Jericho, VT — 2025 — Announcing the release of the JURBIC 2025 Biodiversity Report, highlighting major gains in community participation, species documentation, and regional leadership in nature observation.
J.U.R.B.
2025 Biodiversity Report
Significant Growth in Community Science, New Educational Initiatives, and Statewide Recognition
This year, 401 new observers contributed iNaturalists posts from the four towns—an increase of 12.8%—resulting in 10,938 new observations, up 16.8% from 2024. JURB’s lifetime cumulative documentation now includes 7,322 species of plants and animals.
What We Found in Vermont’s Backyards: 2025 Biodiversity Across Four Towns
The Beauty of Vermont’s Bugs: 2025 Highlights from the Field
A Growing Community of Nature Observers
2025 was a year of remarkable growth for our inverting communities.
- 401 new observers joined from Jericho, Underhill, Richmond, and Bolton — a 12.8% increase.
- Members contributed 10,938 observations of plants and animals, a 16.8% increase over 2024.
- Our (4 communities) lifetime total now stands at 7,322 species observed across the four towns.
How Our Towns Rank in Vermont
Thanks to steady participation, our towns continue to rank impressively statewide on iNaturalist.
- Jericho: 4th in observations, 11th in species
- Richmond: 21st in observations, 29th in species
- Bolton: 41st in observations, 57th in species
- Underhill: 55th in observations, 52nd in species
Each of these rankings reflects hundreds of hours spent exploring fields, forests, backyards, gardens, and trails.
Inverting Events Held in 2025
In 2025, Bernie and Maeve hosted a series of public “Inverting” programs, including:
- Bug Safaris at Your Yard – personalized insect exploration at private homes
- Bug & Bird Safaris – co-hosted with Crane Brook Conservation District and U.C.C. (June & September)
- Interactive Insect Presentations – offered at local community spaces
These events continue to introduce new families, naturalists, and students to the small—but mighty—creatures living all around us.
Major Accomplishments
Building the Future: The Vermont Entomology Academy
One of the year’s biggest milestones was the founding of the Vermont Entomology Academy, which will serve as a hub for insect education and community science. Planning is underway for our first five-day Bug Camp, scheduled for June 2026 at Saint Michael’s College. Recruitment for collaborators, educators, and volunteers is ongoing. Refer to the V.E.A. blog post for a list of all the events.
Awards & Media Recognition
2025 brought notable honors and features:
- Featured in Seven Days Newspaper:
“Bernie Paquette Shares the Joy of Observing Wild Bees” by Ken Picard (6/4/2025) - Awarded the Julie Nicholson Community Science Award by the Vermont Center for Eco Studies
(see VCE Field Notes, p. 10 — “Contributing to invertebrate research from his backyard” by Alden Wicker)
iNaturalist Contributions
A standout year for documenting Vermont’s insect life:
Bernie's 2025 Observations
5,601 insect observations representing over 600 species, including:
- 366 Coleoptera (Beetles) – 85 species
- 626 Diptera (Flies) – 140 species
- 243 Hemiptera (True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids & Allies) – 66 species
- 2,519 Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps, Sawflies) – 175 species
- including 2,124 bees, 89 species
- 1,225 Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths) – 149 species
- including 930 butterflies, 52 species
- 483 Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies) – 32 species
- 101 Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets & Katydids) – 16 species
Of these, 4,298 observations were made in Jericho, Vermont.
Refer to the J.U.R.B. charts further below for the J.U.R.B. community's iNaturalist observation numbers.
Writing & Photography
On VTBugEyed.blogspot.com, numerous articles, photo series, and educational features were published this year, including:
- Vermont Entomology Academy: Inspiring Curiosity Through Insects and Nature Education
- BUGmobile – Vermont Entomology Academy
- What Counts? A Hundred Bees and Then What?
- Explore Vermont’s Insect Life: 120 Amazing Photos by Bernie
- 1000+ Vermont Insect Images: From Bizarre to Beautiful
- 75 Monarchs in 48 Hours
- Insect Comics with Real Bug Photos — surpassed 200 comics
- Uncommon and first-for-Vermont observations
- Sequence photography: Bees Building Sandcastles
- Community Ecosystem
- Inverting is the New Birding: Ten Compelling Reasons to Observe Nature
- 2024: A Year in Review
These publications continue to bring Vermont insects to a wider audience—sometimes surprising readers, often delighting them, and always encouraging curiosity.
Field Moments That Make It All Worthwhile
This year brought countless small wonders and big discoveries:
- Lying belly-down for hours watching female bees peek from their ground nests as hundreds of males zig-zagged a foot above the soil.
- Watching females excavate sand tunnels — grains flying like a dog digging.
- Witnessing a personal record: 75 Monarch butterflies in two consecutive days at Mobbs Farm Trails.
- Observing behaviors that sparked new questions, ideas, and evolving theories.
- And most of all, thanking nearly every insect encountered — photographed or not.
Closing Thoughts
2025 was a year defined by curiosity, community, and the joy of close observation. With more observers joining, more species discovered, and new programs launching, the inverting continues to grow as a vibrant outdoor activity for community science in Vermont.
The charts below are composed of all iNaturalist users who posted observations from the listed locations.
Thank You for a Phenomenal Year
Thank you to everyone who observed, photographed, shared, taught, asked questions, or simply paused to appreciate an insect. Your contributions strengthen biodiversity knowledge across Vermont and enrich the natural heritage of our four towns.
Here’s to an even more exciting year ahead.
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