Members of the Netherlands Entomological Society during a summer excursion organised by the society. PHOTO: LUC WILLEMSE
Since 1845, the Netherlands Entomological Society has brought together people with a fascination for insects, from field biologists to molecular researchers.
Envision a society where a microscopic parasitoid wasp hangs beside a poster on gene regulation, and a yellowed collection book can be just as relevant as a modern dataset. That is the Netherlands Entomological Society (NEV) in a nutshell: a crossroads of field and laboratory, where amateurs and professionals have been sharing and enriching knowledge about insects for 180 years. This autumn, the NEV will celebrate its 180th anniversary on 29 November – the 175th jubilee had originally been planned for 2020, but the pandemic put paid to that. The society currently has around 850 members, ranging from unpaid enthusiasts to professional researchers. Vice-chair Eveline Verhulst, an entomologist at Wageningen University, sees this as the society’s great strength: ‘You find everyone here who has anything to do with insects, from someone standing in a field with a sweep net to someone in the lab poring over DNA sequences. That mix of people is what keeps the society alive.’
The divide
Chair Erik van der Spek, a former ranger on Texel, takes a practical view. ‘My background is in shifting dunes and nesting habitat for bees and digger wasps,’ he says. ‘That teaches you how everything is connected: water, soil, plants and insects. I see the same principle in the NEV: everyone looks from their own angle, but we learn from each other because we share those connections.’
Yet Van der Spek notices that the gap between field and laboratory is widening. The annual Entomologists’ Day, with its parallel sessions, posters and prizes, has become primarily a platform for research from university laboratories. ‘For many field biologists, that has become less appealing,’ he says. ‘In the past there were also contributions from ecological researchers; we hope that can come back.’ Verhulst adds: ‘We want the NEV to remain a place where everyone meets, whether you are conducting research or simply curious about what is flying around.’
The NEV is made up of more than ten sections – covering everything from beetles and ants to butterflies, bees and insect management – each of which organises its own excursions and meetings. In addition, there are four national gatherings per year, with the summer weekends, during which members carry out surveys together, as the highlight. ‘That is where you really feel the spirit of the society,’ says Van der Spek. ‘Everyone heads out together, from seasoned experts to people who are just starting out.’
The NEV is made up of more than ten sections – covering everything from beetles and ants to butterflies, bees and insect management
Attracting younger members is high on the agenda. To that end, the society is seeking collaboration with youth organisations such as the NJN and JNM to retain young people with an interest in insects after their time with the junior naturalist groups. During the anniversary symposium, the society will therefore also organise an identification afternoon together with these youth groups. ‘You see the penny drop with young people the moment they manage to identify a species by name,’ says Van der Spek. ‘That sense of wonder is what keeps people in the society.’
The glue
Alongside the meetings, the knowledge infrastructure also serves as an important binding force. Shortly after the society’s founding in 1845, the NEV began building its own library, now one of the largest entomological collections in Europe. Since 2014 it has been on loan to Naturalis in Leiden, but the NEV remains the owner and continues to pay for subscriptions and new acquisitions. The society also publishes several titles: from the Dutch-language society journal Entomologische Berichten and the scientific journal Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, to the Entomologische Tabellen, compact booklets containing identification keys and distribution data. During the anniversary, a revised version of Klasse will also be launched – a software package that allows members to manage their insect collections digitally and link them to databases. The NEV runs on volunteers, with minimal paid support for administration and editorial work. Membership fees and royalties from the journals form the financial foundation. ‘Filling board positions is a challenge everywhere,’ Van der Spek acknowledges, ‘but so far we have managed to keep the seats occupied.’
With initiatives such as the Insect of the Year election and plans for a national insect week, the society seeks to attract public attention. ‘In this way we show how versatile insects are,’ says Verhulst. ‘They are pollinators, pest controllers and a food source all at once – but above all fascinating animals that are worth studying.’
ORGANISATION: Netherlands Entomological Society
PRODUCT: knowledge exchange and publications on insects
STRUCTURE: association
LOCATION: Leiden
NUMBER OF STAFF: fewer than 1 FTE (volunteer organisation)
YEAR FOUNDED: 1845
TURNOVER: not applicable
WEBSITE: nev.nl
NOTABLE FACTS: one of the oldest scientific societies in the Netherlands and custodian of one of the largest entomological libraries in Europe