Notes

Most of these stats were calculated on 1/1/24, although the stats for the Bombus graph shown first are from 1/17/24. Percentages with decimals are shown rounded up in all of the graphs.

Summary

The percent of records with RG status is currently higher than ever for the most-identified and observed groups, such as Bombus, Vespidae, and broader taxa, especially for regions like Eastern North America, and are possibly higher than they ever will be, at least by the end of this winter season. Most of the IDs made of all records observed up to 5+ years ago to present seem to have been in the past 2 to 3 years, indicating that progress recently accelerated. The very high current % RG stats are a new hymenopteran community record or milestone which could be considered equivalent to virtually completing or catching up on the backlog of Needs ID records for certain taxa/locations, which has often been assumed impossible. Also, the fact that few identifiers use DQA to make indeterminable records RG means the true number and percent of verifiably identified records are even higher than in the graphs, except for readily identifiable taxa that already reached ≈100% RG, like Apis and Sphecius.

Additionally, 1,400+ bee and wasp species and subspecies throughout the world were recently observed and identified for the first time to date on this website, mostly identified since April, 2022, and 300+ new species and subspecies locality records among all sources were recorded, some of including some notable records for the academic literature. Among the stats shown in the graphs, although the percent of records RG stats may never improve beyond the current new records, the stats relating to new locality records, first bee and wasp IDs, total RG records, and total RG species diversity will continue to improve in the future. The current community achievements will help function as a foundation or model for continued bee and wasp observation and identification progress.

Methods

These stats were calculated by viewing observations in Explore mode in a logged out browser, using the Verifiable and Has Photos filters, searching for locations or manually creating locations when unavailable or inaccurate on the website, and filtering by all records and by RG records.

Abbreviations and frequently used scientific names

RG: Research Grade; Records: website Observations; RG Species: number of RG species; % Records RG: percent of the records that are RG; CAN/CA: Canada; US: United States; E.: Eastern; N.: North; S.: South; N.E./NE: Northeastern; Anthophila: Bees; Bombus: Bumble Bees; Apis: Honey Bees; Vespidae: Hornets, Yellowjackets, Paper Wasps, Potter Wasps, and Allies; Crabronidae: Sand Wasps; Sphecidae: Thread-waisted Wasps.

Thanks to the current group members and many additional identifiers and observers not shown (feel free to tag more in or share this post). @agatica @alandmanson @alexanderr @alexia-s @aliandbrice @amir1987 @anubhav-agarwal @anudibranchmom @aperturesciencebydan @athulsankar @axarus @axelgosseries @azhagu @baliwildlife @beesip @berzou @bill-icbugs-lucas @birds_and_wasps @blastcat @bob15noble @bobmcd @bonnienickel @botswanabugs @bugtim @cgwilson @chiefredearth @cholmesphoto @chou_chou @congo_traveler @congonaturalist @cyathus @cypselurus @dagendresen @david99 @david_bio @davidfdz_b82 @dbmcc09 @deboas @dmantack @egordon88 @elenao1 @ellurasanctuary @faluke @flecksy @francisco3_ @gernotkunz @gmmarques @guilhermeramos @herman8 @homemountain @jdulisse @jensbokelaar @joepan50 @jorgevargasramirez @jprado @judygva @justin_ @kneubaue @kris_muier @lavendulan @laz @lendebeer @lljohnson @magdastlucia @marathontomay @marceloamores @marcogu @marina_gorbunova @markb1984 @markusgmeiner @mattf1996 @maxkirsch @missoum73 @mmccarthy98 @morcutt @mpergil @mroseup @muir @mws @myrmecophil @natashataylor @neylon @opolasek @pam-piombino @patsimpson2000 @paulg99 @pcbose @philippwickey @philwarb @poncetejedai_tutor @rafael_carbonell @rguinness @rileywalsh @rjpretor @robertzimmermann @rockyreviko_ @royaltyler @samhough315 @sh3lli3 @shaunmichael @simon_oliver @soysmelliot @squiresk @stephen_wv @suelabbe @taylorsaunders @theworldofpaolo @tjeales @tom_barnes_ @veenas @vishaljadhavindia @watercolorist @wenatcheeb @xris

Notes: E. US = Eastern United States, N.E. = Northeastern United States and Canada, N.A. = North America which includes US, Canada, Mexico, and Central America on iNat. Stats were calculated in Explore while logged out with filters: Verifiable and Has Photos, and percentages were rounded to the nearest whole number, on 2/27/23.

Highlights: There recently has been a much higher North American and especially Eastern US percent of bumble bees Research Grade, with Eastern US having 93% RG currently. Great job everyone.

Wasp stats figures:

Percent wasp and bee observations RG figure:

All-Hymenoptera stats over the last 30 days (calculated 10/18/22):

• 114,379 observations newly added
• 82,379 observations newly became RG (a major review of observations, some which received first identifications 4+ years ago and now became RG - thanks to all who helped over time)

All-Hymenoptera stats to date:

• 3,899,534 total observations, 48% RG (53% RG for North America)
• RG hymenopteran species richness of 10,833 (4,250 for North America)
• ~613 (recorded) first iNat bee or wasp records (in the current project), including a potter wasp thought extinct for 100+ years, Leptochilus quintus
• ~59 (recorded) new bee or wasp locality records among all sources [project]
• Eligible new records have also been added to the first photographs of living specimens [project]

Bee stats (calculated 9/22/22):

Global:

• Observations: 1,648,626
• Research Grade (RG) observations: 886,221 (54% of observations)
• Number of RG species/taxa: 2,816

US:

• Observations: 906,338
• RG observations: 550,061 (61%; some individual states have 70% or greater)
• Number of RG species/taxa: 882