MILTON — When naturalist Laurie DiCesare spotted a tiny blue butterfly in St. Albans six years ago, she almost missed it. The insect turned out to be the first documented European common blue butterfly recorded in Vermont, a discovery confirmed through photographs and identification work shared on the citizen-science platform iNaturalist. Now, DiCesare hopes Milton residents will make discoveries of their own. The Milton Conservation Commission is inviting community members to participate in the town's first BioBlitz, a community science event which will challenge participants to document as many species of plants, animals, fungi and insects as possible between July 18 and Aug. 2 using the free iNaturalist app. The project is designed to create a growing database of local biodiversity while encouraging residents to explore Milton's parks, forests and natural areas. "The idea is to document as many species as you can," DiCesare said. "Anything you find within that time period will go toward our database." Participants can submit photographs through iNaturalist, an online platform used by amateur naturalists, researchers and conservation organizations around the world. The app uses image recognition technology to suggest species identifications, while a community of users helps verify observations. The information collected during the BioBlitz will contribute to a broader understanding of what species live in Milton and could help inform future conservation efforts. "You have to know something's rare to protect it," DiCesare said. The event will center around a BioBlitz weekend July 25-26, featuring naturalist-led walks at several of Milton's conservation areas, including the Milton Town Forest, Eagle Mountain Natural Area and the Lamoille Riverwalk. DiCesare said the walks are designed to be accessible and slow-paced, allowing participants of all ages and experience levels to take part. "We've got different wetlands, woodlands and fields, so different habitats is a good thing," she