New study estimates up to 20 million insect species may exist, with only 1 million discovered so far
By
Annie Roth
Summary
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences estimates that only a tiny fraction of living insect species have been discovered. Using statistical methods borrowed from ecology, entomologists suggest there may be as many as 20 million insect species on Earth, compared to the roughly 1 million that have been formally described. The research highlights the immense biodiversity still unknown to science and the challenges of cataloging it.
Source
bskyNew study estimates up to 20 million insect species may exist, with only 1 million discovered so farscience.orgKey quotes
· 3 pulledFrom half-meter-long moths to fairy wasps smaller than sand grains, insects come in a stunning variety of shapes and sizes and constitute the most diverse animal group on Earth.
But the insect species discovered so far may represent just a fraction of the total crawling, flying, and burrowing around the planet, according to a new study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Using statistical methods borrowed from another field, a team of entomologists estimates there may be as many as 20 million insect species in total.
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