Olive the Bug Girl is calling for more biodiversity legends to help protect invertebrates

You may know her as Olive the Bug Girl from the internationally acclaimed online series about saving Christmas Beetles. Now, Yirritja actress Merranda Thatcher is calling on biodiversity legends from across Australia to help protect all insects from extinction.

Research has estimated that between 1-3 species of insects and other native invertebrates - like worms, snails and spiders - are becoming extinct in Australia every week, and about 9000 have become extinct since European arrival in 1788.

Their decline threatens not only food systems and soil and water health, but also cultural knowledge that has guided people for tens of thousands of years.

“We all know insects are great pollinators and amazing at breaking down waste in the land, but they also serve as cultural indicators for our First Nations people of Australia,” said Merranda Thatcher, a proud Yirritja actress from the Remmbarrngan First Nations people of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.

“They let us know when the seasons are about to change, and also when resources are ready to collect.”

First Nations people have complex knowledge and spiritual systems that ensure reciprocal care for the environment; allowing them to live sustainably with the diverse animals, plants and ecosystems in this country.

“Most First Nations people were born with the Dreaming. Our Dreaming connects us to Country through knowledge that was handed down to us through our ancestors.”

For Merranda, the responsibility to care for Country that she has inherited is actually everyone’s responsibility.

That’s why Merranda is calling for everyone to become a biodiversity legend, just like her character Olive, to help protect our important invertebrates. You can do this by:

• Avoiding or reducing the use of insecticides, especially broad-spectrum sprays outdoors.
• Planting local native flowers to feed pollinating insects.
• Leaving piles of twigs, leaves and logs around your yard to provide habitat.
• Cutting down on light pollution by switching off outdoor lights when you’re not outside.
• Becoming a citizen scientist like Olive by recording your sightings of insects on the iNaturalist app.

This week is also National Reconciliation Week and the theme is All In, calling for all Australians to step away from the sidelines and take action to make change towards reconciliation and honour First Nations knowledge. We can also help carry the responsibility of looking after Country through our everyday nature actions.

The team behind @olivethebuggirl embrace this National Reconciliation Week theme wholeheartedly. Alongside Merranda who stars as @olivethebuggirl, the series and character is Written & Directed by Lilli Corrias-Smith; Co-Produced by Kate Boylan-Ascione and Lilli Corrias-Smith; and posted onto Instagram and TikTok.

Their humorous climate-action, impact-focused messaging has so far garnered over 32.4K Followers, 1million+ Views, 3K+ comments, and international acclaim.

The @olivethebuggirl team continue to work together to support science communication through their ongoing storytelling, including this video which Corrias-Smith filmed with Thatcher. New developments are underway for @olivethebuggirl, and the team look forward to continuing advocacy for invertebrates through their distinct storytelling blend of nature documentary, mockumentary and sci-fi. Their goal? Protect bugs and prompt big cultural change. Become a biodiversity legend today to be a part of it!