The GHTM member, Filipe Lopes, who has been working in the area of entomology, entomological collections and science communication, has recently been interviewed, for the Expresso newspaper, on issues of insect biodiversity loss and introduction of exotic species. Several recently published works have been consistently showing a decrease in insect abundance which reinforces the already existing concern on biodiversity loss, and what is currently referred as the ongoing sixth mass extinction event. For the first time, is ongoing a project for the development of a red list of invertebrates (assessment of endangered invertebrate species) for Portugal, in which the researcher is involved.
Furthermore have been addressed the issues of the current high rate of introduction of exotic species fostered by human activity, especially the cases of the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus recently introduced into regions of Portugal, that pose a serious health risk since they are very effective vectors of a series of diseases, such as Dengue and Zika.