DNA barcoding of more than one million insect specimens indicates that at least one third of California’s insect biodiversity remains undiscovered
Data files
Sep 03, 2026 version files 1.05 GB
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README.md
1.86 KB
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SupplementalTable3.csv
1.05 GB
Abstract
Insects are the most diverse terrestrial organisms, yet they are underrepresented in large-scale conservation assessments. To address this gap, the California Insect Barcoding Initiative is developing a publicly accessible, statewide DNA-barcode reference library for California insects to support scalable surveys, establish baseline biodiversity measurements, and generate potential distribution maps that inform conservation planning. Specimens are collected with a hybrid strategy that combines standardized Malaise trapping, to enable replicable sampling, and opportunistic collecting, to maximize taxonomic coverage. Using samples collected primarily from 2022–2024 at 72 longer-term Malaise trap sites, coupled with collecting using varied methods at 454 additional locations across California, we have barcoded over one million specimens. Specimen data from BOLD-sequenced insect specimens (downloaded June 25, 2025) are included in this dataset. Data includes specimen collection metadata, taxonomic data, and COI DNA sequences. Specimens for this study were collected under permits listed in the supplementary information.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.qrfj6q5zs
Description of the data and file structure
The CSV file includes the complete taxonomy, collection metadata, and cytochrome oxidase I sequence data for the publication.
Files and variables
File: SupplementalTable3.csv
Description:
Variables
- BIN: Barcode Index Number
- Sample ID: Unique specimen identification number
- Project Code: Subset of CIBI specimens
- Field ID: Field identification code
- Phylum: Taxon phylum
- Class: Taxon class
- Order: Taxon order
- Family: Taxon family
- Subfamily: Taxon subfamily
- Tribe: Taxon tribe
- Genus: Taxon genus
- Species: Taxon species
- Subspecies: Taxon subspecies
- Collectors: List of collectors
- Collection Date: Date of collection event
- Country/Ocean: Country of collection event
- State/Province: State/province of collection event
- Region: Region of collection event
- Sector: Sector of collection event
- Exact Site: Name of exact site of collection event
- Latitude: Latitude in decimal degrees
- Longitude: Longitude in decimal degrees
- Elevation: Elevation in meters
- Collection Date Accuracy: Number of days the collection occurred (if using trapping methods)
- Habitat: Habitat of collection locality
- Sampling Protocol: Method of collection used
- US_L3NAME: EPA level III ecoregion of collection locality
- US_L4NAME: EPA level IV ecoregion of collection locality
- EVT_NAME: Existing Vegetation Type of collection locality
- Collecting Institution: Institution leading collection event
- Barcode sequence: COI DNA sequence
- Identifier: Name of taxonomic identifier
- Identification method: Method of identification used