What is Community Science?

Community Science is an opportunity for everyone to participate in protecting pollinators and other wildlife by contributing meaningful data to further scientific understanding of key issues. Having a better understanding improves the effectiveness of conservation measures.

DuPage Monarch Project is offering everyone the opportunity to participate in a local community science project. The Pollinators of DuPage, an ongoing iNaturalist project, is collecting observations of the bees, butterflies, wasps, hoverflies and other pollinating insects that are found in DuPage County. Your observations will make a difference!

If you’re new to iNaturalist and would like to learn more, a free class on using the app is available. The class will include time outside making observations, so dress for the weather.

Meet Nature Neighbors with iNaturalist
June 1, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
St. James Farm Forest Preserve, Warrenville.

• Learn to use iNaturalist on android and iphones
• Practice making observations outdoors

Please download the iNat app from Google Play or the App store before arriving. If you have any questions about downloading the app, please email dupagemonarchs@gmail.com

Tips for using iNat

Photographing insects

• Photograph the entire insect.
• Take photos of insects from different angles: top, side, and close-up of face are helpful.
• If it is a winged insect, photograph its wing veins if the wings are spread or visible.
• Take photos that are sharp and in focus.
• Try to take a well-lit photo.
• Get close, but not too close so that neither you nor the animal is harmed.
• Make sure phone location services are turned on to record the exact location (longitude and
  latitude) of the photo.

Photographing Plants

• Take a photo of the entire plant.
• Take a close-up photo of a leaf or leaves.
• Photograph the top and bottom of a leaf with hand in photo for scale.
• Take photos of flowers from different angles—top, side, and bottom.
• Take photos of seeds and/or fruit if available.
• Use only one plant for each observation.