There are around 2 million species of insects described. But there are 10 to 20 million that are still to be discovered. With an estimated 524 kilometers of amazon rainforests that are lost every day, there are thousands of species that are lost without being known. We are discovering new species with the help of citizen scientists to get deeper into the biodiversity of the Amazon learning more about our planet and gaining an understanding of the different species and environments riddled in the Amazon.
WHAT IS
DISCOVERING NEW SPECIES?
HOW WE DISCOVER NEW SPECIES
IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON?
Humans, in our modern form, have been around for 200,000 years, and yet, the number of species discovered to date is 1.9 million, with estimated many millions to go.
For you though, the best part is that those remaining are in the Amazon!
If you want to participate in building the most comprehensive library of lifeforms on the planet, this is your chance. To get the genetic support we’re using a technique known as Barcoding, for this, we’re working with Guelph University located in Ontario Canada because they’re running a massive international project called Bold that means “Barcode of Life Database”. The International Barcode of Life (IBoL) is building a DNA-based identification system that catalogs every living being in existence. Their vision is to achieve bio-literacy by furthering our capabilities to an extent that we can instantly identify any living organism - plant, animal, or insect - using a DNA barcode library. Rainforest Expeditions has two projects in Tambopata that are major contributors to bio-literacy, cataloging the world’s rarest insect species.
On every expedition with our Wired Amazon tropical biologists, you have an opportunity to trap and discovering a new species of insect, study its appearance, sex, sexual reproduction characteristics, life stage, and other attributes. Your sample is submitted directly to IBoL to help increase bio-literacy. The amount of unexplored life out there is unimaginable - with our team discovering one new species every month. Imagine what we could do with your help!
Team up with our experts in search of new species and get a chance to name a species yourself! Let’s increase global bio-literacy - one discovery at a time.
Become a Volunteer in the Peruvian Amazon
SEE WHAT THE CITIZEN SCIENTIST 
