Knowledge and awareness can inspire others to act! One way to help curb global insect decline is to share this campaign with your friends and get them as excited about insects as you are!

Be a mentor by going outdoors and talking about insects. Fight against negative perceptions by leading a bug walk to inspire others! Get involved in local politics and vote for representatives who value biodiversity.  
 
We developed some digital resources to help you spread the word and help us all protect native insects.

Campaign Toolbox:

Help raise awareness about the importance of insects and how we can curb their decline by downloading and sharing the resources below!

When sharing on social media, be sure to use the campaign hashtag: #ProtectTheInsects, and tag us: @UFEarthSystems on Facebook and Twitter and @KnowYourFlorida on Instagram.

• Insect Effect Logo: Are you an organization with cool insect or native plant resources to share? Consider spreading the word about this campaign by using the Insect Effect logo. Be sure to use appropriate tags (noted above) and email Rebecca Burton (rlburton@ufl.edu) with any questions.
• Insect Effect Facebook and Twitter Cover Images: Let your followers know you’re participating in our campaign, which officially runs from Sept. 1 – Dec. 1 by adding these campaign cover images to your social media pages! Download the Twitter cover photo and Facebook cover photo for free!
• Insect Effect Email Signatures: Consider adding information about this campaign to your email signature. We’ve provided some images in a few colors to make it easy! Download them at the following link: Insect Effect email signatures
• Insect Effect Flyer: Download and share this flyer with your audiences to help them learn more about this campaign to #ProtectTheInsects.
• Insect Effect Take the Pledge Instagram Story Template: Encourage your friends to take the pledge to #ProtectTheInsects by sharing this template on your story!
• Insect Influencers Instagram Sliders: Click on the images to download an Instagram slider series for each of our Insect Influencers! New influencers will be added to this list throughout the campaign, so be sure to check back! Only the three most recent sliders are visible here. To view and download all of our sliders, visit our Insect Influencers Instagram Sliders page.

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• Insect Influencers Videos: Watch and share these Insect Influencers videos featuring some of Florida’s beneficial bugs. See the example below. To view all of our Insect Influencer videos, visit the following link: Insect Influencer Playlist. New videos will be added regularly!

• “What You Can Do to Stop the Insect Apocalypse” feature story: Learn more about everyday actions you can take to #ProtectTheInsects and why University of Florida Researchers are so in love with these amazing creatures. If you would like to embed this Spark story on your website, email Rebecca Burton (rlburton@floridamuseum.ufl.edu) for the embed code.
• Insect Effect Feature Video: Hear from Dr. Akito Kawahara about the importance of insects, the impact of their decline and what you can do to help in this fun educational video!

• “What Florida Insect Are You?” Buzzfeed Quiz! Are you buggin’ to find out which FL insect embodies you the most? Look no further!
• Insect Effect Bioblitz: Share the insect discoveries in your Florida yard using iNaturalist by visiting the following link: The Insect Effect Bioblitz. New to iNaturalist? Visit our Facebook Insect Effect Bioblitz event page to learn more about how to participate. We can’t wait to see what you find!
• Action of the Month: Diversify Your Landscape video: TESI Intern Brittney Miller stepped up to the challenge of making her yard more insect-friendly. Follow along in this video to see how you can do the same in this month’s Action of the Month.

• Resources for K-12 Teachers:  Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County and our Scientist in Every Florida School team has compiled a list of lessons and videos related to insects and rooted in Florida Sunshine State Standards. Download them at the following link: The Insect Effect K-12 Resources. Are you a Florida public school teacher Interested in having an insect scientist visit your classroom? Visit the following link to learn how: Request a Scientist.
• Miami Blue coloring book: This coloring book, produced by the Daniels Lab at the Florida Museum of Natural History, tells the story of the Miami Blue, a critically endangered butterfly found only in the Florida Keys. Download it for free in English or Español. Find other butterfly brochures and resources at the following link: Daniels Lab Butterfly Brochures and Resources
• Wings Over Florida: The Florida Museum and the Florida Wildlife Commission developed this free bird and butterfly listing recognition program that rewards people for their Florida life list and big year list achievements. Certificates are awarded to participants when they reach one or multiple listing milestones. Visit the Wings Over Florida website to apply or for more information.

Step 1: Create Insect Friendly Habitats Step 2: Take the Pledge