For many people, the idea of a giant bug perched on their nose is the stuff of nightmares. But for Adrian Kozakiewicz (@insecthaus_adi), it’s a dream come true. “I want people to pay attention to the beauty of insects — their colors, shapes, the way they behave. These are amazing animals!” Born in Poland, Adrian moved to Germany when he was 12 and discovered tropical insects in a pet store. Now 20 years old, Adrian travels to the rainforests and jungles of Southeast Asia multiple times a year on insect-hunting expeditions. He has more than 70 species in his collection, making him one of the largest insect breeders in Europe. “My favorite is a very big and very rare mantis species from Malaysia called Toxodera beieri,” or the Dragon Mantis, says Adrian, who specializes in praying mantises. “She’s the queen of all the mantis species.” As for those nightmares? Adrian understands. “Most of my species are very large and look like aliens,” he says. “It’s natural for people to be afraid of animals they don’t know.”
Watch our Instagram story to get better acquainted with Adrian’s insect collection.
Video by @insecthaus_adi