About

Worms, beetles, snails, spiders…

I’ve always been drawn to invertebrates, and they feature in some early memories. I was stung by a bee when very young, and was fascinated by the sting it left in my foot. I was thrilled to be able to hold a big tarantula on a zoo visit, feeling its fat legs creeping along my hand. I was amazed by the sight of huge, blundering stag beetles flying around in the summer like clumsy helicopters, a sight I haven’t seen since I was a child. And I loved listening to my dad happily reminisce about keeping stick insects, when he was young. But I was never indulged in my own desire for a pet crayfish, or scorpion, although I asked very nicely many, many times.

Now that I have children of my own, I’m seeing the world of ‘minibeasts’ with fresh fascination, through their eyes and through my own again. We love turning over stones together to see what we will find, we rescue worms from the tarmac and return them to the soil, and point at big bumblebees busying from flower to flower.

But insects are in serious trouble due to habitat loss, pesticides and climate change, and they are essential for our own survival as a species – pollinating our food, decomposing waste and providing food for countless other animals, including humans.

We need them. And they are awesome, beautiful, and full of tricks and surprises. I want to discover more about the little creatures and what they mean to us. You’re invited to join me on this journey into the small world.

Finally, a disclaimer and an invitation: I’m a beginner and I’m aware that many of you will know much more than me about the creatures and habitats we’re discovering together. Please feel free to add comments below each post, or contact me directly using the form below.

Thanks for reading!
Nicola