by SUSAN M. BRACKNEY
From the burrowing mayfly to the rusty patched bumble bee, we’re losing a head-spinning number of invertebrates. Thanks to shrinking natural habitats and our dependence on agricultural chemicals—particularly neonicotinoid pesticides— we’re living through what some have dubbed an “insect apocalypse.”
And, while they might not be as charismatic—or as visible—as their vertebrate counterparts, they’re every bit as important. Even more troubling? If we don’t act swiftly, we may lose some species before we’ve even had the chance to identify them and fully appreciate their ecological contributions.
As one of the oldest and largest citizen science initiatives around, the Great Sunflower Project is potentially well positioned to help us get a handle on at least some of these losses. It’s also one of the easiest projects to join.