Scientists Launch Massive Quest to Catalog California’s 30,000+ Ins…

California is home to an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 insect species—but scientists don’t know the exact number. Now, researchers are embarking on an ambitious mission to document every single one through DNA sequencing as part of the California Insect Barcode Initiative.

Led by Austin Baker, a postdoctoral researcher at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, this monumental project aims to collect, sequence, and catalog every insect species across the Golden State. The task is staggering in scope: from the towering redwoods to the Salton Sea, California’s diverse ecosystems harbor countless flies, ants, beetles, and other insects—many still undiscovered by science.

“You could visit any vegetated area across that state and potentially collect several new (undiscovered and unnamed) insect species,” Baker explains. The challenge is immense given California’s varied landscapes, from fog-covered coastlines to alpine forests and scorching deserts.

Working under the California All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (CalATBI), Baker’s team is systematically sampling every ecoregion recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency. They’re using multiple collection techniques and deploying passive traps that remain in place for months, capturing insects that may only emerge for brief periods each year. This comprehensive approach ensures they don’t miss species that appear during different seasons or weather conditions.

The initiative represents one of the most comprehensive biodiversity surveys ever attempted, with the potential to reveal thousands of new species and provide crucial data for conservation efforts in one of America’s most ecologically diverse states.