The enchanting Marsh Fritillary butterfly, Ireland's sole protected insect, takes centre stage in the latest instalment of the "Beo and Raja" comic series. Launched on 11th July 2025, the comic aims to captivate younger audiences and highlight the crucial role insects play in biodiversity and the emerging bioeconomy.
Titled Beo, Raja and the Butterfly Effect, this freely available comic (under a Creative Commons Licence and downloadable online) underscores that insects, often overlooked or unfairly maligned, are vital yet forgotten links in countless ecosystems. The chosen title cleverly references the "butterfly effect" theory, illustrating how seemingly minor changes can trigger significant, unpredictable impacts. This concept perfectly aligns with the comic's core message: insects, though small, are far more instrumental in maintaining healthy ecosystem functions than typically perceived.
Within the comic, our butterfly protagonist encounters other insects, including the common wasp, who laments its lack of appreciation: "The bee gets the glory. The wasp gets the swat. I'm not pretty enough. I'm not cute. I work so hard at pest control and pollination all day long and what thanks do I get?" The Marsh Fritillary then helps to spread awareness of their environmental importance, reminding all insects of their collective power and how "each tiny wingbeat keeps ecosystems alive."
Professor Jane Stout, Vice President for Biodiversity and Climate at Trinity College Dublin and President of the Royal Entomological Society for insect science, emphasised their significance. "Insects are the most diverse group of animals on the planet, and yet their importance in ecosystems is vastly underappreciated," she stated. "They use various methods of communication, from visual and chemical to tactile and audio, and while we can't always see or hear them, they are important to healthy ecosystems that underpin the bioeconomy, which uses nature's cycle – not fossil fuels – to create food, materials and energy."
Professor Stout further highlighted that only a handful of insect species pose problems for humans, with many playing crucial, beneficial roles. While their importance as pollinators is widely acknowledged, insects are also key in pest control, nutrient cycling, and provide a food source for wild birds and other animals. "This comic has been developed to communicate to and engage with a younger audience about the diversity of insects, their connection to Irish culture, and their importance in our bioeconomy, including our food production systems," she added.
The comic is a product of collaboration between researchers from BioBeo, University College Dublin (UCD), Trinity College Dublin, Maynooth University, the BiOrbic Research Ireland Centre for the Bioeconomy, and the Royal Entomological Society. Nathan T Wright provided the illustrations.
This initiative falls under the Restoring Biodiversity challenge within the Healthy Ecosystems Pillar, aiming to strengthen and integrate education and public engagement (EPE) into scientific research.
Dr Catherine Farrell, Assistant Professor of Business and Nature at Trinity Business School and Programme Lead for Business for Biodiversity Ireland, noted the commercial relevance. "Insects are essential to so many business supply chains, most obvious in terms of crops and food production, but with multiple contributions to so many aspects of our daily lives," she explained. "The Butterfly Effect highlights this in a simple way: the small things really matter for the future of our society and economy."
Dr Máire Nic an Bhaird, Associate Professor in Education at Maynooth University, drew parallels to cultural heritage. "The layers in this comic are powerful: Douglas Hyde, with deep ties to Trinity and UCD, shows how language, heritage and land are deeply connected; just as he used that connection to revive Irish, we must now foster a love of the land to inspire young climate stewards and support bioeconomy solutions," she commented.
Dr Laoise Ní Chléirigh, Assistant Professor in Education at Maynooth University, added, "We are also publishing a version in the Irish language, a minority language where traditional ecological knowledge is deeply rooted, supporting both cultural and environmental continuity."
Professor Tom Curran, Associate Professor in UCD’s School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, reflected on the interdisciplinary success. "This was a very enjoyable transdisciplinary collaboration between ecology, education and engineering, which showed the benefits of integrating different perspectives in highlighting the importance of insects in our world."