- Insectarium
Thierry Boislard, an entomology technician at the Insectarium, won the Découverte People’s Choice Award at the 2021 edition of the Acfas photo contest, La preuve par l’image—a competition dedicated to images that stem from scientific research in all fields of study. His photograph of a pink grasshopper, Amblycorypha oblongifolia, was voted as the public favorite among the 20 photos submitted to the contest this year..
At the Insectarium, Thierry Boislard is part of the team responsible for the populations and the breeding of insects and arthropods for the forthcoming opening of the new museum. He observes the behaviors of various species on a daily basis. Thierry explains that "this grasshopper specimen owes its stunning coloration to a rare genetic mutation called erythrism.” The Insectarium is attempting to breed pink grasshoppers to better understand this phenomenon.
Espace pour la vie is presenting the finalists of the La preuve par l'image contest in a photo exhibit that will run until January 9, 2022 at the Biodôme. The complete list of winners and finalists is also available on the Acfas website (link in French ; Science Exposed is the English component of the contest—see the competition website for English descriptions).