Photo Credit: Joseph LaForest, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

If you spot your neighbor intently staring at a plant, meticulously counting every buzzing, crawling visitor, don’t be alarmed – they’re likely participating in a vital scientific endeavor. Today, Friday, September 12, and tomorrow, Saturday, September 13, mark the annual Great Southeast Pollinator Census, a University of Georgia (UGA) Extension project dedicated to cataloging the region’s essential insect helpers.

This widespread “head count” of the creepy crawly critters that keep Georgia’s plants in bloom is more than just a fun activity; it’s a critical effort to understand and support the tiny powerhouses behind our food and ecosystems.

Last year, the census saw impressive participation, with over 18,000 people and exactly 398,269 insects tallied across Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. This year, the count is expected to surge even higher as Alabamians join the ranks for the first time since the initiative began in 2017.

Becky Griffin, a pollinator health associate for the UGA Extension and the mastermind behind the count, underscores the immense value of these small creatures. “Agriculture is Georgia’s biggest industry, and little pollinators contribute $600 million a year just by doing what comes naturally,” she stated.

But their impact extends far beyond economics. “Do you like eating watermelon? Do you like peaches and apples and strawberries? Because your plate’s going to look a lot different if we don’t have pollinators, and it’s going to be a lot more expensive as well,” Griffin explained. “Pollination is not just about what we eat, but it’s how plants make seeds, how they continue their species. So it really does affect everybody, whether you live in an apartment complex in Midtown or whether you have a farm in south Georgia. And the beauty is we can all make a difference.”

While many participants are biologists, entomologists, or seasoned gardeners, the census enthusiastically welcomes complete bug-counting amateurs, and even children can easily take part.

“We have a lot of what we call ‘non-traditional stakeholders’ who also are out there counting,” Griffin noted. “An example is people at the Georgia Aquarium have contacted me. They’re out counting. People at the Monastery for the Holy Spirit, they count every year. The Daughters of the American Revolution make a big push for people to count. So it’s not just the biologists and the ecologists, but really it’s all citizens who want to participate in something that’s meaningful.”

Participation is straightforward. Interested individuals can download a tally sheet from the census website, which also provides helpful information, such as how to differentiate a bumblebee (fuzzy abdomen) from a carpenter bee (smooth tummy). The task involves observing a pollinator plant for 15 minutes, counting and categorizing each time an insect lands on it. Participants are encouraged to repeat the process as many times as they wish.

This seemingly simple job generates incredibly valuable data for a wide range of users. “Growers use the data to determine what kind of insects are in their county, in their area, and what they need to do to up that if they need to. Educators use the data in school lessons,” Griffin said. “There are some peer-reviewed journal articles about the data as well, so it is being used. It’s not just a fun, feel-good project. It is generating important data.”

Researchers, teachers, gardeners, and city planners all utilize the collected information. With a few more years of comprehensive counting, Griffin anticipates the data will become even more crucial for scientists studying the alarming decline in honeybee populations.

To learn more or to participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, visit the official website. Join your neighbors in this vital citizen science effort and make a tangible difference for the health of our region’s ecosystems and food supply.