Interview: Samuel Purdie talks about A Naturalist's Guide to the Insects of Aotearoa New Zealand

Samuel Purdie is a budding conservation scientist with a focus on herpetology and entomology. He is also a passionate science educator and award-winning wildlife photographer who originally hails from Rotorua, New Zealand. He has a BSc in Zoology/Ecology, a PGDip in Wildlife Management and an MSc in Wildlife Management; all of which he received from Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka/The University of Otago.  Samuel spends much of his time researching threatened native insects and advocating for Aotearoa’s unsung wildlife. Ever since he was a child, he has been obsessed with creepy crawlies, and he is now on a mission to change people’s perceptions about these vulnerable and misunderstood creatures. Samuel talks to NZ Booklovers.

What inspired you to write this book?

John Beaufoy Publishing were eager to expand their Naturalist's Guide series to include New Zealand insects and I LOVE insects. Naturally, I leapt at the opportunity. As a child, I was utterly obsessed with insects and always glued to the pages of insect books like Andrew Crowe's Which New Zealand Insect? I feel incredibly grateful to make my own contribution to insect literature, and I hope that A Naturalist’s Guide to the Insects of Aotearoa New Zealand will inspire curious young minds — just as books like it once inspired me.

What research was involved?

One of the difficulties with insects is that they are so diverse in form. Consequently, this book required a lot of reading. I perused scientific papers, technical reports, and even 18th-century manuscripts written in French (no, I can't speak French). Collating and distilling that information was certainly a challenge. I also leaned heavily on the expertise of several astute entomologists — all of whom I'm so grateful to for reviewing my musings! 

What was your routine or process when writing this book?

A lot of weekends spent on my laptop when I should have been out adventuring! 

What is something surprising readers might find in your book?

That there are SO MANY different species within the various insect genera. Take, for example, the humble mānuka beetle (Pyronota): most people think that if a beetle is small, green, and shiny, it must be THEE mānuka beetle — P. festiva — but there are at least 10 other species of Pyronota that look very similar! People often assume that because one insect is featured in a book, or on a website, it is the only species in that group. This is often not the case. I've endeavoured to highlight this in Insects and encourage people to use the book in tandem with other resources to truly appreciate how diverse insects are. 

Do you have a favourite insect in the book, and why?

Outrageous question! To avoid being a dipteran downer, I'll say the Mercury Island Tusked Wētā (Motuweta isolata). My friends Nick and Tim beheld a Herculean specimen on Korapuki Island — Nick's image of it is featured in the book (sorry, Tim). Males of the species occasionally rival the size of giant wētā (Deinacrida spp.) and wield tusks, which they use to joust one another with. They also just narrowly avoided extinction — the entire population is descended from three individuals. Oh, and they eat other insects. They are about as cool as it gets! You can read more in Ian Stringer's free online book Saving the Mercury Islands Tusked Wētā from Extinction (https://tuskedweta.co.nz/). 

What did you enjoy the most about writing A Naturalist's Guide to the Insects of Aotearoa New Zealand?

I really enjoyed learning all about the fine details that separate some insects. For example, if you see a stout dark wasp buzzing around and are unsure whether it's a black cockroach hunter wasp (Tachysphex nigerrimus) or a spider-hunting mason wasp (Pison sp.), look closely at the eyes — the inner eye margins of mason wasps have a conspicuous notch; cockroach hunters don't! When you become familiar with these insects, there are other obvious differences, but understanding the fine details is so helpful when you're learning. Research by astute entomologists — in the wasp example, by people like the late Anthony Harris — ultimately forms the foundation of the book and trying to distill such important pieces of work was a fun challenge! 

What did you do to celebrate finishing this book?

I've not got to that part yet! Perhaps a fun insect mission in the hills with some friends?!

What is the favourite book you have read so far this year and why?

In the spirit of insects...

• Incredible Insects of Aotearoa by Simon Pollard and Phil Sirvid — such a fun, colourful book for kiddos and adults alike. The ultimate kiwi-critter fizz book!

• A Naturalist's Guide to the Butterflies & Moths of Aotearoa New Zealand by Carey Knox — company-man answer, but the book is brilliant and nicely complements Insects. I've intentionally gone light on moths so that people will consider reading his book! 

  
  

What’s next on the agenda for you?

I'm always eager to develop resources that will connect people to the natural world. However, my main objectives for now are in the realm of conservation management/research. Lots of lizard/insect monitoring, pest management, and hopefully some applied ecological research. Many of Aotearoa's insects are currently imperilled by the hand of human-kind — we've brought fuzzy exotic predators into their homes, tampered with the global climatic thermostat, and rendered untold communities to atoms. Hence, we need to consider our personal — and collective — impacts on the planet. With so little known about many of the critters we're losing, we need to love them, learn more about them, and identify how we can help them — that's what is, and always will be, on my agenda! Learning. 🪲🪲

John Beaufoy Publishing