Robin Swann MP pledges to stand up for insects and the next generation of insect scientists for Insect Week 2026

Robin Swann MP joined colleagues from across the political spectrum in Westminster this Insect Week (23 June 2026) to pledge support for insect life and inspire the next generation of insect scientists.

Around the world, insect populations have declined and are continuing to change. Citizen science surveys such as the Big Butterfly Count and the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS) record these fluctuations across various insect groups in the UK such as bees, butterflies, hoverflies, grasshoppers and beetles to name just a few. Scientists are working to understand exactly what is happening and why, and there is a growing need for more insect scientists (entomologists) to help monitor, study and protect the insects that underpin our natural world.

Insect Week, which takes place in the last week of June every year, is run by The Royal Entomological Society (RES), a global organisation devoted to the understanding and development of insect science. The RES believes that inspiring the next generation in the classroom will help to build the future expertise needed to understand and respond to these changes.

Backing the ‘Stand Tall For The Small’ campaign, Robin Swann MP said:

“Insects are critical to pollinating many of the crops we rely on, recycle nutrients and support the natural systems that sustain life on Earth. There is still much to discover about these remarkable animals and the complex roles they play in our world. We hope Insect Week will inspire children and young people to develop a lasting interest in insect science and the natural world.”