From Vision to National Impact
Thirty years ago, Bugwood, the University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, began with a simple but ambitious goal: bring science and technology together to create high-quality, freely available tools that support programs and education.
Formed in 1996 as the Entomology and Forest Resource Digital Information Work Group, Bugwood began with CD-ROM projects focused on entomology, forestry, forest health, and integrated pest management in Georgia and the southeastern United States. As the World Wide Web expanded, so did Bugwood. By the late 1990s, the Bugwood website had grown into a network of web-based resources and image archives, preserving thousands of photographs that had previously existed only as 35mm slides in labs and field offices.
Over time, Bugwood released several image sites that made high-quality images freely available for education, developed and hosted specialized websites, and laid the groundwork for national invasive species tracking. That work led to the launch of EDDMapS in 2006, along with mobile reporting tools such as IveGot1 and Wild Spotter.
From Vision to National Impact
Thirty years ago, Bugwood, the University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, began with a simple but ambitious goal: bring science and technology together to create high-quality, freely available tools that support programs and education.
Formed in 1996 as the Entomology and Forest Resource Digital Information Work Group, Bugwood began with CD-ROM projects focused on entomology, forestry, forest health, and integrated pest management in Georgia and the southeastern United States. As the World Wide Web expanded, so did Bugwood. By the late 1990s, the Bugwood website had grown into a network of web-based resources and image archives, preserving thousands of photographs that had previously existed only as 35mm slides in labs and field offices.
Over time, Bugwood released several image sites that made high-quality images freely available for education, developed and hosted specialized websites, and laid the groundwork for national invasive species tracking. That work led to the launch of EDDMapS in 2006, along with mobile reporting tools such as IveGot1 and Wild Spotter.
Tools, Programs, and Partnerships Today
In 2026, Bugwood celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The Bugwood team continues to expand and enhance the Bugwood Tools inventory. Today, Bugwood Images consists of five core websites—ForestryImages, IPMImages, InsectImages, WeedImages, and Invasive.org—hosting more than 330,000 images from 2,744 photographers. EDDMapS now contains over 9 million verified reports and is available via website or app for invasive species reporting and mapping species distributions. The EDDMapS Pro app provides professional-level features for in-field use.
Wild Spotter, which began as a partnership with the USDA Forest Service, has expanded the Wild Place network to include select units of the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management. The program also established the Wild Spotter
Invasive Species Ambassador Training, which has awarded 117 ambassadorships to help champion efforts to protect America’s wild places.
Known for identifying gaps and building practical solutions, the Bugwood Center—housed on the UGA Tifton Campus—has also developed tools such as Bugwood Presents, Bugwood Video, and the Regional IPM Centers Resource Database, which complement the Bugwood Images collection
Looking Ahead: Innovation and Connection
In 2025, the Center launched Connect, a comprehensive platform providing single sign-on and user profile management across all Bugwood Tools. Connect supports resource management and tracks user impact data while helping organizations manage members, subscribers, and project resources. For collaborations, it facilitates communication, content contributions, and data collection, showcasing interactions among users and resources.
As Bugwood enters its fourth decade, the Center continues to refine the user experience and strengthen the Bugwood Tools network. Many of these updates will be showcased during the virtual Bugwood Summit on April 16 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Summit registration is now open at bugwood.org. Save a seat today.