California’s bugs: New research finds far more than thought

A statewide insect inventory

The team used DNA barcoding on more than one million specimens. Samples came from museum collections as well as insects collected across California.

Sampling across diverse regions

Researchers worked across 72 ecoregions, areas defined by similar ecosystems, and made research trips to 454 additional locations. They also used Malaise traps, which capture insects passively and need regular upkeep.

Volunteers helped manage the traps for continuous weekly sampling, said study co-author Giar-Ann Kung, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s entomology collections manager. The analysis covered Level 3 ecoregions, including the Mojave Basin and Range, Southern California Mountains and Sierra Nevada.

Distinct insect communities

The Mojave Basin and Range had the highest insect species richness in the study. Comparisons of similar ecoregions also showed that each region had its own mix of insect life, even where climate and geography were alike.

Researchers said California’s insect diversity is more abundant and delicate than previously understood. They said the findings underscore the need for more aggressive conservation of the state’s wild places to protect insect life.