part from wherever you live.
– Meet passionate insect enthusiasts near you – Meet like-minded people in your area and talk about the wonders of insects!
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 Recording
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.
Why participate?
Insects are all around us. Learning more about these creatures around us and working out why, when, where and how helps us to study, control and protect them, and also the ways in which they can help us – but we need all of us – conservationists, scientists, schools, and the whole community – working together to find enthusiasm for the little things that run the world.
By participating in Insect Week, not only can you learn more about your local insects, plants and wildlife, you can also make your home, garden, local park and environment a better place – for yourself, other people and other non-human species of animal.
Click here to see a list of events in your area and if your city isn’t listed, join in and organise your own! Be a part of Insect Week and spread the wonder of the #LittleThingsThatRunTheWorld!
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 (for both under and over 18s) – Visit the Art & Photography Competition page to enter now.
Photography and Art competitions open for submissions for the start of Insect Week (19 June)
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!
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 #InsectWeek23 – Let’s do our best this week to share our love, respect and knowledge of insects!
Our socials:
Show your support for insects and get something special for your insect-friendly loved ones with our handbooks, clothing and merchandise.
