ABOUT THE PROJECT
Insects are the little things that run the world. There are over 9 million species of them on our planet, and they are critical for the proper functioning of its ecosystems. Their herbivory rivals, and in many cases exceeds, that of mammals, and they are an important food source for countless other mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Furthermore, billions of people rely on them for critical ecosystem services such as pollination and nutrient recycling. Tragically, many insect populations are declining faster than we can study them – a phenomenon dubbed the “insect apocalypse” – and most species remain completely unknown to the public. Consequently, there is an urgent need to engage and educate the public about them.
Ento-Club is a collaboration between scientists who study insects (entomologists) and a professional illustrator. These comics focus on unusual and extreme behavioural and physiological adaptations in insects and other arthropods. Through the comics, you will explore the insect world through the eyes of Natasha, a young entomologist. Natasha learns how insects cope with extremes in their environment, how they manipulate their surroundings, and how they behave toward one another in ritualised or even barbaric ways. We have designed the comics for a target audience of 7 to 14 year olds, but we hope that they will be interesting for all ages.
Please find our comics here and get in touch here if you enjoy them or want to learn more!
Ento-Club brought to you by:
TOM
I am fascinated by patterns in insect diversity! Most of my research looks at ants. Where I grew up in south Wales, there are only 3 different ant species. In the UK there are over 40! Where I now work, in the Drakensberg Mountains of southern Africa, there are over 90 species in a single valley! My experiments look at how ants cope with different temperatures along mountain ranges so that we can try to understand these big differences in species diversity across the world.
RUDI
The worldwide diversity of insects is astounding and new species are being discovered every year! I am interested in the evolution of new insect species and I use flies to understand the genetic processes that cause one species to split into two. I am also interested in entomophagy, which means studying how people use insects as food. The diversity of insects that are used as food and examining the nutritional quality of different species is a particular focus of my research.
LAURA
As a scientific illustrator I get to work with many inspiring and creative scientists. Ecologists are very creative people, because they always have to think about new and innovative ways to help the planet and all its inhabitants. I help scientists make their work more accessible so that it can spark an interest and passion in people to help preserve the natural world.
