Counting bugs: TCSS students participate in the pollinator census

A group of elementary schoolers were getting their hands dirty on Friday morning. The Troup County Extension Program stopped by Hollis Hand Elementary School to facilitate the 2024 Great Southeast Pollinator Census.

Third through Fifth graders congregated at the school’s pollinator garden to count bugs. The Census is a “citizen science project” according to Troup County 4-H agent, Laura Mirarchi. Twice a year, citizens from Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida count pollinators, insects that transfer pollen from flower to flower,  in their gardens and report the data to the University of Georgia.

“Individuals at an elementary school, individuals in their backyard and community gardens and school gardens take these two days to spend 15 minutes at a particular plant and count the pollinators,” explained Mirarchi. “That data is sent back to [University of] Georgia, who then analyzes it, interprets that data, creates policy and utilizes it for research.”

The citizen involvement allows data to be collected over a large area very quickly. This data helps scientists learn more about insect populations to create more sustainable habitats.

Careful planning went into the event to ensure the student scientist would be ready for the day. The county’s 4-H staff and Master Gardener Extension Volunteers (MGEV) taught three lessons to the students last Spring.

The identification process does not require an entomology degree. UGA simply asks for counters to record categories of insects, like how many butterflies, honey bees, carpenter bees, wasps etc.. The students were assigned a plant known to attract certain pollinators. They then tally the insects they see, while taking other environmental data, like the weather.

“[4-H] uses these lessons in a co-curricular way with Georgia Standards…we incorporate math, we incorporate English and language arts along with the science lesson itself,” Mirarchi said. “So for example, today, the kids are doing all of those things by using the observation skills to tally data, and then next month, when we return to the classroom for the monthly 4 H meeting, we’re going to interpret the data and graph it.”

“We really just want them to get outside using all their senses, whether it be digging in the dirt, whether it’s collecting data by observation, to just enjoy an outdoor natural education,” Mirarchi said.

While 4-H is in many Troup County schools, the program is for all of the county’s youth.

“We have everything from an Ag Explorers Club to a Dairy Quiz Bowl team. We have day camps. We have fishing activities at our office. So we really just look for opportunities to get kids involved in unique, hands on experiential [learning],” the agent said.

To learn more about the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, or see this year’s data go to https://gsepc.org/ .

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