The Alder Woodwasp and its Insect Enemies
(1960)
The very first step Gerald Thompson took in the world of wildlife cinematography, The Alder Woodwasp and its Insect Enemies is a technically stunning account of this small creature, and the four parasites that specifically target its young.
Encouraged by renowned Look producer Eileen Molony, Thompson sacrificed a new car to buy his first cine camera, promptly submitting this piece to the 1960 Nature Film Competition. With an impressive combination of detailed entomological knowledge, skillful manipulation and exceptional macrophotography, this intriguing film won the event and was broadcast nationally a year later, on the BBC's Look strand.
Stunning photography details these incredible insects as they court and release their eggs, with intricate footage capturing their 'enemies' drilling through the bark, sabotaging the carefully laid woodwasp larva. Thompson specifically engineered lighting systems to deal with his microscopic subjects, the film proving a model for future developments in this specialized field.
Described by the founder of the BBC Natural History Unit, Christopher Parsons, as an "outstanding piece", it was the first step towards the creation of the world-renowned Oxford Scientific Films, which started production seven years after this seminal film.
Gerald Thompson
