Great Southeast Pollinator Census – Hillsborough County

American bumblebee. Photo: James Castner, UF/IFAS

Great Florida Pollinator Census – Hillsborough County

Join us for the Great Florida Pollinator Census, a citizen science project where citizens record and upload data on the number and types of pollinators they see for two days on Aug. 22 and 23, 2025. You can do the count at home or join one of our events in your county. Just observe insects landing on flowers on a single plant for 15-minutes then upload your data .

The goals are to:

  1. Educate the public of the role of insects in our environment
  2. Create sustainable pollinator habitat
  3. Provide useful data for research

How to Participate
To participate in this years pollinator census you can join the pollinator parties at one of our locations or do it at your own home. You will need to review the handout on insect species and print a copy of the Count Sheet. The census counts eight different pollinator groups including bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths and other insect species. After the count, you will upload your data to the GSEPC website. All you need is the Count Sheet and a flowering plant to sit and watch for 15-minutes.

Eastern carpenter bee on passion flower. Photo: Don Hall, UF/IFAS

When is the Count?
The Great Southeast Pollinator Census is on two days, August 22 and 23, 2025. Join us or do it at home.

Youth may participate with our UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County 4-H program on Aug. 22 from 4 – 4:30pm at our extension office. Email amber.norris@ufl.edu if you are interested in joining.

Join our pollinator party at Tampa Family Health Centers in their community garden on Aug. 22 from 10 to 11:30am and receive a free pack of seeds. During the pollinator count, we will observe garden plants and count the number of insect landings per plant. Before the count, we will go over basic insect ID and teach you how to look for different pollinators such as bees and wasps. No entomology experience required – this is a fun way to learn about insects and help track pollinator populations. Data from the census will be uploaded into the University of Georgia pollinator count portal. Kids welcome! Sign up on Eventbrite. This event is free!

Learn more about the effort at https://gsepc.org/.

Download and print the count sheet: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/sfylifasufledu/hillsborough/docs/pdf/lawngarden/Great-Southeast-Pollinator-Census-count-sheet.pdf

Eastern black swallowtail butterfly, male. Photo: Don Hall, UF/IFAS

 

Follow Us!

We have several ways to connect. Join our UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
FacebookYouTubeInstagramEventbriteBlogs, and Website

If you have any questions, please contact UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County at 813-744-5519 or email hillsmg@mail.ufl.edu.

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

5

Avatar photo
Posted: June 27, 2025


Category: , Conservation, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease
Tags: Citizen Science, Florida-friendly Landscaping, Garden, Great Florida Pollinator Census, Greatsoutheastpollinatorcensus, Hillsborough County, Insect, Pollinator Census, Tsilvasy, Ufifasextension


Subscribe For More Great Content

IFAS Blogs Categories