R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar: Insect Double Feature
December 1, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
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Dr. David Wagner, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of Connecticut, is a world authority on insect biodiversity, insect conservation, and matters of global change. On December 1, he will give two separate talks at Carnegie Museum of Natural History: one discussing the global decline of insect populations, and a second talk focusing on caterpillars and their role in ecology and evolutionary biology. Registration is required to attend R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars, read on for full details and registration options for both talks.
Talk: Insect Declines in the Anthropocene
When: Monday, December 1, 2025, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Where: Art Theater and online via Zoom
Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required.
As the human population has expanded in the last century, global insect populations are declining at a concerningly rapid rate. Significant decreases in both species and populations of insects have been reported, thought to result from “a thousand cuts” including pesticide use, agricultural intensification, shifts in climate and human-induced changes to their native environments. Dr. David Wagner, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of Connecticut, is a world authority on insect biodiversity, insect conservation, and matters of global change. In recent years, he has become an expert on insect decline, publishing both academic and general public articles on the subject.
Sign-up below to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom.
Talk: Caterpillars: Their Use in Biosystematics, Diversity, and Ecology Studies
When: Monday, December 1, 2025, 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Where: Art Theater and online via Zoom
Tickets: Free. Museum admission not required.
Dr. Wagner will highlight discoveries from five decades of biosystematic studies on Lepidoptera. This informal presentation will feature stunning images of caterpillars, their natural history, and how larval life history data has been used to answer big questions in ecology and evolutionary biology. Time allowing, he will provide a status update of a multi-volumed guide to the Caterpillars of Western North America (Princeton University Press).
Sign-up below to attend in person or click here to join us via Zoom.
Upcoming R.W. Moriarty Science Seminars
Learn about scientific discoveries directly from the experts in the field. Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s scientific research staff and invited speakers discuss their latest findings on numerous scientific topics at the R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar series.
