An insect census is a bug count. Scientists will count insects to determine the biodiversity of an ecosystem. These surveys are taken at different times of the year and in different locations.
An entomologist is a person who studies insects. Why would a scientist want to study insects? Well, insects are very important to the environment. They help pollinate plants and are a major part of the food chain. You may be wondering: Why should we be counting bugs?
Why should you do an insect census?
There is a lot to study about insects. Insects are the most diverse group of living things, representing 80% of the species in the world. There are 200 million insects for every single person on this planet, which makes for a total of 10 quintillion (10,000,000,000,000,000,000) insects on our planet right now!
Scientists all over the world take data on insects, but it is difficult for scientists to observe so many different bugs in so many different places. Think about it. Has a scientist ever come into your yard to count insects? Probably not, but have you thought about the fact that you could be a scientist? If you participate in observing wildlife and help conduct scientific research, you can be considered a community scientist!
Words to know
Biodiversity: The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
Indicator: A sign or signal of a trend or presence of something.
Scientists can't be everywhere at once, so they rely on everyday community members like you to help conduct research. The health of a habitat can be determined by counting the amount and type of insects found there. Insects are often key indicators for nature as a whole. If we see insect numbers declining, this could mean there is a bigger problem with that habitat.
Insect census overview
Dedicate a short time to spend near a plant and count the insects that visit. You can be as detailed as you want. Do you want to sit and relax for just five minutes and enjoy the sights and sounds? Do you want to form a checklist of insects you observe? Do you want to create scientific sketches and do further research about these insects? The choice is yours.
Suggested materials:
Magnifying glass
Timer
Camera or camera phone (This can help you zoom in without getting too close.)
Blanket or chair to sit on
Insect field guide (Your own or borrow one from your local library.)
Pencil, sheet of paper or survey checklist and a clipboard
Data collection
Bring a sheet of paper to record the date, time of day and weather. Record as much information about the insects as you can. What type of bug is it? Look for spiders too. If it is a spider, can you figure out what type it is? If you don't know exactly what it is at the time, you can write down notes, take a picture, draw a scientific sketch of that insect, or even use an app on a phone to help you identify it.
Can you find the arthropod in the image above that is least likely to be found pollinating flowers?
Counting instructions
With your data sheet in hand, find somewhere comfortable to sit and relax with some native plants in view. Choose a favorite plant that attracts pollinators for counting. This can be any blooming plant that shows insect activity, like cup plant or common milkweed. You can gather data at any location — from parks, school grounds and gardens to fields and forests.
Have a seat and set a timer for 10 minutes.
Count and categorize the insects that land on your plant until the timer goes off. Remember, you don't have to be an insect expert. Just take your best bug guess! Basic insect categories include:
Bumblebees
Honeybees
Small bees
Carpenter bees
Wasps
Flies
Beetles
Grasshoppers/crickets
Butterflies/moths
Other insects
Share your data! Check out the extensive list of community scientist programs found on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website. Here, you can share your findings with the scientific world.
Safety
Remember to observe closely, but don't touch. If you do collect any insects for closer observation, scoop carefully with a bug jar or net so they don’t accidentally get squished or harm you. Be sure to return them within a few minutes to the same spot where you found them — these bugs have important jobs to do!
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