Caterpillars Count!

Caterpillars Count! is a project that relies on citizen scientists (you!) to help understand some of the most important organisms in our ecosystems—caterpillars and other insects—by conducting surveys of the plants and trees around them. WHY SURVEY CATERPILLARS? * Caterpillars are an important food source for birds and other wildlife. * Some caterpillars have economic and environmental impacts on our forests and crops. * Caterpillars may provide insight into how climate change is affecting ecosystems around us. SUBMIT YOUR OBSERVATIONS TO HELP US: * understand how the abundance of these insects varies from rural country sides to major urban areas, * and over broad geographic gradients across the globe! * track how the abundance of caterpillars and other insects varies as the seasons shift from spring into summer. * track how seasonal variation in caterpillar abundance varies from year to year. Your observations will be analyzed by scientists, and you can visualize the data submitted by yourself and others through our website. Visit caterpillarscount.unc.edu to learn more!