Colorado State University junior Sarah Whipple wasn’t always a fan of bugs. But after going on her first bioblitz in 2015, she volunteered the next year to lead a team cataloguing insects at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico.

In a bioblitz, researchers, students and citizen scientists visit a national park and count as many species as possible in 24 hours.

“There were a ton of exotic insects and I really enjoyed it,” said Whipple, who is majoring in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability.

She’s since become an expert on butterflies, bumblebees and similar flying creatures. Her favorite butterfly is the variegated fritillary, which is commonly found in the Rocky Mountains. “They’re pretty easy to identify, which is nice, especially if you’re working with citizen scientists,” she said.

Making connections, identifying insects

Whipple, from Lawrence, Kansas, said that through her research, she’s made lots of great connections not only at CSU but also at places like the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, where she and other students sometimes get help identifying creatures such as spiders.

“I didn’t know a lot going into this line of research, but people trusted me, and I gained new skills,” she said. “I’ve been able to provide that opportunity for other students that didn’t have that knowledge before. It’s been really beneficial.”

She also found the field experience helpful in terms of her career goals. “You can learn from the field experiences, learn and adapt from them,” she said. “Going to all these bioblitzes has helped me grow as a leader and an ecologist.”

Whipple said she intends to apply for the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology[1] at CSU after she completes her undergraduate work.

Expanding her wings

Gillian Bowser, research scientist at CSU, has served as a mentor to Whipple, and tapped her for 3dNaturalist and the Pollinator Hotshots. Bowser designed this project to introduce minority students to citizen science, community engagement and national parks by connecting them with big data projects through smartphone apps and other technological approaches.

The project will take Whipple to Yellowstone National Park this summer, while other student teams will head to Peru and England. She is also planning to help with a bioblitz later this year in North Cascades National Park in Washington State.

“We need to track pollinators; it’s even more important now,” said Whipple, citing news from earlier this year, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the rusty patched bumble bee[2] as an endangered species.