Invisible Champions! More Than 80% of Insect Species Are Being Left Out of Science
Quick Summary
A new study from scientists at Monash University in Australia has a surprising warning. More than 80% of all insect species live in tropical rainforests and jungles. But most insect science and conservation work happens in cooler parts of the world — which have far fewer species. Researchers say it is time to change that.
What Happened?
Insects are everywhere. There are somewhere between 14 million and 30 million different species of them on Earth. Most have not even been given a name yet by scientists.
Now imagine if someone tried to count and protect all the fish in the ocean, but only looked in swimming pools. That is a little bit like what has been happening with insects. Most insect research has focused on places like Europe and North America — the cooler, “temperate” parts of the world. But those regions only have about 20% of the world’s insect species.
The other 80% live in the tropics. The tropics are the warm, humid parts of the planet near the equator — places like the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, the Congo Basin in Africa, and the jungles of Southeast Asia.
Scientists at Monash University reviewed the situation and sounded the alarm. We simply do not know enough about tropical insects to protect them properly. Big knowledge gaps exist about which species live where, how their populations are changing, and which ones might be in danger.
The researchers gave this problem a name: “parachute science.” That is when scientists from wealthier countries fly in, do a short study, then leave — without building lasting knowledge or working closely with local scientists.
To fix the problem, the team came up with a plan. It involves combining information from many different sources: museum insect collections, local scientists, citizen science apps where regular people report sightings, and new technologies like environmental DNA testing.
Why Does It Matter?
Insects might seem small, but they hold entire ecosystems together. They pollinate more than 80% of all wild plant species. Without them, most flowering plants could not reproduce. They also provide food for about 60% of all bird species on Earth.
If you have ever eaten an apple, a strawberry, or a chocolate bar — you have insects to thank. Bees and other pollinators make those foods possible.
Insect populations are already declining in many parts of the world. Scientists want to make sure tropical insects do not disappear before we even know they exist.
The good news: ordinary people can help. Citizen science apps let anyone photograph and report insects. Every photo helps scientists learn more about what lives where.
Big Words
- Tropics — the warm regions of Earth near the equator, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; known for rainforests, heat, and incredible biodiversity.
- Biodiversity — the amazing variety of different life forms — plants, animals, insects, fungi — found in a place or on Earth as a whole.
- Conservation — the work of protecting plants, animals, and the places they live from harm and extinction.
- Parachute science — when scientists travel to a distant place, study it quickly, then leave without building long-term knowledge or involving local experts.
- Citizen science — scientific research that regular people help with, often by reporting observations through apps or websites.
Fun Fact
Scientists estimate there are so many insect species on Earth that if you lined up all the different kinds end to end, the line would stretch from Earth to the Moon — and back — many times over!
Think About It
If you discovered a brand-new insect species in a rainforest, what would you name it, and what superpower would you hope it had?
Sources
- ScienceDaily — ”Parachute science’ is failing the tropics, home to more than 80% of insect species’ (Sept 9, 2026)
- Phys.org — ‘How parachute science is failing the world’s tropical insects’ (Sept 9, 2026)
- Scimex — ”Parachute science’ is failing the world’s tropical insects’ (Sept 9, 2026)
- BioScience journal — ‘A framework for the strategic conservation of tropical insects’ (2026)