Did you know, there are over 24,000 insect species in the UK, with hundreds in almost every garden and green space?
This Insect Week, we're celebrating the most diverse and ecologically important group of animals in land habitats. One in three mouthfuls of our food depends on insect pollination!
Through conservation projects such as our Biodiversity Bog Garden and Bug Hotels, we're helping to attract insects to our site by encouraging our green spaces to grow wild and by planting colourful, nectar-rich flowers.
You can get involved by letting your lawn grow as part of the No Mow May campaign and by recording the insects you spot around our site or in your own garden using iNaturalist!
Let's take a closer look at some of the insects that live in our Deep Blue One habitat!
Sunny Stick Insect
Sunburst Diving Beetle
They use their oar-like hind legs to propel themselves through water. They collect air bubbles from the surface which are held at the rear of their bodies, enabling them to breathe underwater!
Madagascan Hissing Cockroach
This species is named after their ability to force air through their breathing pores (spiracles) that run along the side of their body, creating a hissing sound. They use this hissing noise to communicate with other cockroaches!
Giant Hooded Katydid
The box-like hood on their thorax and veined wings are adapted to resemble leaves, helping them to remain camouflaged from potential predators. They are one of the largest species of Bush Cricket in the world!
Please sign the Royal Entomological Society's pledge to help insects thrive and support insect science.