Malta’s Declining Insects Get Major Glow-Up In New Photoshoot With Maltese Model
Some of Malta’s endemic insects recently stepped into the spotlight in a collaborative project which brought a number of nature enthusiasts together.
Entomologist Arnold Sciberras joined forces with photographer Kurt Paris, model Madeleine Baldachhino, hairdresser Elena Cassar, and make-up artist Gia Marie Waits, to produce the body of work.
The photographic project aims to highlight the importance of Maltese insects and their decline to raise awareness in an artistic way.
The photographs feature everything from the Maltese honey bee, the hawk moth, the Maltese swallowtail butterfly, and the praying mantis, with all the insects used found deceased. None were harmed in the production.
“With an estimated 5.5 million species, insects are the most diverse group of animals on the planet,” Sciberras explained.
“Yet both the number and diversity of insects are declining around the globe due to habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. Without widespread action, many of these important creatures face extinction within the next decade.”
“While many insects can seem like pests, they provide a wide range of services to other plants and animals in our environment. In fact, a diverse range of insect species is critical to the survival of most life on earth, including bats, birds, freshwater fishes, and even humans!”
Along with plants, insects are at the foundation of the food web, and most of the plants and animals we eat rely on insects for pollination or food.
Some insects are known as decomposers, meaning they break down dead materials like fallen leaves and animal carcasses and turn them into simpler materials, making nutrients available to primary producers like plants and algae.
Insects are the primary menu item for many reptiles, birds, and amphibians. If insect populations continue to decline, some food webs might collapse entirely.
We also depend on insects for silk, dyes, honey, and medical and genetic research. But, aside from the services insects provide, they are simply fascinating animals that spark curiosity in humans, especially children.
“These incredible creatures exhibit many extraordinary behaviors that are unthinkable in other forms of life and have inspired the technology that we use today.”
“By making a few small changes in your life, you can help curb this current situation.”
So what can we do to help?
Local, national, and international efforts can help solve this crisis. Individuals can help through low-effort, impactful changes: cultivating insect-friendly outdoor spaces, taking our pledge, and spreading the word!
If you want to find out more about Sciberras’ work, take a look at his personal cockroach zoo below:
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