- Categories:
- Animal
- Tags:
- AppreciationSpecial Interest
- Where:
- United Kingdom
- Date change rule:
- Last full week of June
- Holiday emoji:
- 🦋
Insect Week buzzes to life every year during the last full week of June, dedicated to celebrating the crucial role insects play in our world. This UK-based initiative encourages everyone to learn about entomology through engaging events, citizen science, and expert talks. Join the movement to appreciate these tiny creatures, discover their fascinating lives, and support vital conservation efforts.
Want to sponsor Insect Week? Learn how
History of Insect Week
The green slime was the first sign of life on the planet. Then came the dinosaurs, who went extinct, and then came the regular-sized mammals, who eventually gave way to man. Have you ever wondered what happened before dinosaurs? There’s a whole chain of events missing between the green slime and dinosaurs. Let us remind you that insects existed long before dinosaurs.
Since prehistoric times, insects have ruled the earth. They are one-of-a-kind in many ways; their lack of a backbone renders them spineless, but they muster the courage and strength to mess with humans. Some of them eat up the furniture, ruin the clothes, eat up entire crops, and store a deadly poison lethal enough to kill humans in their bodies. The more we stifle these pests, the more deadly they become. So, if someone asks you why you’re interested in insects, you can always say, “It’s always better to know about your adversary.”
Aside from the amusing aspects, insects have coexisted with and evolved alongside all other animal groups. Their presence may annoy us at times, but remember that insects have taught us a lot. Entomologists are people who are fascinated by insects and their various types, lives, and characteristics, and entomology is the study of insects.
Because entomologists and ecologists have made significant contributions to this field, the Royal Entomological Society has decided to hold a week-long appreciation drive for them. The Prince of Wales, for example, has spoken out in support of the celebration.
Insect Week timeline
Insects appear around the same time that plants begin to grow.
Pliny the Elder, a natural philosopher, publishes the first book on insect classification.
Ulisse Aldrovandi publishes his book “De Animalibus Insectis,” which begins modern scientific research on insects.
Prof David Bellamy (O.B.E.), Kate Humble, and others lend their support to the Insect Week celebration.
Insect Week FAQs
When is Insect Week?
Insect Week 2026 runs from Monday, June 22 through Sunday, June 28, offering a full seven days to celebrate the world of insects.
How many insect species are there?
Scientists estimate there are between 2 and 30 million insect species on Earth, though only about 1 million have been formally identified and described. This vast biodiversity underscores their ecological importance.
Why are insects important to the ecosystem?
Insects are crucial for healthy ecosystems, serving as pollinators for crops and wild plants, decomposers of organic matter, and a vital food source for many animals. Their roles are indispensable for biodiversity.
What is entomology?
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. It encompasses the classification, biology, ecology, and behavior of insects, and is vital for understanding biodiversity and pest management.
Insect Week Activities
Visit an Insect Museum
You can go to your local insect museum to learn about the various types of insects that have existed and continue to exist around the world. You never know what wonders you may uncover.
Attend a lecture
If you have even the slightest interest in insects, there will be high-profile entomologists giving lectures this week. Attend one of them and broaden your horizons.
Host a seminar
If you work at a university, you can host a seminar where you invite a renowned expert in the field to speak about insects and entomology. You can give them a certificate of appreciation for their efforts after the seminar.
5 Amazing Facts About Insects
Insects have an exoskeleton
Insects, believe it or not, have an exoskeleton that allows them to lift objects 20 times their own weight.
Spiders are not insects
Spiders are not insects; they have different characteristics than insects, despite sharing the same ancestors.
Ability to walk on water
Some insects can walk on water.
Insects do not have blood vessels
They use a completely different circulatory system to transport blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Not all insects are bugs
Bugs belong to a distinct group within the mega insect kingdom that distinguishes them from other insects.
Why We Love Insect Week
They’re an essential part of nature
It is important to note that insects and all bugs can live without humans, but once insects become extinct, all humans will become extinct within 50 years. This means that the natural world that nurtures us will continue to exist and thrive, but we will not be able to exist without it. All of the changes we are bringing to the planet are harming it, and if we do not change our ways, we will perish soon.
They teach us many things
Insects have influenced us in a variety of ways, from carrying many times more weight to having an exoskeleton to creating remarkable habitable colonies. These magnificent creatures, while sometimes dangerous, play a larger role in the ecosystem and are thus as important as water and air. We will be able to learn more about their impact as we learn more about them.
They gave us the Antman
Imagine if Antman hadn't returned from the Quantum Realm to save the Avengers and used time travel to undo what Thanos had done in the past. Thanos snapped, wiping out half of all life. We love this brilliant character!
Insect Week dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 23–29 | Monday–Sunday |
| 2026 | June 22–28 | Monday–Sunday |
