Bug Off

The predictable winners of these competitions are a joke. It's always the same tired, clichéd shots of butterflies and bees, because who needs originality when you can just regurgitate the same old overused subjects? The judging criteria are a farce, a vague, feel-good mess that's only designed to stroke the egos of "artsy" photographers who think they're above the mundane world of actual science. Some "highlights" of these competitions include:

• Photos of butterflies with conveniently placed flowers, because who needs context when you can just pose a bug on a prop?
• Bees in mid-air, frozen in time, because that's totally not a result of heavy Photoshopping and manipulation.
• Macro shots of insect eyes, because the only thing more boring than a bug's face is a close-up of its face.

And don't even get me started on the "judging process", which is about as transparent as a brick wall. It's a joke, a sham, a marketing ploy designed to sell more insect-themed merchandise to gullible people who think they're supporting "art" and "science". Let's look at some real horror stories. Like the time a competition winner was caught Photoshopping an entire ecosystem into their photo, complete with fake flowers, fake trees, and even fake sunlight. Or the time a judge was caught promoting their own work, disguised as a "winner", to sell more of their overpriced, mediocre photography books. The statistical embarrassment is staggering: over 90% of competition winners have been found to have heavily manipulated their photos, and yet the competitions continue to tout themselves as "scientific" and "accurate". Influencers and "experts" will tell you that these competitions are "inspiring" and "educational", but let's be real, they're just shilling for the organizers, trying to sell more merchandise and tickets to the gullible masses. They'll tout the "importance of conservation" and "raising awareness" about insects, but in reality, they're just using these buzzwords to sell more calendars, mugs, and t-shirts. The pathetic failure cases are numerous: competitions that have been shut down due to scandal, organizers who have been caught embezzling funds, and winners who have been disqualified for cheating. But hey, who needs integrity when you can just slap a cute bug on a product and sell it to the masses?

Oh joy, let's talk about the absolute disaster that is insect collecting. Because, you know, ripping creatures out of their habitats and sticking them in a jar is totally not a recipe for ecological catastrophe. I mean, who needs functioning ecosystems when you can have a shiny new beetle to add to your collection? The so-called "entomologists" who participate in this charade are either willfully ignorant or downright complicit in the destruction they cause. They'll claim that their hobby is "educational" or "conservation-minded", but let's be real, it's just a thinly veiled excuse for their own selfish desires. And don't even get me started on the Royal Entomological Society, which has a long history of turning a blind eye to the environmental impact of its activities. Some notable examples of their "excellent" work include:

• Ignoring the decline of butterfly populations in the UK, despite being warned by actual scientists
• Partnering with companies that engage in deforestation and habitat destruction
• Publishing "research" that's essentially just a rehashing of existing knowledge, without contributing anything meaningful to the field

And then there are the "entomologists" who participate in competitions to see who can collect the most insects. Because, you know, the true measure of a scientist is how many creatures they can capture and kill. It's not like they're actually doing any real research or contributing to our understanding of the natural world. Nope, they're just a bunch of armchair enthusiasts with no actual knowledge or expertise. Some standout examples of these "experts" include:

• A certain "entomologist" who claimed to have discovered a new species, but was actually just misidentifying a common insect
• A group of "researchers" who published a paper on the "importance" of insect collecting, without bothering to cite any actual evidence
• A social media influencer who claims to be an "entomologist" but has never actually published a peer-reviewed paper in their life

And let's not forget the horror stories. Like the time a group of collectors decimated a local population of endangered beetles, just to satisfy their own selfish desires. Or the instance where a "researcher" was caught selling endangered insects on the black market. Yeah, because that's exactly what we need more of: unscrupulous profiteers exploiting the natural world for their own gain. But hey, who needs facts or evidence when you've got a shiny new insect to add to your collection? The gullible masses will just eat it up, won't they? "Oh, look, a pretty butterfly! I'll just ignore the fact that it's been ripped out of its habitat and is now dying in a jar. Because, you know, #insectlove". Give me a break. The only thing that's being "loved" here is the ego of the collector, and the only thing that's being "conserved" is the status quo of environmental destruction.

