On May 31st, MUCBO and the Society of Friends successfully organized the 2nd Balearic Entomology Conference—an event aimed at bringing together researchers and enthusiasts of insects and other terrestrial arthropods from the Balearic Islands.
This conference, which revives the spirit of the first edition held in 2018, has become a key venue for exchanging knowledge and engaging in scientific discussion around the entomological biodiversity of the islands.
With 40 confirmed registrations and 22 presentations delivered, the event showcased the growing interest in and scientific output related to Balearic entomology. The talks were held in the Auditorium of the Sagrats Cors School in Sóller, while coffee breaks and lunch took place at MUCBO itself, fostering a relaxed and convivial atmosphere among participants.
The opening session featured remarks by Joan Díaz Calafat (UIB), Lluc Garcia Socias (AMBCN-JBS), Rafel Matamales-Andreu (MUCBO), and Raúl Luzón (VECTOBAL), as well as the institutional participation of Miquel Nadal, Mayor of Sóller, and Antònia Frau, Councillor for Culture and the Environment and President of our Foundation.
A highlight of the day was the reading of a manifesto defending the importance of entomology as a key discipline for understanding and preserving our natural environment. The document emphasized the need to train and support specialized taxonomists—essential for the classification and study of insects—and to safeguard scientific collections, which are vital tools for research and public outreach.
The event was warmly received by attendees, with a high standard of presentations and a spirit of collaboration and enthusiasm that suggest a promising future for this gathering, which is becoming an unmissable date for professionals and enthusiasts of insect study in the Balearic Islands.
