A game of hide and seek: The unseen predators in our gardens

This event is part of our Sussex Research series. In this series, University of Sussex PhD students and Post-Docs are invited to share their exciting research with the Buzz Club, providing new information on the animals you share your garden with. 

Join Dr. Sergio Rossoni for a talk on garden predators!

Gardens are often viewed as peaceful floral havens that attract and support pollinators, but hidden among the leaves, there is a secret world of reckless chases and cold-blooded murders. Predatory insects must hunt to survive but they, too, are prey for larger predators such as birds and small mammals. To balance the need to catch food with the danger of getting caught, they rely on secluded settings, like dense foliage and thick grass, to hunt while also hiding. In this talk, we’ll look at more or less exotic examples of predatory insects, from the patient search of robber flies to the stealthy attacks of praying mantids. By understanding how these often overlooked garden dwellers search for, pursue, and handle prey, we can start appreciating their roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Creating areas for these small hunters to feed can be as crucial as planting flowers for pollinators and reintroducing apex predators in wild woods.

This is an online webinar. If you cannot make the day of event, please still book a ticket and the recording can be sent to you.

Any queries, please contact: 
buzzclub@sussex.ac.uk