EXTINCT AND ENDANGERED: INSECTS IN PERIL
A new exhibit from the American Museum of Natural History
From bees to butterflies, insects help keep natural ecosystems healthy. But the evidence is clear: many insect species are in decline. Extinct and Endangered: Insects in Peril will introduce visitors to these tiny animals’ outsized impact on our planet through the uniquely powerful macrophotography of Levon Biss.
“The incredible photography brings us face-to-face with beautiful creatures, calling attention to their unique forms. Each insect has a powerful story, and we’re eager to showcase this often overlooked dimension of our ecosystem,” says Adam Kane, executive director. “We’ve paired the outsized prints with specimens from our collections.”
The photographs feature extinct and endangered specimens—some more than 100 years old—selected from the American Museum of Natural History’s vast scientific collection, highlighting the magnificence of insects in extreme detail, making intricate features visible and aiming to shift visitors’ perspective of the value and importance of the insect world. The featured species range from the well-known monarch butterfly and the nine-spotted ladybug to the remote Lord Howe Island stick insect of Australia, thought to be extinct for most of the 20th century until a tiny population was discovered and bred in captivity starting in 2003.
“There are two sides to this exhibition,” said Levon Biss. “There’s the beauty and the celebration of these creatures. But there’s also a somberness, when you marvel at these insects and start to understand that they are already extinct, or close to being gone, and the reason for that is us, primarily. I hope people will walk away from this exhibition with a realization that these animals are too beautiful to be lost. They are too important to be lost.”
“Vertebrates are far better monitored and protected than most insects, a consequence of the fact that for most people insects are not just simply unknown but seriously misunderstood,” said David Grimaldi, the curator of Extinct and Endangered and a curator in the AMNH’s Division of Invertebrate Zoology. “To a scientist concerned for all of nature, this focus on large animals is myopic. Take away the world’s mammals and the planet would not look much different; take away just the bees and other insect pollinators, the ants and termites, and life on land could collapse.”
NORTHERN FOREST ON DISPLAY
Step into the Northern Forest without leaving St. Johnsbury.
Know Your Trees: Last summer, we harvested twelve keystone species from Matsinger Forest in Danville, VT. These specimens are showcased in the Kast Atrium of the Science Annex, complete with identification details to help you recognize them on your next walk in the woods.
Bird Nests of the Northern Forest: The Museum’s collections include 135 bird nests! We’re highlighting a selection from local species. Discover the intricate mud-and-grass latticework of the Eastern Phoebe or the delightfully messy stick construction inside a House Wren’s nest box.
Matsinger Forest: The wild side of the Museum, our 515-acre Fairbanks Museum Nature Preserve at Matsinger Forest, will be featured in a balcony alcove. Learn about its diverse inhabitants and gather inspiration for planning your own hike through this remarkable landscape.