Bee Species Outnumber Mammals And Birds Combined

Bee Species Outnumber Mammals And Birds Combined

www.terradaily.com

Scientists have discovered that there are more bee species than previously thought. In the first global accounting of bee species in over a hundred years, John S. Ascher, a research scientist in the Division of Invertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History, compiled online species pages and distribution maps for more than 19,200 described bee species, showcasing the diversity of these essential pollinators.

This new species inventory documents 2,000 more described, valid species than estimated by Charles Michener in the first edition of his definitive The Bees of the World published eight years ago.

(visit the link for the full news article)

I am stunned... who would have ever thought? I mean all we ever hear about are the honey and bumble bees.



www.terradaily.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I have read figures that say there are about 500,000 species on this planet accounted for (mammals, Insect etc) .
As to mammals there are about 5400.

Now the best figure I like and is surprising is that they estimate 95% of species on this planet are still waiting to be discovered.

You look at beetles they estimate about 200,000 species!

EDIT - 200,000


[edit on 14-6-2008 by greenfruit]

reply to post by greenfruit


20,000 beetles? You mean there's more than John, Paul, George and Ringo? WOW!!!

reply to post by grover

Wow. What kind of bees? I mean do they all resemble the idea most people have in their mind when they think of a Bee?

And what constitutes a Bee: the way it flies; body type; social enviroment; etc. etc

OK...I missed this.

The vast majority of known bee species are solitary, primitively social, or parasitic

OK....now that is wild. Solitary, primitively social and parasitic....they have those kind of persons in Bee form....interesting

[edit on 14-6-2008 by whiteraven]