A Year on BugGuide

-John Pearson

It was one year ago this weekend that I posted my first photo on BugGuide:


I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who have helped me learn so much by commenting on my submissions. There are 132 of you, so I cannot mention everyone, but I’ll name the top ten (ordered by number of postings responded to):
Charley Eiseman
V Belov
Eric Eaton
John and Jane Balaban
Andrew Williams
Ron Hemberger
James Trager
David Ferguson
Lynette Schimming
Bob Patterson


By the numbers, here is a summary of my submissions over the year (excluding Frass):
788 images in 410 postings
246 postings identified to species, representing 218 unique species


Thirteen of these species (all represented by galls or mines) have their only BG record in Iowa (where I am based):



One (another gall) has its only BG record in Missouri (where I traveled for a field trip):


One has its only BG record in Florida, which Charley Eiseman and I visited independently two years apart but each photographing an ant species whose ID we matched through BugGuide with the assistance of James Trager and Richard Vernier:



I am a botanist and found that I could give as well as receive on BG by helping with plant identification, which often helps to identify the insect:


I was also able to assist MJ Hatfield by identifying the lichens providing the background for the cryptic coloration of a lichen moth (scroll down to see the poster):



Finally, here are some of my favorite photos. Some turned out especially well photographically (for me), others were just of interesting species or situations:




THANKS AGAIN to everyone on BugGuide, I learned a lot and enjoyed it. I am looking forward to my second year!