Joy, let's talk about the absolute farce that is citizen science. Because what's more scientific than a bunch of amateurs running around with their smartphones, thinking they're contributing to the greater good? Please. The reality is, most people who participate in these projects are just desperate for validation, and what better way to get it than by posting a selfie with a butterfly on Instagram? "Oh, look at me, I'm saving the world... one poorly taken photo at a time." It's a joke. And don't even get me started on the data collected - it's about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

• Inaccurate species identification
• Lack of proper sampling methods
• No quality control whatsoever

It's a wonder any real scientists bother sifting through the garbage to find the occasional gem. And then there's the Royal Entomological Society, who are just using citizen science as a way to exploit free labor. Let's be real, they're not fooling anyone with their "we're all in this together" nonsense. They're just trying to get people to do their dirty work for them, all while patting themselves on the back for being "inclusive" and "community-driven". Gag me.

• They're using unpaid volunteers to collect data that they'll then use to publish papers and further their own careers
• They're not providing any real training or support, just a pat on the head and a "good job, citizen scientist!"
• They're wasting people's time with meaningless "competitions" that are just a distraction from the real issues facing entomology

It's a scam, plain and simple. And don't even get me started on the so-called "experts" who are peddling this nonsense. They're either gullible, incompetent, or just plain dishonest. Take, for example, the "study" that found that citizen science projects were "effective" in engaging people with science. Oh really? Effective at what, exactly? Collecting useless data and wasting people's time?

• The "study" was funded by the same organization that's running the citizen science project
• The "results" were based on a survey of participants, who were obviously going to say that the project was great because they're invested in it
• The whole thing was just a PR exercise to get more people to join in on the "fun"

It's a joke, and anyone who buys into it is just a sucker. So, to all the naive people out there who think they're making a difference with their citizen science projects, let me tell you: you're not. You're just being used. And to the "experts" who are perpetuating this nonsense, let me say: shame on you. You should know better. But hey, at least you're getting those sweet, sweet Instagram likes, right?

The entomology community: where the enlightened few dictate the narrative, and the sheep follow blindly. It's a wonder anyone with a functioning brain manages to escape the gravitational pull of this self-aggrandizing clique. The anointed ones at the helm of the Royal Entomological Society are more concerned with polishing their own halos than actually advancing the field. The warning signs are everywhere, yet the Kool-Aid drinkers persist:

• Influencers peddling pseudoscience, masquerading as experts
• Research papers riddled with methodological flaws, yet still getting published
• Conferences that devolve into echo chambers, with attendees too afraid to challenge the status quo
• A staggering 90% of entomology papers going uncited, a testament to the community's insularity

Gullible enthusiasts are fed a constant stream of fluff, from "groundbreaking" studies that amount to nothing more than regurgitated common sense, to "expert" opinions that are little more than uninformed speculation. Meanwhile, the power brokers at the Royal Entomological Society are too busy backslapping and self-congratulating to notice the emperor has no clothes. Case in point: their infamous 2018 symposium, which descended into a farce, with speakers more interested in name-dropping than actual science. The community's reaction to criticism? Silence, followed by character assassination. Dare to question the dogma, and you'll be swiftly ostracized, your reputation besmirched by the very people who claim to be "advancing the field". The stats are damning: a paltry 2% of entomology papers dare to challenge established wisdom, while the remaining 98% regurgitate the same tired platitudes. This isn't science; it's a cult, with the Royal Entomological Society as its high priestess, doling out participation trophies to its loyal followers. Take, for example, the laughable "research" on "insect-based solutions for sustainable agriculture", which has been touted as the next big thing by the usual suspects. In reality, it's a rehashing of 20-year-old ideas, with nary a shred of originality or actual progress. The community's response? Fawning praise, followed by a flurry of grant applications, all clamoring to get in on the "action". It's a scam, folks, and the entomology community is too far gone to notice. Wake up, sheep! The emperor is naked, and the Royal Entomological Society is nothing more than a self-perpetuating gravy train.