About this Event
Have you ever wondered how a trail of ants suddenly appears across your kitchen counter? One ant finds food, and before long, dozens more are following the exact same route. No one is giving directions, yet somehow they all know where to go. The answer lies in a form of communication almost entirely invisible to us.
In this lecture, Dr. Ken Naumann will introduce us to the secret chemical language of insects. Through substances known as pheromones, insects can attract mates, warn one another of danger, and coordinate the activities of entire colonies. In honeybee colonies, for example, the queen produces chemical signals that are passed from worker to worker, influencing the behaviour of bees she may never encounter herself.
But what happens when humans learn to speak this language? By identifying and recreating these chemical signals, scientists can lure unwanted insects into traps or interfere with their ability to reproduce. Dr. Naumann will explain how these messages work, why they are so important to insect societies, and how understanding them allows us to manipulate the behaviour of species that come into conflict with us here in British Columbia.
Meet our Speaker
Dr. Ken Naumann is a biologist who has taught at Langara College for over 30 years. His research on honeybee queen pheromones received a Governor General's Award, and his published work has investigated chemical communication in honeybees and the ecological effects of invasive fire ants in British Columbia. He has an average sense of smell.
Agenda
6:00 PM doors open. Guests are welcome to arrive early, order drinks, and have dinner before the lecture begins.
7:00 PM lecture begins, followed by Q&A.
8:15 PM wrap up. Guests are welcome to stay for conversation and another drink.
Event venue & nearby stays
157 Alexander St, 157 Alexander Street, Vancouver, Canada
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