Annu Rev Entomol January 2018 PMID 28938083

How Many Species of Insects and Other Terrestrial Arthropods Are There on Earth?

Nigel E Stork

Mentions

167
Peak: 3 in Jun 2019
across 5 sources since Feb 2019

Extended reach

141,307
potential audience

Total likes

1,019

Video views

22,010

Mentions per month

Feb 2019 – Jul 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News124 articles
  • Blogs20 articles
  • X / Twitter16 posts
  • Facebook5 posts
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Overall, the discussions reflect strong agreement with the article's findings, illustrated by comments like 'No need for a recount!' and references to the large number of undiscovered species, which reveal excitement and validation. The tone and choice of words suggest a recognition of the importance of new scientific methods and data, with some users calling for more in-depth analysis or broader study, indicating active interest and engagement in the topic.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the findings indicating that previous estimates of insect species were exaggerated, showing strong support for the article's conclusions.

InterestHigh interest

Posts demonstrate high interest by discussing the implications of discovering so many unknown species and referencing new research and methods.

EngagementModerate engagement

While generally engaged, some posts mainly express opinions or requests for reinterpretation, indicating moderate rather than deep engagement.

ImpactHigh impact

These discussions emphasize the significance of understanding species diversity, with some users suggesting the need for further research and re-evaluation, highlighting the article's wide influence.

Abstract in brief

  • Recent advances in methods and data have led to new estimates suggesting there are about 15 million insect species, 55 million terrestrial arthropod species, and 7 million beetle species globally.
  • Previous estimates of over 30 million species are now considered unlikely, especially since only around 1 million insect species have been formally named, meaning about 80% are still undiscovered.
  • DNA techniques have helped find many new species, especially in groups that are difficult to classify, but studies also show that around 12% of known species might actually be cryptic, meaning they look very similar but are different species.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
CharlesCMann
@CharlesCMann · X

Also, while I'm at it, shouldn't you try to match up the distribution of studies with the actual distribution of insects? (Chart from https://t.co/d1kHOn8A1Q) https://t.co/By8nmKna69

Feb 18, 2019 · 30 likes · 1 share · 17,399 followers View post →
Edriel
@EWolf620 · X

References: Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). Bug info. Smithsonian. https://t.co/ZrJoqjaREM Stork N. E. (2018). How Many Species of Insects and Other Terrestrial Arthropods Are There on Earth?. Annual review of entomology, 63, 31–45.

Jul 5, 2025 · 11 likes · 1,760 followers View post →
maz
@dynamicsoar · X

ヒト以前の時代に、ある分類群たとえば昆虫の種について、もし「種分化 - 絶滅」速度の絶対値が 1 species/year だったらたとえば6600万年で6600万種も変動するけど昆虫の推定種数は550万程度だそうだから ( https://t.co/Fa3uhBmF2M ) 実際には一桁か二桁(もっと?)小さかったと思っていいのかな

Mar 19, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 2,411 followers View post →
Samuel Jones
@samuel_ei_jones · X

nb - this is all on birds, which many colleagues will see as crumbs on the table.. What we dont know about the basics on other biological diversity, is staggering https://t.co/FVHpjQUsLk https://t.co/lT7xyLtdCr

Nov 11, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 1,030 followers View post →
RealScientists
@realscientists · X

There are likely still millions of species of eukaryotes (especially insects, plants, and fungi) that remain undescribed. For a nice recent treatment on insects, see here: https://t.co/qlvVkG07I9

Jun 24, 2019 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 78,659 followers View post →
Klaus Riede
@KlausRiede · X

How Many Species of Insects and Other Terrestrial Arthropods Are There on Earth? | Annual Reviews - https://t.co/7OowaVqa8w

May 13, 2024 · 1 like · 4,572 followers View post →

All mentions

Edriel
@EWolf620 · X

References: Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). Bug info. Smithsonian. https://t.co/ZrJoqjaREM Stork N. E. (2018). How Many Species of Insects and Other Terrestrial Arthropods Are There on Earth?. Annual review of entomology, 63, 31–45.

