Competition Rules

Bugs in my Backyard Week 2026 (Nov 16-22)

1. The organisers of the Bugs in my Backyard Week (Competition) are the Invasive Species Council and Invertebrates Australia (Organisers).  
2. In entering the Competition, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the Competition rules and entry requirements. This also applies to entrants under the age of 18 and their parent and/or guardian. 
3. Any entry that does not comply with the Competition rules and image and submission requirements may be disqualified at any stage of the Competition, without notice to the entrant. This includes any entry that cannot be authenticated.  
4. This decision is at the sole discretion of the judges and Organisers. Any rule breaches are the sole responsibility of the entrant.

Submitting entries 

5. Entries must be submitted online only through the iNaturalist app or website. For instructions on how to go Bug Hunting, visit our FAQs page. 
6. To be eligible for a prize, bug hunters must join the ‘Bugs in my Backyard Week 2026’ project on iNaturalist.
7. Entries open at 0:01AM AEDT on Monday 16 November 2026, and must be submitted before the Competition closes at 23:59PM AEDT on Sunday 22 November 2026.

Categories and Prizes

8. Prizes and lucky draws of a $100 Australian Geographic shop gift voucher and an Invertebrates Australia gift pack will be awarded to the following categories: 
- a. Three random prize draws for project members who take part

1. - Winners will be chosen at random by software, from all entries received and verified by the Organisers.

- b. Most species documented: Document the greatest variety of different species.

- c. Best photo: Awarded for outstanding clarity, framing and detail of an invertebrate.

- d. Most remote record: Awarded for the observation logged from the most isolated or remote geographical location across Australia.
- e. In addition, a prize of 4 x 35g No Pong deodorant tins, with 2 of them custom engraved, will be awarded for the Most Interesting photo of an insect on flower: Awarded for the most captivating, creative or beautifully framed shot of an insect interacting with a flowering plant.

9. The winner will be notified within four weeks from when the Competition closes, via iNaturalist app direct message. Winners must respond to any messages within four weeks, or the prize will be re-allocated.
10. The prize will be sent to a mailing address within Australia, supplied by the winner, by standard post after the announcement of the winner.

Who can enter 

11. The Competition is open to Bug Hunters of any age and experience, including amateur and professional photographers. However, there are some limitations as to who can enter the Competition. 
12. Individuals (and their partners and immediate family members) involved in organising, sponsoring or judging the Competition are ineligible to enter. This includes Invasive Species Council and Invertebrates Australia staff, Invasive Species Council and Invertebrates Australia organisers, Competition judges and employees of sponsoring organisations.

Image requirements 

13. Images entered in the Competition must:

- a. Be of bugs taken in Australia or on Australian offshore islands and territories (including Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Heard Island, Macquarie Island and McDonald Island); 
- b. Be of wild bugs. Photos of captive or pet bugs will not be accepted for prize consideration;
- c. Be taken in accordance with any relevant laws and regulations, with minimal disruption to the bug and its habitat; and 
- d. Be entered into iNaturalist.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital manipulation

14. The entrant represents and warrants that the work is the entrant’s sole original work captured entirely with a digital, film or phone camera, and has not been created using Artificial Intelligence (other than as permitted in rule 15 below).
15. While minimal use of AI noise reduction and sharpening technology is allowed, photos must not be edited using generative AI. Any unacceptable digital manipulation of an entry may result in disqualification.

Copyright and usage  

16. The entrant represents and warrants that the work is the entrant’s sole original work, the entrant has the power to grant the rights given under it, the entrant has obtained appropriate releases, the entrant is entitled to reproduce and exploit any underlying rights in the work, and the entrant indemnifies the Organisers against any loss resulting from breach of these warranties.
17. While image copyright will always remain with the photographer, any photos submitted to the Competition may be used by the Organisers and official sponsors for marketing and promotional purposes. Photographers will be credited appropriately when their images are used in accordance with these rules.   
18. By entering the Competition, entrants grant the Organisers a perpetual, non-exclusive licence to reproduce, publish, exhibit or communicate their name and image, by any means and in all media, without payment. This includes social media, online and print communications for the purposes of:  
- a. Promoting the Competition (including future competitions), and 
- b. Bug advocacy, conservation, communications and research efforts.  
- c. This includes any publicity, advertising and promotion of the Competition by media partners. The Organisers are not responsible or liable for any image misuse by external third parties. 
19. The Organisers are entitled to crop or resize any images prior to publication, and may contact the photographer to request a higher resolution copy as required.

General terms 

20. Prizes are as advertised, non-negotiable and non-transferable. Any additional costs incurred in receiving the prize, such as taxes or bank charges, are the sole responsibility of the entrant. 
21. Winners must claim their prizes within 4 weeks of the winners announcement or make alternative arrangements with the Organisers. Failure to do may result in said prize being forfeited at the sole discretion of the Organisers.  
22. The entrant acknowledges and agrees that if the prize is unavailable, for whatever reason, the Organisers reserve the right to substitute the prize for a prize of equal or greater value, subject to State and Territory legislation.
23. The Organisers reserve the right to conduct a redraw in the event that an entrant, claiming to be a winner or qualifier, is unable to satisfy the terms or has breached the Competition Rules.
24. The Organisers have no responsibility to accept late, lost or misdirected entries.
25. Entrants acknowledge that there may be risks to personal property and personal safety that may result in loss, injury or death when participating in the Competition. Entrants accept all risks in participating in the Competition and will not hold the Organisers (including its officers, employees and agents) liable for any damage to property, personal injury or death incurred in connection with participating in the Competition, whether arising in negligence or otherwise.