Key Takeaways
- The 2026 Amazing EntoRace was re‑imagined as a “Digital Entomology Edition,” integrating modern tools such as touch screens, AI‑generated images, and chat‑based prompting into a team‑based competition.
- Eight teams competed across five stations that tested pinning skills, visual error detection, prompt design, knowledge‑driven physical challenges, and simulated oviposition behavior.
- Success required a blend of entomological expertise, precise observation, creative problem‑solving, and teamwork, with the fastest team declared the winner.
- The event highlighted how digital technologies can reinforce traditional entomological techniques while exposing current limitations of AI in rendering biological detail.
- Organizers emphasized that the race remains a fun, educational platform that fosters collaboration and showcases the evolving nature of entomological research and practice.
Overview of the Amazing EntoRace Digital Entomology Edition
The Amazing EntoRace held at the 2026 Eastern Branch Meeting in Saratoga Springs, New York, transformed the long‑running physical game into a digitally‑focused challenge. Designed as a “Digital Entomology Edition,” the race leveraged tools now common in research—touch‑screen interfaces, AI‑generated imagery, and conversational AI—to test participants’ knowledge and skills in novel ways. While the format embraced technology, the core goals remained unchanged: promote learning about insects, encourage teamwork, and create a memorable, enjoyable experience for entomology students and early‑career professionals.
Historical Background and Evolution of the Race
The EntoRace originated in 2023 during EntoQuest, the Eastern Branch summer meeting, conceived by Tom Kuhar, Ph.D., and his team. Its popularity quickly secured a recurring slot at both summer and annual Eastern Branch meetings. Each iteration built on the previous one, retaining the spirit of friendly competition while gradually incorporating new elements. The 2026 version marked the first full transition to a digital format, reflecting a broader shift within entomology toward computational and data‑driven methods while preserving the exploratory, hands‑on ethos that made the original race a favorite.
Organizing Team and Event Details
The 2026 event was coordinated by a multidisciplinary team led by Yong‑Lak Park, Ph.D., Ashley Kennedy, Ph.D., Sruthi Valicharla, Ph.D., Kushal Naharki, Wil Winter, and Sheena O’Donnell. Held March 14‑17 at the conference venue in Saratoga Springs, the race featured eight teams of students, postdoctoral researchers, and professionals. Each team moved through five timed stations; the cumulative fastest time determined the overall winners, who were celebrated at the award luncheon. The structure emphasized both individual competence and collaborative problem‑solving.
Pinning Game Station
At the Pinning Game station, participants used a fingertip as a virtual “pin” on a touch screen to indicate where they would secure a hymenopteran specimen displayed in high‑resolution detail. The activity replaced traditional pins with a digital tap, testing precision, observation, and adaptability. By requiring players to visualize proper pin placement without physical handling, the game reinforced correct technique while encouraging creative thinking about specimen preparation in a virtual environment.
What’s Wrong With This Picture? Station
This station presented AI‑generated images of insects that contained deliberate anatomical or ecological inaccuracies—such as extra legs, mismatched wing patterns, or a bee nest showing honeycomb while depicting bumble bees. Participants scrutinized each image, noting subtle errors and explaining why they were biologically implausible. The exercise sharpened attention to detail, reinforced taxonomic knowledge, and illustrated current limitations of AI in faithfully reproducing complex biological structures.
Insect Taboo Station
Hosted by Wil Winter, the Insect Taboo challenge tasked players with eliciting a target term (e.g., “ocelli”) from a conversational AI without using obvious related words like “eyes,” “head,” or “vision.” Participants crafted careful prompts, employing alternative descriptors and contextual cues to guide the model toward the correct answer. The activity highlighted the importance of precise language and strategic prompt design when interacting with large language models, turning a simple guessing game into a lesson in effective AI communication.
Six‑Legged Ladybird Beetle Race Station
Dressed in cardboard lady‑beetle costumes, teams acted as hungry predators seeking prey papers scattered on the floor. Before each search, they matched entomology vocabulary terms to definitions on a tablet; a correct answer earned the right to lift one paper card. The hunt continued until a card revealing a prey image was found. This station blended physical movement, knowledge recall, and teamwork, offering a playful simulation of predator‑prey dynamics while reinforcing terminology retention.
Zigzag Sawfly Oviposition Station
Participants first solved a butterfly‑themed puzzle on a tablet, which yielded a color cue indicating suitable host sites represented by colored balloons. Equipped with a makeshift ovipositor (a funnel and strap), they then directed the device toward the balloon matching the cue, aiming to “deposit” an egg by bursting the balloon. The task required spatial reasoning, quick decision‑making, and an understanding of oviposition behavior, linking ecological concepts to a tangible, gamified action.
Scoring, Winners, and Overall Impact
Each station was timed, and the team with the lowest cumulative time across all five challenges claimed victory—first place went to Team Deering, followed by Team Patch in second. The results underscored that success depended not only on entomological knowledge but also on agility, adaptability, and effective collaboration under time pressure. Organizers noted that the race exemplified how integrating digital tools with traditional scientific practice can enhance learning, spark enthusiasm, and prepare entomologists for a technologically evolving field.
Author Bios and Contributions
Kushal Naharki is a Ph.D. candidate at West Virginia University researching aerial detection of invasive species and drone‑based biological control; he served as the 2026 chair of the ESA Student Affairs Committee. Sheena O’Donnell recently earned a master’s in Applied Entomology from the University of Maryland, focusing on integrated pest management for commercial horticulture, particularly phenology and predator interactions of crapemyrtle bark scale. Sanjok Timalsina is a Ph.D. student at West Virginia University investigating drone and AI applications for managing invasive species through biocontrol. Their collective expertise helped shape the Digital Entomology Edition, ensuring the stations were both scientifically rigorous and engaging.