Bugguide.net

Anyone with the slightest interest in nature will know the local deer, squirrels, cardinals, and raccoons, but perhaps know nothing about the most diverse animal group in the world: Insects. Insects are everywhere- in bathrooms, kitchens, and lawns, you name it. A mere garden or yard may hold dozens of species. Insects, however, do not seem to attract the same kind of attention as other creatures, say birds. We have birdfeeders. Bird conservation groups. And who could forget the sight of birdwatchers- binoculars at the ready- tripping over each other as they struggle to get a glimpse of a rare species. Somehow I can't see people doing that for a beetle or bumblebee. The only people who can learn, observe, and be knowledgeable about insects, it seems, are professional entomologists.

Thanks to technology, that statistic seems ready to change. At Bugguide.net, any interested person may create an account, submit photos of insects, and have them identified by an expert. Better yet, these photos are used to create a sort of online field guide and database. This not only provides people with a great source of knowledge, but also helps scientists studying these creatures. Any odd-looking bug that a hiker stumbles across has the potential to be a new or poorly-studied species.

Now that have a Bugguide account of my own, it's as if I've suddenly found new meaning in the world. The thought that every photo of mine somehow contributes to science never ceases to bring me a delightful, giddy feeling. Analyzing this from a broader perspective, it's this feeling that motivates scientists- or better yet- motivates humanity to discover.

This butterfly, which I photographed in my yard, is now part of the website's official guide. It's a Harvester- which is pretty rare and unusual for where I live.