EARTH HAS 14 TO 30 MILLION INSECT SPECIES, STUDY FINDS

An international research team has estimated that between 14 and 30 million insect species exist on Earth, substantially higher than the previous estimate of six million. The team, which included Dr Robert Puschendorf from the University of Plymouth, analysed more than 1.6 million DNA-barcoded insects collected from Área de Conservación Guanacaste, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Costa Rica. Puschendorf stated that the new study demonstrates that insect diversity "has been completely underestimated". The research combined multiple collection techniques, ecological observations, DNA barcoding and statistical analysis.

The team cross-referenced their ACG findings against data from other organism groups, including trees, amphibians and moths. Different collection methods consistently revealed a substantial number of cryptic species, indicating that considerable biodiversity remains undocumented. The researchers' conservative estimate suggests that between 93 and 97 per cent of insect species lack scientific names. Puschendorf highlighted that amphibian populations in Costa Rica have changed over recent decades due to climate change and deforestation.

The research was led by scientists from Cornell University, the University of Colorado and the University of Kentucky. Puschendorf noted that whilst the study focused on Costa Rica, the same methodological techniques can be applied globally, including in the United Kingdom. He argued that understanding species diversity is essential for effective conservation, stating that "if you do not know what you have, how can you manage it?" The findings underscore the need for comprehensive biodiversity assessment to identify both extant species and those already lost.