I’m not that pessimistic about the future for insects

Ever since Roy Kleukers peered at insects through a microscope as a student, this group of animals has held his fascination. And more and more people share that interest, he observes. ‘As a biology student in Nijmegen I had no particular interest in insects. That changed when I did a research placement studying the six amphibian species living in the Hatertse and Overasseltse Vennen. To understand how they could coexist, we looked, among other things, for differences in their diet. We injected water into their stomachs to flush out the contents. I examined these under the microscope, and was captivated by the beauty and diversity of the insects I found there’, says entomologist Roy Kleukers. That grip proved firm, and he has now been director of the EIS Knowledge Centre for Insects (EIS Kenniscentrum Insecten) for twenty-five years. At the anniversary autumn meeting of the Netherlands Entomological Society, on 29 November ¹, he will receive the Uyttenboogaart-Eliasen Prize for his efforts to expand and share knowledge about insects. The Uyttenboogaart-Eliasen Foundation promotes the study of insects through grants and fellowships, and through the prize, which is awarded once every five years. ‘I didn’t see this coming’, says Kleukers, somewhat taken aback. ‘I see it as a mark of appreciation for the entire EIS team.’

Grasshoppers After his first encounter with insects, he undertook a placement at what was then the Research Institute for Nature Management, investigating how grazing pressure on grasslands affects grasshopper populations. That group became his specialism. After graduating, he was able to join EIS as coordinator of the Dutch atlas project on grasshoppers and crickets. ‘I enjoyed doing the fundamental work: mapping the distribution of species and monitoring how they were faring.’

Trends That turned out to be immediately surprising. The project began in 1990, at a time when it was becoming clear that the climate was changing. ‘We saw changes in the grasshopper fauna happening before our very eyes. New species were appearing from more southerly areas, such as Conocephalus fuscus. We had not anticipated that at all! Of the fifty species of grasshoppers and crickets now living in the Netherlands, no fewer than twelve have arrived since 1990. And only two species have disappeared from the Netherlands, the migratory locust and Psophus stridulus.’ The atlas was published in 1997, a second atlas project was completed in 2015, and today annual trends in the distribution of grasshoppers and crickets are calculated.

‘The current interest in insects is broadening the support base for conservation’

‘It is gratifying that the projects have helped to grow interest in these insects. We started in 1990 with fifteen volunteer recorders; now hundreds of people take part. But other insects too have attracted far greater interest among the general public. This has been made possible because the field has become more accessible. In the past, the barrier to getting started with insects was high. You were dependent on difficult books and needed a microscope. Thanks to the image-recognition apps from Waarneming.nl and the Naturalis Species Finder online, it has become much easier to identify species and find information. EIS supports specialists and encourages everyone who is interested. That is why, alongside specialist literature, we now also publish the magazine Insecten.’ EIS itself grew in step. When Kleukers became director in 1999, there were two members of staff. There are now seventeen. ‘I deliberately pursued growth. EIS appointed enterprising researchers who bring in commissions from organisations such as Natuurmonumenten and government bodies. In doing so, we try to connect with current issues – for instance when biologists from Nijmegen published on the decline of flying insects in nature reserves in Germany. That was an eye-opener for me. I knew that insects were disappearing from agricultural land, but it now turned out that agrochemicals were causing damage far beyond those areas too. We contributed to similar research that was subsequently carried out in the Netherlands.

Opportunities ‘The current interest in insects is broadening the support base for conservation. A number of species are protected under the European Habitats Directive, and we monitor those. We also keep track of species on red lists. But the best way to protect insects in general is to ensure that their habitats are in good condition.’ The deterioration of those habitats is a cause for concern, but Kleukers also sees opportunities: ‘Two-thirds of the Dutch land surface is used for agriculture. The prospect of some of that being converted to residential and natural areas is becoming increasingly realistic. Insects will benefit enormously from that, so I am optimistic about their future.’

YouTube And to show everyone how fascinating insects are, he makes short films and posts them on his own YouTube channel. ‘I wanted to add something to the many photographs that already exist. You don’t need much to make films: a camera with a macro lens and a tripod – and patience, of course. I film how insects eat and mate, and how grasshoppers shoot away their droppings. That sometimes yields something new. For instance, I filmed two male in vigorous trembling displays to ward each other off. That behaviour was previously unknown. If you have an eye for insects, you need never be bored.’ ¹ The print version incorrectly states Jaarlijkse Entomologendag (GvM, 26 November)