Cultural Entomology on Flickr: Scraping the knowledge and interest of Brazilian users about insects
Culturomics, Public interest, Social media, Insects.
Despite the important roles that insects play in human life through ecosystem services, these organisms are generally associated with negative sentiments and are perceived as risks to human health and well-being. Proximity to nature and taxonomic literacy are strongly correlated variables, a evident reality in the human-insect relationship. An effective way to evaluate public knowledge and interest in nature is through the analysis of social media interactions, which has become increasingly crucial in the current digital age, offering valuable insights into people's engagement with the natural world. In this study, we analyzed the engagement patterns of Flickr users with insect photographs posted in Brazil between 2013 and 2023. Specifically, we aim to: (i) assess the level of taxonomic knowledge exhibited by users in their insect photographs, (ii) determine the influence of wing prominence, the photographed environment, and the insect group on public interest, and (iii) analyze geographical biases associated with the published photos. Fifty-six percent of posts included correct scientific names, indicating a high level of taxonomic knowledge among users. Groups commonly perceived as more charismatic (like butterflies) receive more attention than perceived harmful insects (like true bugs). Nevertheless, insect photo posts have declined since 2013, possibly due to the rise of other social media platforms, like Instagram. Photos featuring insects in natural settings, with prominent wings, obtained more likes; on the other hand, insects in anthropogenic environments receive less interest unless evolutionary relationships are considered, suggesting a preference for natural over urban settings. This preference may reflect a desire to connect with nature, as photos near roads and airports are more common than those in urban centers.