Thousands of Australians are counting creepy-crawlies and snapping spiders as part of a nationwide effort to help protect local wildlife.
The national Bug Hunt is set to expand in coming weeks after a pilot proved a huge success, project lead Imogen Ebsworth says.
"If you make an invitation to Australians to learn about their natural environment, they are interested in all creatures great and small," the Invasive Species Council engagement director told AAP.
"In this instance, we're saying that our invertebrates are small and great."
Similar citizen-science projects including the Aussie Bird Count have taken off across the nation, recording more than 160,000 birds since its inception.
But the Bug Hunt aims to turn Australians' attention towards some of the most overlooked animals: nat