From fear to fascination: A single practical session improves students' attitudes towards insects, insect conservation and future entomological studies

Insects dominate global biodiversity and play essential roles in ecosystem functioning; however, they remain underrepresented in conservation priorities despite widespread evidence of population declines. A key reason is the prevalence of negative attitudes towards insects (fear, disgust or disinterest), which limits public support for insect conservation and reduces the likelihood that students will pursue entomological careers. This contributes to both a shortfall in conservation funding and a shortage of taxonomic and ecological expertise. Identifying interventions that improve attitudes towards insects may therefore support both conservation outcomes and capacity building within the discipline.

Here, I investigate the impact of a single insect practical session on undergraduate biology students' attitudes towards insects and insect conservation. To assess changes in attitudes, students completed three questionnaires administered before and after traditional lectures, and after a practical session involving direct interaction with live and preserved insects.

I found that while lectures significantly improved student self‐efficacy, they had little effect on attitudes towards insects. In contrast, the practical session not only enhanced self‐efficacy but also positively shifted attitudes towards insects, increasing appreciation for insect conservation, and interest in studying insects further.

These findings suggest that brief, hands‐on experiences with insects may provide a simple and scalable way to improve conservation‐relevant perceptions of insects and inspire students to pursue entomology, helping to address critical workforce shortages needed to tackle global insect declines.