- Espace pour la vie, Insectarium
Julio Rivera, a postdoctoral researcher at the Insectarium, was recently awarded an explorer’s grant from the National Geographic Society worth almost $100,000 over two years. His ambitious project is intended to deepen our knowledge of praying mantises in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, a region exceptionally rich in biodiversity, yet today threatened by deforestation.
In the context of the current climate crisis and the alarming decline of insect populations, the results of this study will help guide conservation and management actions over the long term. The goal is not only to preserve praying mantises, but also to protect other species in the Atlantic Forest and beyond.
Unlike mammals, birds and plants, which have numerous charismatic representatives, insects, except for butterflies and some beetles, lack such representation. In this context, praying mantises offer a unique interactive experience due to their charisma and anthropomorphic qualities, as evidenced by their cultural relevance throughout history. This emotional connection with charismatic fauna and flora predisposes individuals to care about their well-being. Despite their often-overlooked status, insects play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning, with studies indicating a decline in their populations. Therefore, the conservation of praying mantises not only benefit biodiversity but also ensures their role as ambassadors for insect conservation in the long term.
This large-scale project was made possible thanks to support from several committed organizations:
- Espace pour la vie: An ensemble consisting of the Biodôme, the Biosphère, the Insectarium, the Jardin botanique and the Planétarium, which through its dissemination, conservation, research and education actions guides humans in better experiencing nature.
- Projeto Mantis: An independent organization that promotes the scientific study of praying mantises and nature conservation in Brazil.
- Museu Nacional: A public institution dedicated to the advancement of scientific knowledge and to public involvement by way of exhibitions and community-based initiatives, with the goal of advancing knowledge and promoting sustainability in Brazil.
- Federal University of Viçosa: One of the country’s leading universities, recognized for its solid biological sciences program and its local initiatives, will be hosting a workshop aims to train students in researching praying mantises.
In contributing to this collaborative initiative, these organizations are supporting research and the preservation of the fragile ecosystems in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.