Story perspectives

Cornell Study Estimates 14-20 Million Insect Species Globally

7/2/2026

Summary

Guzman Estimates Insects

Researchers led by Laura Melissa Guzman, assistant professor of entomology at Cornell University, estimated 14 million–20 million insect species worldwide.
They trapped over 1.6 million insects in 15 Malaise traps and identified ~54 000 species.
DNA barcoding yielded 1 414 Microgastrinae wasps.
Chao’s estimator projected 2 394 wasp species (95 % CI 2 221–2 604).
Applying the wasp and tree-species ratios, they extrapolated ~333 000 insects in the reserve and a 14 million–20 million global total, noting only ~1.2 million species are described.

Summary

Researchers Advocate Biocontrol

Research indicates Kenya’s Rift Valley and Nigeria could use insect predators to control the Fall Armyworm.
Cataloguing these predators would let farmers cut reliance on costly chemical pesticides that drain foreign-exchange reserves.
Conservation budgets are urged to shift toward large-scale DNA taxonomy before climate change eliminates undiscovered taxa.
Dr. Robert Puschendorf warns that many singleton insects in micro-habitats are highly vulnerable, urging conservation to move beyond charismatic megafauna.

1 of 2

Guzman Estimates Insects

Researchers led by Laura Melissa Guzman, assistant professor of entomology at Cornell University, estimated 14 million–20 million insect species worldwide.
They trapped over 1.6 million insects in 15 Malaise traps and identified ~54 000 species.
DNA barcoding yielded 1 414 Microgastrinae wasps.
Chao’s estimator projected 2 394 wasp species (95 % CI 2 221–2 604).
Applying the wasp and tree-species ratios, they extrapolated ~333 000 insects in the reserve and a 14 million–20 million global total, noting only ~1.2 million species are described.

1 / 2