BackgroundTaxonomy and biogeography can benefit from citizen scientists. The use of social networking and open access cooperative publishing can easily connect naturalists even in more remote areas with in-country scientists and institutions, as well as those abroad. This enables taxonomic efforts without frontiers and at the same time adequate benefit sharing measures.New informationWe present new distribution and habitat data for diving beetles of Bali island, Indonesia, as a proof of concept. The species Hydaticus luczonicus Aubé, 1838 and Eretes griseus (Fabricius, 1781) are reported from Bali for the first time. The total number of Dytiscidae species known from Bali is now 34.

We present new data on the geographical distribution of 16 species of diving beetles collected by an Indonesian citizen scientist in Bali. Copelatus oblitus Sharp, 1882, C. regimbarti Branden, 1884, C. sumbawensis Régimbart, 1899, and Hydroglyphus laeticulus (Sharp, 1882) are recorded for the first time from the island. We summarize what is known about the species’ distributions and habitats in Indonesia and beyond, and provide distribution maps and photographs of the sampling sites and habitus of the species. This work serves as a best practice template between individual local citizen scientists with local and international scientists.