VIRTUAL EVENT: The Ecological and Economic Value of Wasps.
This Lunch Hour Lecture will present evidence on the ecological importance of wasps.
VIRTUAL EVENT: The Ecological and Economic Value of Wasps.
01 Jun 2021, 13:00 – 14:00
Wasps are amongst the most feared and unloved insects, because of their sting and sometimes aggressive behaviour. Yet, they perform vital ecosystem services that are of both ecological and economic importance. It is time we appreciated the value of wasps, as we do other beneficial insects like bees. This talk will present evidence on the ecological importance of wasps in natural and farmed ecosystems and discuss the potential for harnessing the predatory power of wasps as nature’s pest controllers.
Professor Seirian Sumner
Professor of Behavioural Ecolog
UCL
Prof Seirian Sumner is a Professor of Behavioural Ecology at University College London. Her research focuses on the ecology, evolution and behaviour of insects, especially social wasps. She is also working hard to challenge societal perceptions of wasps, such that they are valued in a similar way to other economically and ecological important insects (e.g. bees). www.sumnerlab.org
