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A scientific study has provided the first reliable estimates of bee species diversity at global, continental and national levels. At the same time, it highlights the importance of international taxonomic research in closing knowledge gaps and protecting biodiversity effectively.
Stuttgart, 24.02.2026.
Researchers estimate that there are at least 1.5 million insect species on Earth, although the actual number is likely much higher and remains unknown. Closing these knowledge gaps is essential for tracking species decline, protecting habitats and better assessing the resilience of ecosystems. An international team led by Dr. James Dorey of the University of Wollongong, including Dr Michael Orr of the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, has now presented a comprehensive, statistically sound estimate of the number of bee species on all continents and countries worldwide. Their calculations and published methods for species recording provide a new basis for global biodiversity research. Their results reveal how many bee species remain unclassified or have been overlooked to date, which is a crucial aspect for global nature conservation and food security. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
Bees are key to healthy ecosystems:
As key pollinators, they are indispensable for intact ecosystems and sustainable agriculture. Only by making reliable estimates of species diversity can conservation measures be prioritised effectively, the resilience of ecosystems be assessed, and evolutionary processes be better understood.
“Our results show that a large number of wild bee species remain undiscovered, many of which may already be threatened. We know very little about their contribution to ecosystems and cannot estimate the consequences of their disappearance for biodiversity and agriculture. This makes it all the more urgent to discover these species, describe them scientifically and study their roles in more detail”, says Dr Michael Orr, an entomologist at the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart.
Biodiversity was previously underestimated:
Previous estimates of global bee diversity were often uncertain or based on incomplete data. Using global datasets, species descriptions, country checklists, scientific records and statistical estimates of species diversity, the researchers determined the number of bee species at global, continental and country levels.
They estimated the number of bee species to be between 24,705 and 26,164. This suggests that there are 3,700 to 5,200 previously unknown or undescribed wild bee species worldwide. By quantifying this significant biodiversity, which is fundamental to ecosystems and global food production, the study highlights the urgent need to protect and record biological diversity more effectively in the face of global environmental change.
Cooperation is important for global biodiversity research:
According to the study's authors, challenges such as data shortages, extinction, human developments, and political and cultural barriers hinder the protection, research, and taxonomy of wild bees worldwide. The research team recommends that wealthier countries specifically promote scientific capacity building and cross-border cooperation.
“These challenges are particularly evident in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, where high species diversity bumps up against a lack of capacity and funding. Even in rich countries like Australia there are issues with how we have described species and we are likely under-estimating the number we have”, explains the study's lead author, Dr James Dorey. Enhanced international collaborations and molecular detection of species will prove key to bridging the current gaps in our knowledge.
An innovative analysis tool for global research:
Scientists expect to find most of the previously undiscovered bee species in Asia, followed by Africa, South America, North America, Europe and Oceania. With their freely available statistical R package framework, the researchers provide a tool that expands knowledge of various animal and plant groups. It enables reliable estimates of species diversity based on varied data sets, automates analyses, compares results and performs estimates for different regions. This enables researchers worldwide to work according to uniform standards and reach a joint international consensus on species numbers, providing an important foundation for targeted conservation measures.
Michael C. Orr, PhD (He/Him)
michael.christopher.orr@gmail.com
Insect-Plant Interactions Group Leader
State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart
Stuttgart, Germany
James Dorey (he/him)
Lecturer in Biological Sciences
School of Science
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health [Bld 35, Rm 104]
University of Wollongong NSW 2522 Australia
M +61 401 421 073
E jdorey@uow.edu.au
“Estimating global bee species richness and taxonomic gaps”’, by James Dorey, Amy-Marie Gilpin, Nikolas Johnston, Damien Esquerre, Alice Hughes, John Ascher, and Michael Orr, was published in Nature Communications
DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69029-4
Publication date: 24.02.2026
Embargo until: 24.02.2026, 11 Uhr CET
https://The State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart is a forward-looking research and communication institute. Its research collections, the archives of diversity, contain over 12 million objects. The museum researches the evolution of life and analyzes the biodiversity of different ecosystems and communicates research findings to the general public.
https://www.naturkundemuseum-bw.de
Lasioglossum xanthopus is a large representative of the often very small species of this genus.
Source: Robert Zimmermann
Copyright: Copyright: Robert Zimmermann
This Agapostemon species is one of many metallic green bees and is found in the United States.
Source: Robert Zimmermann
Copyright: Copyright: Robert Zimmermann
Criteria of this press release:
Journalists
Environment / ecology
transregional, national
Research results, Transfer of Science or Research
English
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