Map of Transparent Butterflies Highlights Biodiversity Hotspot in The Andes Mountains
Published:21 Dec.2021 Source:Florida Museum of Natural History
With over a million known species, insects are by far the most diverse group of organisms on Earth, with conservative estimates indicating there are millions more waiting to be found. But extinction due to human pressures may be outpacing the rate of discovery, with species disappearing before researchers even knew they existed.
To conserve these species, scientists must first know where they are. While the distributions of some plant and animal groups have been extensively mapped, comparatively little is known regarding the whereabouts of the world's insects.