AB Bishop, HMAA member and Horticultural Editor for ABC Gardening Australia was part of a panel that advised on the ABC’s inaugural Insect of the Year poll. Here she reports on what happened.
This year, the ABC held its inaugural ABC Insect of the Year poll. I was invited to be on a panel of six insect enthusiasts, who each nominated their favourite invertebrate for the public to vote on. This fabulous idea was instigated by ABC journalist, Gavin McGrath, to bring invertebrates into the spotlight in a positive way.
Working as we do in horticultural fields, we are well aware of the many and varied ecological roles these small but powerful critters play – and their huge benefit (er, mostly!) to people and planet, but most people haven’t had the pleasure of interacting with much more than butterflies, bees, mozzies and flies!
Being on this panel was a fun opportunity to showcase and discuss a handful of other amazing critters. There was a lot of interest for the poll and I did numerous radio and one TV interview, with all the presenters being genuinely engaged in the topic and getting their listeners talking about insects and what we can do in our gardens to encourage and support them.
I’m sure you’re dying to know who the nominees were! Museums Victoria senior entomologist Dr Ken Walker nominated the Lord Howe Island stick insect; botanist and beekeeper Dr Anna Currucan the blue-banded bee; ecologist Tanya Loos the golden stag beetle; ABC Science presenter Dr Ann Jones the Eltham copper butterfly; author of A Field Naturalist’s Guide to the Insects of Australia, Peter Rowland went for the common hoverfly, and I chose the bogong moth.
While my choice certainly wouldn’t have won any beauty pageant against these other five, it got my vote for its incredible migration of 1000 plus kilometres in spring and again at the end of summer. It also brings a rich nutrient source to the Victorian Alps and Snowy Mountains, where it’s the main food source for the endangered mountain pygmy possum.
A total of 13,593 people voted in the poll, which ended to coincide with Pollinator Week. Maybe there’s no surprises, but the adorable, blue-banded bee trounced its crittery competition with an incredible 6815 votes, just over 50 per cent. The common hoverfly come in second with 13 per cent and – three hurrahs – the bogong moth graced the podium taking out the bronze medal with 11.4 per cent of votes! Fourth was the golden stag beetle, then the Lord Howe Island stick insect and, last but certainly not least, the Eltham copper butterfly. There were no losers in this Award – with people being given the opportunity to learn about some lesser-known invertebrates and the six insects getting some much-deserved attention!
See more Here .
