I fell into entomology by accident. Twice! I started studying species interactions during my master’s, and the model organism was a moth. That was the first time. I had so much fun designing experiments to study the effect of food on pheromones that I kept working with insects. Mosquitoes, moths, flies, honeybees, stinkbugs, and beetles later, I would say I have become a great friend to these six-legged crawlers and flyers. Then I joined a lab full of entomologists and I started teaching the subject. Now I am fully converted.

I am a researcher in agricultural entomology, so my job is to protect crops from damaging and invasive insects while promoting pollinators. I am torturing them at times, to study how their brains process plant odours—and I feel guilty for it. Even those undesired species deserve our care and protection; they are simply trying to survive, just as we are.

I see my garden in a new light now, and every hike in the mountains has become an expedition to spot as many of these fascinating products of evolution as possible—creatures that are, sadly, disappearing at an alarming rate. By sharing their wonders, I hope to inspire others to look closer and help safeguard these remarkable, tiny neighbours.