What started as a backyard hobby has evolved into a serious scientific pursuit for two high school juniors, Cole Cramer and Connor Hsu. The pair of friends in Southern California now serve in critical roles, providing data for a mosquito research project with Dr. Oliver Keller, a research collection specialist at the University of Michigan’s Microbes, Parasites and Biodiversity Initiative (MPABI).

“We’ve both been interested in insects since we were about three years old,” says Connor. “We’d go on hikes and look for insects. About three years ago, we started curating and labeling our own specimens, more like professional collections.”

Oliver shares that he first connected with the two boys when they asked to attend an entomology conference. “Cole’s mom first reached out to me in 2024, asking whether their sons should attend and, as president of a smaller insect-collections conference, I encouraged them to start there,” says Oliver.  “I knew it would be a welcoming place for two high-school students stepping into a professional world.”

Oliver soon invited them to join a mosquito vector research project through the biorepository. “When we got the email about that opportunity, we were freaking out,” laughs Cole. “Now we’re collecting almost every day after school, usually around dusk.”

Oliver sent the boys collection boxes filled with vials and DNA/RNA shields to protect the specimens’ information when they return them to the museum. Using CO₂ traps, fans, and aerial nets, Conner and Cole gather mosquitoes from their backyards and local habitats. They both collect in their backyards, with Cole finding a lot of success around his pool.

To record their data, Oliver shared an Excel spreadsheet where they track: vial number, species, date, longitude and latitude, temperature, humidity and any environmental conditions. The boys are meticulous about recording this data, and Cole even bought a digital hygrometer/thermometer for them to use for this project. “We’ve even started using dry ice to attract certain species,” says Connor.They started collecting in March 2025 and Oliver asked them to collect through the end of the year.

Perhaps most impressively, Conner and Cole’s names as collectors are attached to the specimens, and the boys have been added to data aggregators like Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF, an international network and data infrastructure).

“At their second conference, they were confidently working the room, talking with scientists from all over the world,” says Oliver. “Watching two teenagers handle themselves like that was incredible. I definitely wasn’t doing that at age 15.”

Their curiosity doesn’t stop with collecting. Together, Cole and Connor founded a youth outreach group called the Lorquin Society Scholars, aimed at introducing younger kids to entomology, biology, and ecology. “When we were growing up, we realized there weren’t many resources for kids to really get into entomology,” Connor says. “Most programs were either too basic or too advanced. So we created something in the middle.”

Through partnerships with nature centers and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, they lead monthly nature hikes and hands-on workshops for children ages 3–13, sometimes drawing up to 25 participants. “It’s such a different experience when kids learn from other kids,” says Cole. “It’s more relatable, and they really get excited.”The pair also host pinning workshops, teaching proper specimen preparation and labeling techniques. “We even did a black-lighting night for the kids once,” Cole recalls. “Over 50 people came out. It was incredible to see the kids’ reactions.”

When asked about favorite specimens, Connor doesn’t hesitate: “Longhorn beetles. They’re wood-boring, and they just look awesome.” Cole’s current focus is on Trechinae, a group of cave beetles that have evolved to live deep underground. “They’ve lost their color and eyes completely. They navigate only by touch. It’s fascinating.”

Despite being surrounded by much older scientists, both feel welcomed in the professional entomology community. “These older researchers are so kind and supportive,” Connor says. “They’re excited to teach the next generation.”

Oliver credits the boys’ parents for encouraging their interests. “Both families are wonderfully supportive,” says Oliver. “They show up, they encourage every opportunity, and they truly champion their kids’ passions. That kind of support makes all the difference.”

Looking ahead, both plan to pursue entomology in college. Connor is leaning toward evolutionary genetics, and Cole is exploring ecological research. Their summer plans already include another field trip, possibly back to Arizona, where they’ll set up mercury and black lights to attract nocturnal insects.“It’s crazy how this all started,” says Cole. “From flipping rocks in our backyard to doing real research and helping kids get interested in bugs. It’s just been awesome.”

Oliver adds, “I feel lucky that I happened to be the person they contacted. Opportunities like this can change a young scientist’s life. I can’t imagine what it would have meant for me at their age. They’re incredibly motivated, and I’m excited to see what we can do together going forward, whether it’s more collecting, mentorship, or even a future publication.”