Bug Hunt
Step into the hidden world just beyond your doorstep! With only your phone and a curious eye, you can join thousands of Australians uncovering the extraordinary invertebrates that live in our gardens, parks and schoolyards.
Bug Hunt is inviting people across the country to discover, photograph, and record insects and other invertebrates in their local environments.
Each photo you upload to the Bug Hunt Australia project on iNaturalist adds to vital knowledge – helping protect lesser-known but critical species and detect invasive species before they spread.
By taking part, you become part of a national movement of everyday people contributing to real science and wildlife protection. Bug Hunt is a national citizen-science initiative led by the Invasive Species Council and Invertebrates Australia.The project is supported with a grant through the Australian Geographic Awards for Nature.
Bug Hunt Webinars
Watch the recording of our first Bug Hunt webinar and meet the Bug Hunt team, learn about the Bug Hunt Australia iNaturalist project and discover tips on using iNaturalist and photographing bugs.
Stay tuned for more free online webinars coming soon.
Bug Hunt has won Gold at the 2025 Australian Geographic Awards for Nature!
We are so thrilled to be partners on this project with the Invasive Species Council and so grateful to Australian Geographic for their support of Aussie cutie crawlies! Bug Hunt is a year-round national citizen-science initiative, helping us protect Australian wildlife one bug at a time.
Bugs in My Backyard Week
16 - 22 November 2026
Be part of creating the second springtime snapshot of bugs across Australia!
During Bugs in My Backyard Week on November 16 - 22, we’re encouraging families, schools and nature lovers across Australia to head outside and uncover the wild, wonderful creatures that keep our world humming.
Bugs In My Backyard Week 2025 saw over 40,000 observations of insects, spiders, snails and worms submitted by more than 5,000 iNaturalist users from across Australia. Be part of making Bugs In My Backyard Week 2026 even bigger!
Every photo you share helps protect native wildlife and spot invasive species early – one bug at a time.
Visit bughunt.org.au to find out more!