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
Comments
Nice work, @bdagley !
Promising!
iNat is an amazing resource. Imagine what it will be in 10 years.
Thanks!
That’s very interesting Brian. Thank you!!
Hi bdagley,
Thank you and congratulations for this work. Best wishes.
Impressive, Brian!
Interesting analysis - thanks!!!
Thanks @bdagley for the mention, interest analysis, hope its grows with the time.
Very cool, thanks for the @!
Very interesting. Thank you very much @bdagley !
Interesting to see that Europe has the lowest %RG for bees despite having a small fauna, myriad guidebooks, numerous collections, and a disproportionate number of bee experts (both pro and amateur).
Wow , superb work. well done
Well done, Brian! For the question John mentioned, maybe that's because European experts incline to share their photos on Flickr.
Thanks for all your work, everyone!
Thanks!
Looking good, Brian.
Very nice work @bdagley!
@jessmullins and @kjhung are putting a lot of work in our neighborhood.
@domingozungri @trevorsless @susanna_h @matthias22 are doing a lot too.
@johnascher I know at least in France there are other competing platforms people use, but iNat is gaining ground. @aureleb has been catching up on some bee groups! Merci Aurèle pour toutes les identifications. Ça fait plaisir!
@fauna_mirifica has had a huge impact on Sphecidae (in Australia at least)
Thanks for this and your interest in the bees and wasps of Botswana and Africa.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/bees-of-botswana
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/wasps-of-botswana
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/ichneumonoidea-of-botswana
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/ichneumonoidea-of-southern-africa
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/african-wasps-bees-and-ants-hymenoptera
Wow! Wonderful work.
Thanks
porque cuando pones Norte America se excluye a Mexico ?
No excluye a Mexico: "N.A. = North America which includes US, Canada, Mexico, and Central America on iNat."
Congratulations! And thanks, best withes.
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