More than half of the 19,232 new species discovered in 2009, the latest year for which data were compiled, were insects (a total of 9738 species, 50.6% of total), as indicated in his report of State Observed Species 2011, published by the Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University. The second largest group of species new to science was the vascular lasplantas (2,184 species, 11.3% of total). Of the 19,232 new species discovered in 2009, only seven were birds, 41 mammals and other 1487, arachnids. Overall in 2009 there was an increase of 5.6% in the number of new species discovered over the previous year.The accumulated knowledge of species since 1758, when Linnaeus lived, was close to two million, says Quentin Wheeler, the Spanish Scientist, and an entomologist and director of Species, "but most are still classified. A reasonable estimate is that ten million species of animals and plants are still waiting to be discovered by scientists and amateur explorers"
This story is interesting but i wonder why there is more insects than animals coming about? I guess it could have to do with the fact that insects can reside in the ground and animals are pretty much stuck above, but either way in my opinion insects are gross and the world doesn't need anymore of them!
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