Photographer captures tiny bugs with big emotions and bigger roles
This macrophotographer is on a mission to inspire others to protect and respect insects and the environment.
Did you know that even the tiniest of creatures can show the biggest emotions? Those are exactly what macrophotographer and conservation storyteller Dara Ojo has set out to capture as he shares stories about the bugs he encounters and why they matter.
"I've captured them frowning, and there are other times I've captured them smiling," Ojo says in an interview with The Weather Network. "There's this crab spider from China that I captured that was looking very grumpy, like an old man."
Now living in Canada, Ojo captures beautiful photos of insects from across the country, including in his own backyard.
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In Canada, his favourite insect is the bright pink primrose moth, which can be found in Alberta.
The primrose moth is Dara Ojo's favourite insect to capture in Canada. (Taken by Dara Ojo)
Climate change making it harder for insects to survive
Insects are a vital part of our environment; they help pollinate plants, provide food for birds, and show us how healthy our ecosystems are. But climate change is making it harder for insects to survive.
Increasingly dry and hot seasons can reduce insect populations, which affects the whole food chain.
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"They are indicators of anything that happens in our ecosystem. They tell us if our water quality is good, they tell us if, you know, there's high levels of pollution, and that has a ripple effect on every other thing," Oja comments.
Ojo hopes to inspire a new generation to protect insects and our planet through his Love Nature documentary, Bugs That Rule the World.
"We need to understand that everything is all in the same circle, so we're all equal."
Thumbnail image taken by Dara Ojo.
Copyedited by Anika Beaudry, a digital journalist at The Weather Network.