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10-Minute Presentation

Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity

10-min: SysEB, Biodiversity 1 - Guarding Our Natural Heritage

A new estimate of global bee species richness

Sunday, November 9, 2025

8:12 AM - 8:24 AM Pacific

Location: Oregon Convention Center, B116, OCC

Presenting Author(s)

MO

Michael C. Orr

Group Leader
Stuttgart Naturkundemuseum
Bethesda, Maryland

Co-Author(s)

AG

Amy-Marie Gilpin

Western Sydney University
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
NJ

Nikolas Johnston

University of Wollongong
Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
DE

Damien Esquerré

University of Wollongong
Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
AH

Alice Hughes

University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
JA

John Ascher (he/him/his)

National University of Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
James Dorey (he/him/his)

University of Wollongong
Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Robust estimates of species richness remain elusive for even some of the best-studied insect groups and regions. As key pollinators, bees represent key ecosystem providers necessary for healthy ecosystems. We used a multi-factor dataset to estimate the true levels of bee diversity across global, regional, and country scales. Globally, a lower bound of 2x,xxx bee species are expected (no spoilers). Exceptionally high undescribed biodiversity is expected from Asia, Africa, and the Americas with countries like Turkey and Isreal also ranking highly. We provide not just this new estimate, but also explore the drivers of description. Our novel framework promises progress in less-known groups, enabling downstream consensus, at long last, on the number of species alive on Earth.