Spring is approaching rapidly, and although active insect activity in nature is still ahead, researchers think about them year-round. One of the best entomologists not only in Latvia but also internationally, Dmitrijs Teļnovs has been interested in various insect groups since childhood, and his passion has taken him not only to exotic locations in tropical and subtropical regions but also to a prestigious job at the Natural History Museum in the United Kingdom.
Reviewing the World’s Red List
Dmitrijs Teļnovs, while being both a specialist at the Natural History Museum in the United Kingdom, a leading researcher at Daugavpils University, and a researcher at the Biology Institute of the University of Latvia, is currently actively involved in the work of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and ensures that the European and global Red Lists are reviewed.
"I review the threats and extinction risks for various beetle species found in Europe, which are associated with dead wood and old forests. At the same time, in Latvia, I am involved in the 'LIFE FOR SPECIES' project, within which similar work was done for plant, fungi, and animal species, and a new Red List of Latvia was prepared along with proposals for changes to the list of specially protected species of Latvia," says the researcher.
Latvia Should Open Up More to the World
When asked to describe the public's attitude towards museums and research, Dmitrijs first emphasizes that donating is very widespread in the UK. "People and organizations donate huge amounts for research and also invest in expanding the museum’s collections. There is a noticeable interest and understanding of the importance of science. People come and ask – where can we help financially?"
There is also significant interest in volunteering at museums – both students and elderly people help maintain and develop collections, including collecting new specimens with the appropriate permissions. "Nothing like this exists in Latvia," Dmitrijs observes, while also stressing that this does not mean everything in Latvia is bad. "It's not – in some areas, things are even very good, and in certain fields, we are working at a global level. But there is a lack of understanding, experience, and strategic thinking. We still try to close ourselves off within our 65,000 square kilometers, although we need to open up to the world," the researcher believes.
In his opinion, the quality of life in Riga is better than in London – in various aspects. The only significant downside of Riga, Dmitrijs mentions, is the air quality: "Very dusty, dirty streets, and buildings that are not cleaned."
Inspired by Gerald Durrell
Dmitrijs’ interest in insects and nature conservation started in childhood, when the books of Gerald Durrell left an indelible impression on him. "The first Durrell book was given to me in the early 1980s, and at the time, it was the only source to learn about the diversity of tropical nature. Durrell opened my eyes to the fact that outside our northern region, there is something beautiful, colorful, and unexplored," says Dmitrijs.
Perhaps that is why his scientific work is more focused on tropical and subtropical regions, where, during his expeditions, he has discovered hundreds of previously unknown insect, snail, and millipede species. When asked what it feels like to see something in front of his eyes that has been unknown to the world until then, Dmitrijs admits that it is thrilling, and the moment of surprise happens every time. The researcher emphasizes that it is exciting not only to discover a new insect species that no one has encountered in nature before but also, when reviewing old museum collections, to see specimens of species that have long since become extinct.
Insect Collection from the Age of 6
Similar to how Durrell once went into nature to collect various animal species and only later turned to nature conservation, Dmitrijs also began creating his first insect collections as a child while spending his summers in Pierīga and Crimea.
"As a child, I was attracted to everything that was small, diverse, crawled, and needed to be searched for. I started building my private insect collection at the age of six. Back then, I was lucky to spend two summers with my parents in Crimea, where the nature is different. What I saw there had a big impact on me. I didn’t even realize why I needed it at the time; I just knew I had to collect and classify. I did it as best I could – I had neither literature nor parents connected to science," the researcher recalls.
Mice Ate the Specimens
From his trips to Crimea, he brought back a huge number of wasps, beetles, as well as spiders and seashells, in his child’s imagination. "In the Riga apartment, we kept everything in cardboard boxes, but since there was no understanding of how to do it properly, one day I opened a box and realized that the mice had eaten the entire collection, leaving only seashells. That was a huge tragedy and a lesson at the same time," the researcher remembers his first steps in entomology.
Dmitrijs continued building his collection in later years, and it is now considerable. The oldest specimens in it are from the late 1980s and early 1990s. "Back then, as a very young person, I couldn’t go to the tropics, so I collected species found in Latvia – I started with ground beetles, as they are the easiest to find," Dmitrijs explains.
Asked how large his private insect collection is, the researcher doesn't give a specific number but mysteriously reveals that, for Latvia, the collection is significant, and while it doesn't compete with museum collections, it does surpass some university collections.
People Could Learn from Insects
Building collections allows researchers to better understand and study both specific species and nature as a whole.
That’s why Dmitrijs is not only a passionate insect researcher but also an active environmentalist.
He is motivated by the success of saving an important tree for insects or protecting a broader habitat. In his opinion, people could learn from insects the art of cooperation and selfless help.
"People should look more often at what’s beneath their feet, because all around us live countless small but significant organisms. Insects play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystems, not only by providing pollination but also by decomposing organic waste and carrying out other important processes.
Even if all the people in the world tried to replace the work of insects, it would be impossible," Dmitrijs emphasizes.
His childhood dreams and passions have transformed into a career that many can only dream of – exotic expeditions and working at the most prestigious institution in his field only prove that knowledge, courage, and perseverance together can achieve a great deal.