Jul 5, 2025 · 11 likes · 1,760 followers View post →
Klaus Riede
@KlausRiede · X

How Many Species of Insects and Other Terrestrial Arthropods Are There on Earth? | Annual Reviews - https://t.co/7OowaVqa8w

May 13, 2024 · 1 like · 4,572 followers View post →
William Stoett ✝️
@Mugaliens · X

@ECOWARRIORSS "Previous estimates of 30 million species or more based on the host specificity of insects to plants now seem extremely unlikely. With 1 million insect species named, this suggests that 80% remain to be discovered." I demand a recount! https://t.co/PWIZ2OKJJt

Mar 23, 2023 · 2,391 followers View post →
Martin Gärtner
@mjgaertner · X

RT @domainrealties: @BjornLomborg I estimate the loss is bigger than 0.7% over all of human history, given the large number of unknown inse…

Jan 22, 2023 · 1 share · 438 followers View post →
domainrealties
@domainrealties · X

@BjornLomborg I estimate the loss is bigger than 0.7% over all of human history, given the large number of unknown insect species https://t.co/BYw5Yn82wa

Jan 21, 2023 · 1 like · 1 share · 1,202 followers View post →
Gary Allport
@GaryAllport · X

RT @samuel_ei_jones: nb - this is all on birds, which many colleagues will see as crumbs on the table.. What we dont know about the basics…

Nov 11, 2022 · 1 share · 1,573 followers View post →
Samuel Jones
@samuel_ei_jones · X

nb - this is all on birds, which many colleagues will see as crumbs on the table.. What we dont know about the basics on other biological diversity, is staggering https://t.co/FVHpjQUsLk https://t.co/lT7xyLtdCr

Nov 11, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 1,030 followers View post →
Jamie Ahloy Dallaire
@JamAhlDall · X

@essicolo En supposant qu'on puisse même les trouver!

Aug 30, 2022 · 650 followers View post →
maz
@dynamicsoar · X

ヒト以前の時代に、ある分類群たとえば昆虫の種について、もし「種分化 - 絶滅」速度の絶対値が 1 species/year だったらたとえば6600万年で6600万種も変動するけど昆虫の推定種数は550万程度だそうだから ( https://t.co/Fa3uhBmF2M ) 実際には一桁か二桁(もっと?)小さかったと思っていいのかな

Mar 19, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 2,411 followers View post →
iLEAPS
@iLEAPS18 · X

RT @realscientists: There are likely still millions of species of eukaryotes (especially insects, plants, and fungi) that remain undescribe…

Jun 24, 2019 · 2 shares · 1,229 followers View post →
Lennin Florez-Leiva
@LenninFL · X

RT @realscientists: There are likely still millions of species of eukaryotes (especially insects, plants, and fungi) that remain undescribe…

Jun 24, 2019 · 2 shares · 404 followers View post →
RealScientists
@realscientists · X

There are likely still millions of species of eukaryotes (especially insects, plants, and fungi) that remain undescribed. For a nice recent treatment on insects, see here: https://t.co/qlvVkG07I9

Jun 24, 2019 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 78,659 followers View post →
Muséum d'Orléans
@MuseumOrleans · X

@ThierryBrassac Et un dernier pour la route : https://t.co/qlwL7O3IQ5

Apr 23, 2019 · 980 followers View post →
Feels Like Kevin☘️
@K4Climate · X

@ChristophLyon @GMB @ExtinctionR Globally there are approximately 1.5 million, 5.5 million, and 7 million species of beetles, insects, and terrestrial arthropods, respectively. With only 1 million insect species named, this suggests that 80% still remain to be DISCOVERED. https://t.co/RnMpIAVwRU

Apr 19, 2019 · 3,794 followers View post →
Rua
@ways_of_knowing · X

RT @CharlesCMann: Also, while I'm at it, shouldn't you try to match up the distribution of studies with the actual distribution of insects?…

Feb 21, 2019 · 1 share · 780 followers View post →
CharlesCMann
@CharlesCMann · X

Also, while I'm at it, shouldn't you try to match up the distribution of studies with the actual distribution of insects? (Chart from https://t.co/d1kHOn8A1Q) https://t.co/By8nmKna69

Feb 18, 2019 · 30 likes · 1 share · 17,399 followers View post →