Project:

Reliability of iNaturalist for Insect Identification Compared with DNA Barcoding: A Bioblitz Study in Bailu Park, Suzhou, China

Students:

Mutong Wang

School:

United World College Changshu China, Other

Mentors:

Dave Micklos and Xinyue Wang

Abstract:

AI-identification for insects and other organisms based on photographs is increasingly accessible through applications such as iNaturalist, but certain species can be difficult to distinguish. This study evaluated the reliability of iNaturalist identifications by comparing them with barcoding results from insects collected during a Bioblitz in Bailu Park, Suzhou, on August 7, 2026. I collected 9 samples and first identified them with iNaturalist. Next, the insects’ DNA was extracted using Chelex, amplified through PCR using COI primers, and underwent gel electrophoresis. Afterwards, DNA was sequenced, then analyzed on DNA Subway. 4 of 9 iNaturalist identifications correspond with barcoding identification at species level, and most correspond at genus level. Results generally support the hypothesis that iNaturalist is reliable as a preliminary insect identification tool, though has limited accuracy for insects that are visually similar, poorly photographed, or unrecorded in NCBI Genbank

Poster:

Team samples:

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