Award-winning entomologist Dino J Martins has been making waves with his new book, Hidden Creatures: Luscious Leeches, Bashful Botflies and the Wondrous, History-Shaping World of Parasites, which challenges conventional perceptions of these often-maligned creatures. In an exclusive interview, Martins explains why parasites are not villains, but vital components of Earth's biodiversity.
Martins' fascination with insects began in his youth in western Kenya, where he observed a miniature world of dung beetles, safari ants and pollinating bees. His career has been dedicated to highlighting the intricate lives of overlooked organisms – from documenting insect lives in East Africa to chairing the insect committee of Nature Kenya.
His new book delves into the complex realm of parasites, drawing on personal encounters from East Africa to Borneo rainforests and London parks. Martins recounts a childhood experience that sparked his curiosity about these interdependencies: observing a caterpillar parasitised by wasps while raising them as a child.
Martins believes no ecosystem can exist without parasites – they are an indicator of healthy, complex biodiversity. He argues their presence is central to the narrative of biodiversity and extinction, affecting all living things directly or indirectly. As our understanding of their life cycles deepens, we gain insights into evolutionary relationships and biological development.
The unique abilities of parasites – such as movement between hosts or immune system manipulation – offer profound insights into biological systems. Martins suggests these could be harnessed for novel therapies or treatments in the future. He also highlights that extinction means losing opportunities to understand complex, intimate biological relationships – like those of the dodo.