Discover Ireland’s invertebrates, the conservation challenges they face, and the current research, policy, and community work to help. Our focus will be on insects, but we will also consider Ireland’s other invertebrates – like molluscs and our unseen marine.

Ireland, both north and south, is ranked poorly for biodiversity decline; both our invertebrates and the habitats they call home are in poor condition. Despite growing red lists emphasising our need for immediate conservation and policy reform, many of our invertebrates remain data deficient or under-recorded, thus we often do not fully understand the extent of their decline.

To compound, Ireland still has to tackle the same global, national and local challenges encountered around the world such as climate change, pollution, habitat fragmentation, intensive agriculture, and invasive non-native species.

However, we are in good hands!

This meeting is open to everyone with an interest in Ireland’s invertebrates, and will bring together world-renowned and up-and-coming entomologists based in (or have worked in) Ireland, and researchers, conservationists, and community activitists across a range of fields who have contributed to raising the profile of invertebrates. Species including the Narrow-mouthed Whorl Snail (Vertigo angustior), Irish Damselfly/Crescent Bluet (Coenagrion lunulatum), and Northern Colletes (Colletes foralis) have benefited from conservation efforts, but there is more to be done.