Emma Johnson, ABC News, 9 Jan 2026.
Queensland insect enthusiasts are using their cameras to help researchers study bug populations, as part of a national citizen science project.
Bug Hunt, developed by the Invasive Species Council and Invertebrates Australia, is a new program that seeks to create a nation-wide catalogue of critters using the online platform iNaturalist.
The project gathers pictures and observations from thousands of participants to create a database for scientists to monitor native species and identify invasive pests.
Elle Irvine began photographing insects in her Brisbane backyard in 2020 and joined Bug Hunt to help build a bigger picture of Australian invertebrates.
“Because my interest started because of photography, I predominantly wander around looking for insects that I might find interesting to photograph,” she said.
“In the course of doing that, I might run across 50 other insects that I don’t really want to spend 20 minutes taking photos of, but I can take one photo and upload it as I go.”
She said the project is a great way to get people excited about insects.