Hanamaru-Maruhana(Bumble Bee) National Census Using Photographs

There are many online ecological community science programs that collect organisms’ digital photographs taken by volunteers. Online ecological community science programs that collect digital photographs can be divided into two categories: those that collect photographs without specifying the target organisms (e.g., iNaturalist and iSpot) and those that collect photographs of the target organisms (e.g., eBird, Lost Ladybug Project, and Bumblebee Watch). In this chapter, we introduce our program using bumble bee photographs in Japan, the “Hanamaru-Maruhana national census.” First, we describe the aims and procedure of this program. Second, we explain why we have used photographs to investigate the distributions of bumble bees. Target species influence the recording method and the types of volunteers participating in the program. Although bumble bees are not well known insects in Japan, more than 5000 bumble bee photographs were collected over 6 years in this program because photography was suitable for recording bumble bees. Third, we explain the outcome of this program, including scientific results obtained using the data collected in this program. Finally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this program and the lessons learned from this program.