Entomological Society of Victoria

22/06/2026

There are still spots available for the June 2026 Deakin Bug Lab that is running this weekend. You can register using the link below.

https://www.entsocvic.org.au/store/p/deakin-bug-lab-28-jun-2026

08/06/2026

We have started gathering articles for the August 2026 issue of the Victorian Entomologist. Do you have an insect related story that you want to share? If you do, we would love to hear from you. Please send your article (and any photos) to our amazing editor at "[email protected]", by July 15th. Some guidelines on articles can be found below.

05/06/2026

🪳 More than 100,000 exotic cockroaches have been seized from an alleged breeder in NSW in what authorities describe as Australia's largest seizure of illegal exotic invertebrates.

Read more: [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-05/dubia-cockroaches-seized-from-alleged-bathurst-breeder/106762346](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-05/dubia-cockroaches-seized-from-alleged-bathurst-breeder/106762346)

More than 100,000 live exotic cockroaches have allegedly been seized from a commercial breeder in Central West NSW.

03/06/2026

Deakin Bug Lab has been a great success to date and we are very excited for the next one this month.

🗓️ Held on the Fourth Sunday of the Month

⏰ Next session: Sunday 28th June, 1pm–5pm

Sunday Bug School is an ongoing (monthly) opportunity to help with research projects and develop skills in invertebrate identification and ecology. If this sounds appealing to you, please come along and help-out.

Spots have been increased to 50 people, so please register on our website today to secure yours!

https://www.entsocvic.org.au/store/p/deakin-bug-lab-28-jun-2026

** NOTE: All registrations for the Bug Lab, including Deakin Student registrations must be be done though the EntSocVic store!! **

If you register please turn up as there is high demand for the “Bug Lab”, and not showing up means someone who wants to attend will miss out.

03/06/2026

📅 What's On in June

June brings a mix of Society activities and important environmental awareness days that highlight the natural world we all care about.

🦋 16 June – Society Members Meeting
Join fellow members for our June meeting. It's a great opportunity to learn, share observations, and connect with others interested in entomology.

🔬 28 June – Deakin Bug Lab
An exciting opportunity to explore insect science and engage with the fascinating work being undertaken at the Deakin Bug Lab.
https://www.entsocvic.org.au/store/p/deakin-bug-lab-28-jun-2026

🌏 Environmental Awareness Days
While not Society-run events, these dates are worth noting:

🌱 5 June – World Environment Day
🌊 8 June – World Oceans Day
🌳 22 June – World Rainforest Day

These international awareness days remind us of the importance of protecting the ecosystems that support insect diversity and the broader natural world.

We look forward to seeing members at our June activities!

30/05/2026

Meet the Larrakia feather-legged assassin bug, a newly identified species found just outside the city in leaf litter at Charles Darwin National Park.

This tiny predator is built for stealth and uses a special chemical trick to lure ants in before striking.

Named in honour of the Larrakia people, the traditional custodians in the northern Australian region where it was discovered, this discovery is a reminder that even right on our doorstep, Australia’s biodiversity is still full of surprises waiting to be uncovered.

A new type of bug, celebrated for the "really cool" way it assassinates prey, has been named in honour of traditional custodians in the northern Australia region where it was discovered.

28/05/2026

A routine bushwalk near Red Cliffs has led to a remarkable discovery, with local resident Judy Allen capturing what experts believe is the first-ever wild photograph of the rare Antlion species Myrmeleon houstoni. After uploading the image to iNaturalist, Judy learned her photo was of an insect never before officially photographed in the wild. A great example of how citizen science can contribute to important discoveries.

There were no known photographs taken in the wild of the Myrmeleon houstoni until a regional Victorian woman snapped a photo of one while on a bushwalk.

23/05/2026

🦟 Australia’s newest unwanted arrival…

The invasive Asian tiger mosquito — nicknamed the “barbecue stopper” for its painful bites — has been detected on mainland Australia for the first time near Bamaga in Far North Queensland.

This species can spread diseases like dengue and Japanese encephalitis, with authorities now carrying out surveillance and spraying operations.

Another reminder that biosecurity matters. 🚫🦟

The world's most invasive mosquito has previously been found at borders, islands, and ports, but has just been discovered in a remote mainland Queensland community.

15/05/2026

🦗Deakin Bug Lab: Sunday Bug School 2026🦗

April was such a huge success, we are so excited for Bug School next Sunday!

🗓️ Held on the Fourth Sunday of the Month

⏰ Next session: Sunday 24th May, 1pm–5pm

Sunday Bug School is an ongoing (monthly) opportunity to help with research projects and develop skills in invertebrate identification and ecology. If this sounds appealing to you, please come along and help-out.
Spots are limited to 20 people, so register on our website today to secure yours!

https://www.entsocvic.org.au/store/p/deakin-bug-lab-24-may-2026

NOTE: If you register please turn up as there is high demand for the “Bug Lab”, and not showing up means someone who wants to attend will miss out. See less

09/05/2026

🐝 Can honeybees count? New research suggests they can process numerical information far more deeply than previously thought.

A new analysis of honeybee vision suggests their ability to distinguish quantities is not a trick of visual patterns, but evidence of genuine numerical cognition shaped by how their brains see the world.