Nature under the microscope with species identification 'blitz'

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers THE WORLD AROUND US- Right, a volunteer classifies insects using pins during the National Geographic BioBlitz last weekend at Paramount Ranch. The event is a 24-hour marathon in which teams of scientists, volunteers and community members join forces to identify as many local plant and animal species as possible. Below, bees and other arthropods are lined up in a row and, left, an up close examination of some of the living things. More than 1,360 species were collected.