CHAMPAIGN-URBANA — Residents of all ages are invited to step outside and support pollinator conservation during the Champaign-Urbana Pollinator Quest, a weeklong community science event taking place June 15–21 in celebration of National Pollinator Week 2025.
Participants will use the free iNaturalist app to photograph and log insect sightings across the region, helping build a valuable database of local biodiversity. Submissions made during the week will automatically be added to the Pollinator Quest project on iNaturalist.
“Pollinators are essential to our ecosystems and food systems,” said Karla Griesbaum, Extension Educator with University of Illinois Extension. “Events like the Pollinator Quest raise awareness and empower residents to become community scientists and contribute to real-world research and conservation efforts.”
National Pollinator Week, held each June, celebrates the critical role of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators in sustaining food production and healthy ecosystems. The local Pollinator Quest is one of many nationwide efforts aimed at boosting awareness and conservation.
For more information on the Champaign-Urbana Pollinator Quest, visit go.illinois.edu/CUPollinatorQuest. To explore more about Pollinator Week and other events, visit publish.illinois.edu/pollinatorweek.