In the aftermath of the Black Summer bush fires six years ago, something dawned on a group of specialist researchers.

The fires had destroyed not only homes and livelihoods - but large swathes of critically important habitat for Australia's invertebrate population.

Around Australia, nearly a thousand invertebrates - that is, animals without a backbone - are threatened with extinction, with a dedicated crew now working to save species and build public knowledge.

• Guest: Associate Professor Tanya Latty is an entomologist and co-founder of Invertebrates Australia