Nebraska wildlife photographer Joel Sartore is committed to sweating the small stuff — er, creatures — right alongside larger, better known animals like elephants and lions.
The National Geographic Photo Ark, the project the ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§-based National Geographic photographer founded in 2005 to document Earth's biodiversity, features studio photographs of small species like sparrows and salamanders on the same scale as larger ones in order to place them on an equal footing.Â
"Whether it's big or small, we love them all," Sartore said.
So it seems appropriate that fellow Nebraskan Brett Ratcliffe, an emeritus professor of entomology at the University of Nebraska-´óÄ̸£Àû¼§, named a Bolivian beetle he discovered after Sartore.
Sartore's lesser rhino beetle is known from one pinned specimen collected from Arani, Cochabamba, Bolivia in January 2002.Â
Sartore said Ratcliffe recognized the beetle as potentially new to science and described it in collaboration with a fellow entomologist. They published their work in the Journal of Insect Biodiversity in August. Sartore also has photographed the pinned beetle, which now goes by the Latin name Bothynus sartorei.
Ratcliffe, an expert on scarab beetles, has named hundreds of species and had dozens named after him over his more than 50-year career. But Sartore had never had a species of any kind named after him.
"It's a big honor," Sartore said. "It's a very little beetle."
In reality, he said, insects and other small creatures do a lot of the world's work, including tasks that are important to humans, such as pollinating the plants that produce the vegetables and fruits they eat.Â
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Beetles play a significant role in decomposition, breaking down animal waste — think dung beetles— and other detritus, particularly in forests, according to the Smithsonian Institute. As predators, they reduce populations of problem insects. Ladybird beetles, a.k.a. ladybugs, are predators of aphids. People buy them commercially to do just that job.Â
Sartore encourages his fellow humans to consider the little guys by planting pollinator gardens that provide insects with food and shelter and limiting or eliminating the chemicals they use on their lawns.Â
The FAQ section on his website — — includes tips on how anyone can help save species, from properly insulating their homes to conserve energy to cutting back on single-use plastic items like grocery bags.
In their article describing the new beetle, Ratcliffe and his fellow entomologist wrote that they were naming it in honor of Sartore for his "herculean efforts" to promote and protect biodiversity through his fieldwork documenting animal life, his lectures and the Photo Ark project, which is intended to galvanize the public to care for and save species from extinction.
The ark boarded its 16,000th species, the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, in August. It also marked its 18th anniversary. The salamander is a federally endangered species found only in a small area between Santa Cruz and Monterey, California. It's threatened by habitat loss and climate change. It's also one of the first species listed under the Endangered Species Preservation Act in 1967, the precursor to the Endangered Species Act.
Sartore has said he could see the ark reaching 20,000 species. He photographs those living in zoos, aquariums and wildlife sanctuaries across the world.
He was back on the road recently in a nearly weeklong loop that began with photographing a Canada jay and a subspecies of goldfinch at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Boulder, Colorado. Near the Nevada-Utah border, he photographed the Utah prairie dog as part of a relocation project in Cedar City, Utah, where the rodents have been popping up in residents' lawns.
In New Mexico, he photographed a small fish called a peppered chub. He plans to drive to Medicine Park, Oklahoma, to take portraits of a California quail, blue catfish and another small fish. He expects to photograph three more species at two additional stops in Oklahoma before photographing a little brown skink at the Milford Nature Center in Kansas and traveling back to ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§.
"I like to think small things can have big impacts, and this beetle is an example of that," Sartore said of his namesake insect.
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. He photographed this peacock at the ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ Children's Zoo.
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. He photographed this peacock at the ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ Children's Zoo.
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. He photographed this peacock at the ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ Children's Zoo.
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. He photographed this peacock at the ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ Children's Zoo.
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
In a publishing first for National Geographic magazine, the April 2016 issue had 10 different covers featuring the work of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. The April covers highlight the National Geographic Photo Ark project, a multiyear effort with Sartore to photograph all captive species and inspire people to save these animals before they disappear.Â
Nebraska wildlife photographer Joel Sartore photographed the small, brown Bolivian beetle named in his honor and known as Sartore's lesser rhino beetle. Sartore, a National Geographic photographer, founded the National Geographic Photo Ark nearly two decades ago.
A drawing by Kevin Lievano-Romero, a graduate student at the University of Nebraska-´óÄ̸£Àû¼§, depicts Sartore's lesser rhino beetle. The newly described beetle was named after Nebraska wildlife photographer Joel Sartore to honor his conservation work.
World-renowned photographer, ´óÄ̸£Àû¼§ native and Husker alumnus Joel Sartore has traveled the world in his quest to create a photo archive of global biodiversity.