Insect Week 2026: Stand Tall for the Small

Posted on: 18 June 2026

On Monday, we will welcome two third class groups from St Laurence O'Toole's National School for a day of fun with bugs:  an interactive bug handling workshop, drawing and learning about insects and finally a campus bug hunt.  

We are delighted to showcase an installation by Irish artist Ruth Power. This installation combines vintage cigarette cards depicting Irish butterflies from the 1920s and 1930s with hand-made ceramic frames finished in 22k gold lustre. Originally produced as promotional items for cigarette smokers, the cards were designed to advertise and sell tobacco. Designed for commerce, they also functioned as miniature field guides, introducing people to the butterflies of gardens, meadows, woodlands and hedgerows. Sadly, many of the species these cards depict as common last century are now quite rare in Ireland. The artwork highlights this largely unnoticed, silent loss of biodiversity. We will launch the artwork on Monday at 1:30 in the Arts Building Concourse, all welcome.    

On Wednesday at 1pm we will welcome staff and students on another campus bug hunt with Vice President for Biodiversity and Climate Action Jane Stout and Biodiversity Officer Collie Ennis.  All welcome – details and registration here.   

We have research spotlights on Prof Jane Stout, Assistant Prof Victoria Mullin and Research Fellows Maryam Norouzi and Pieter Barnard.  We learn about why their research into insect behaviour and interaction is so crucial, what their most exciting discoveries have been, the strangest places they’ve done research and some peculiar insect facts.  Find the research spotlights on the biodiversity website here.   

  "As President of the RES, and an insect enthusiast, I am delighted that we are taking part in Insect Week this year and standing tall for the small! Insects are the most diverse and underrated group of animals on earth – they have been around since before the dinosaurs, inhabit virtually every corner of the earth, and have an incredible variety of body forms and ways of living. They pollinate our crops, recycle our waste and keep our soils healthy. They are worth millions to our global economies, and failure to manage them presents huge economic and health risks. We hope you join us in learning a bit about these fascinating creatures and take a peek into their worlds and why they are so important to ours.”  Vice President for Biodiversity and Climate Action and Professor of Ecology, Jane Stout.   

Find out more about Insect Week in Trinity.  

Find out more about Insect Week Internationally.  

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• Sustainability