Insects That Live In The Sea: Why Are There Are So Few?

Insects are everywhere – but only on land and in freshwater. Around a million species of insect have been described, but less than 2000 live in close association with the sea, with only a handful of chironomid flies and hemipteran water skaters living fully marine lives. Even then, it can be argued that these fully ocean-going species live on top of the sea rather than in it. Why have insects been so unsuccessful at colonising the oceans? In this presentation, we will look at those few insects that have managed to make some sort of accommodation with the sea, and speculate on why they are so few of them.

Stuart Reynolds is an Emeritus Professor of Biology at the University of Bath, and is an Honorary Fellow and Past President of the Royal Entomological Society. He is interested in everything about insects, from ecology to immunology, and behaviour to genomes. But he is especially fascinated by the astonishing evolutionary success of insects in colonizing almost every terrestrial and freshwater habitat.

The 1-hour event will consist of a presentation followed by a Q&A with the tutor using questions provided by the live audience. The presentation will be recorded and made available through the entoLIVE blog alongside a write-up of the Q&A and any links to further info.

entoLIVE is delivered by the Biological Recording Company, British Entomological & Natural History Society, Royal Entomological Society and Amateur Entomologists' Society, with support from Buglife, Field Studies Council and NBN Trust.