From marvellous moths and wondrous weetaa to fantastic flies and curious slugs, bugs are some of the most important animals on Earth. Yet they are often misunderstood, overlooked, or unfairly feared.
Join science communicator and behavioural ecologist Connal McLean who will explore the ecology of New Zealand's invertebrates and why these remarkable creatures deserve our attention and protection.
Learn more about the important work bugs do in our ecosystems, like pollinating plants, controlling pests, recycling nutrients and breaking down dead matter.
As part of the evening, Connal will shine a spotlight on the winner of the 2026 Bug of the Year competition: the Avatar Moth. Discover what makes this remarkable species so special and why it captured the public's imagination.
Meet the speaker
Connal McLean is a science communicator and behavioural ecologist with research interests in entomology, cognitive ecology, and systems interactions. He is a PhD candidate in Ecology at the University of Otago and is actively involved in a number of conservation and entomology organisations, including the Bug of the Year competition.
This talk is presented in proud partnership with the 74th Entomological Society of New Zealand Conference.
free entry