Many people have likely pondered late at night, bothered by the buzz of a mosquito, or when lifting a rock to see multitudes of insects scatter. The question is, how many insect types exist worldwide? For scientists, this has been a key inquiry for years.
A recent study, focusing on a specific subset of insects known as parasitoid wasps, estimates that the number of insect species globally is much higher than previously believed. The study suggests there are millions more species, potentially waiting to be discovered.
This research relies on a census of parasitoid wasps. These are tiny insects often deemed frightening by many. Their numbers point to the vast diversity among insects that scientists have yet to document in full.
If you’re curious to learn more about insects and the latest research in the field, you can reach out with your questions to NPR at [email protected].
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To catch this episode, consider tuning in to Short Wave on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The episode production credits go to Rachel Carlson and Jordan-Marie Smith, with editing by Rebecca Ramirez and Christopher Intagliata. Tyler Jones verified the facts, and Annlie Huang along with Tiffany Vera-Castro took the lead on audio engineering.