‘The eww holds power’: why disgust shapes how we see nature, queerness and each other

The Guardian Environment Friday 14 August 2026, 11:00 UTC By Connor Butler 1 min read

Key Points

Difference abounds in the natural world. Human responses to it – and our prejudices about each other – are often learned behaviour Vote for your favourite invertebrate of the yearIt was the summer of 2021 and I was standing in Hyde Park, London, trying to persuade passing tourists to come bug hunting with me. I was working on a campaign to increase public appreciation of invertebrates and, while I adore bugs, this job was teaching me how differently other people see them.

Difference abounds in the natural world. Human responses to it – and our prejudices about each other – are often learned behaviour

Vote for your favourite invertebrate of the year

It was the summer of 2021 and I was standing in Hyde Park, London, trying to persuade passing tourists to come bug hunting with me. I was working on a campaign to increase public appreciation of invertebrates and, while I adore bugs, this job was teaching me how differently other people see them.

A woman and her young daughter stopped to chat. Grateful for a few minutes of respite, the woman turned to her phone while the child followed me to a nearby log. We lifted it to reveal one of the largest earthworms I’ve ever seen.

Voting is open for invertebrate of the year and will close at midnight BST on Sunday 16 August; vote here

Hyde Park (LOCATION) London (LOCATION)

Originally published by The Guardian Environment Read original →

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‘The eww holds power’: why disgust shapes how we see nature, queerness and each other

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