The California All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (CalATBI) has announced the 2026 Student Insect Collection BioBlitz, a statewide community science initiative aimed at documenting insect diversity across California. The effort seeks to involve entomology professors, student clubs, and insect enthusiasts both within the state and beyond.
Organizers stated: “To document California’s insect diversity by partnering with entomology professors, student clubs, and other insect enthusiasts across the state and the country. Together, we can help fill major data gaps on insect distributions while engaging students directly in biodiversity science.”
They further emphasized the importance of this work: “Insects are the foundation of most ecosystems, yet they’re among the least documented groups in California. By building a coordinated collection and data effort, we are creating a long-term, publicly accessible record of California’s insect biodiversity to support conservation, land management, and future research.”
Participation in the BioBlitz is flexible. Organizers explained: “Insect collecting can be as simple as a one-day BioBlitz or expanded into a semester or year-round project for classes or clubs — whatever fits your schedule and goals. We are interested in samples collected from all over the state, with particular interest in high biodiversity areas, unique and endangered habitats, and areas historically under-sampled.”
Those interested can register for a free CalATBI Quarterly Webinar scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 10 from 2 to 3:15 p.m., Pacific Standard Time. According to organizers: “During this webinar, we will discuss our mission, exciting new findings, and upcoming events.” Speakers include Colleen Kamoroff of Stillwater Sciences; Harte Singer from FUNDIS; Austin Baker of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County; Daniel Gluesenkamp from the California Institute for Biodiversity; Athena Lam from the Center for Comparative Genomics at California Academy of Sciences; and Camila Filgueiras from University of North Carolina Asheville.
Additionally, UC Davis will host its 15th annual Biodiversity Museum Day on Saturday, Feb. 21. This event is open to families and features exhibits such as birds at the California Raptor Center and insects at Bohart Museum of Entomology.
As organizers describe it: “It’s a day to explore, discover and connect.”
