Nationwide Bug Hunt enlists citizen scientists to map Australia's hidden invertebrate world

A nationwide "Bug Hunt" is galvanizing citizen scientists across Australia, encouraging people of all ages to actively participate in documenting the country's rich invertebrate life. This initiative, spearheaded by the Invasive Species Council and Invertebrates Australia, transforms ordinary backyards, parks, and bushlands into vital research sites.

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Bugs are my great love.

Participants simply need a smartphone and a curious eye. They are tasked with photographing insects, spiders, snails, and other invertebrates, then uploading their images and observational data to the free iNaturalist app. Once submitted, approved insect experts within the community identify and catalogue these findings, contributing valuable data for scientific research. "The best part is that these records go off to Atlas of Living Australia [Australia's national biodiversity database], where scientists at the CSIRO can learn about that bug," explained Jess Ward-Jones, a citizen science coordinator for Bug Hunt Australia and the Invasive Species Council.

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I just had this natural curiosity for looking at the life that lived around us in nature and how these tiny little beasties were the backbone to a healthy, natural ecosystem.

Since its launch in October 2025, the Bug Hunt has amassed over 1 million observations. "It's just incredible that so many people really care and are really getting excited about this initiative," Ward-Jones commented. "I think it tells you how easy and how accessible this project is while making a massive difference." This sentiment is echoed by families like six-year-old Isabel's, who now actively explore nature on weekends. "If you can't get the kids out of the house, it's a great incentive, it's a good game for them," said Isabel's mother, Erica, noting how the girls are now more observant of insects during their outings.

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It's just incredible that so many people really care and are really getting excited about this initiative. I think it tells you how easy and how accessible this project is while making a massive difference.

The project addresses a critical gap in scientific knowledge, as Australia is home to approximately 300,000 native species, with an estimated 200,000 yet to be described by Western science. The Bug Hunt provides a scalable and engaging method to help catalogue this vast biodiversity. Ward-Jones, who has harbored a lifelong passion for insects, sees the initiative as a way to highlight the crucial role these "tiny little beasties" play as the backbone of a healthy ecosystem.

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The best part is that these records go off to Atlas of Living Australia [Australia's national biodiversity database], where scientists at the CSIRO can learn about that bug.