Insects and other arthropods make up the vast majority of animal life on Earth with an estimated number of species ranging between 1 and 10 million making up over 80% of all animals. Insects and spiders, in particular, play an important ecosystem role as predators and food sources for other species with many species also having a large impact on us as either pollinators or vectors of disease.
Despite their abundance and importance, they are often overlooked and underappreciated by the public. This course offers an engaging introduction to the extraordinary diversity in form and function of terrestrial arthropods focussing on insects and spiders. We will explore their fascinating ecology and behaviour through examples from around the world, while placing special emphasis on British species, including those commonly found in our homes and gardens. You will learn more about the benefits they bring to us as pollinators, pest controllers and as inspiration for novel biomimetic technologies and even as a sustainable food source, but we will also acknowledge their negative impacts on the agricultural economy and human health in their roles as crop pests and vectors for disease. We will be concluding the course with a visit to the Oxford Museum of Natural History, which is home to one of the largest insect collections outside of London.