Bee species: scientists estimate at least 24,700 to 26,100 worldwide

A new Nature Communications paper used more than 8.3 million records and a list of about 21,000 named species to estimate a conservative global total of 24,705–26,164 bee species, and it reports most undiscovered species are likely in Asia and Africa.

A new paper in Nature Communications provides the first statistically derived estimate of global bee species richness. Bees are central pollinators and are described as a keystone group for many ecosystems. Pollination of crops is reported as worth about A$745 billion per year, and animal pollinators contribute substantially to food crop diversity and production. Previous counts listed roughly 21,000 named bee species, but global totals have been uncertain. Key findings: - The study used more than 8.3 million bee occurrence records, a country-level checklist, and a taxonomy list of roughly 21,000 species names to model species richness. - Researchers report a conservative global lower-bound estimate of 24,705 to 26,164 bee species, an 18–25% increase on earlier figures. - At the current described rate of roughly 117 species per year, describing all species would take an estimated 32 to 45 years, though the authors call this conservative. - Most additional species are expected to be found in Asia and Africa, where data gaps and sampling challenges are largest. - The study notes that genetic techniques can reveal hidden diversity and that regions with limited genetic sampling may have lower documented richness. Summary: The study raises the estimated minimum number of bee species and identifies major geographic data gaps, particularly in Asia and Africa, which is relevant for understanding pollination and biodiversity. Undetermined at this time.