We think we just discovered some new species living in New York City

Earlier this summer, Vox set up insect traps in New York City to potentially discover a new species. Over the course of June, the traps collected an estimated 12,000 insect specimens, which were sent to a lab in Canada for analysis. The lab focused on three groups of insects known as "dark taxa," meaning most species within them are likely undiscovered.

The lab sequenced DNA barcodes for each specimen, unique identifiers for individual organisms. Most barcodes were similar to those of insects already collected and sequenced, but there were striking exceptions. The wasps and flies yielded more than two dozen barcode groups that are quite different from anything in the genetic database, suggesting they may represent new species.

Further analysis by taxonomists confirms that at least a few of these barcode groups may indeed be new species. However, to be certain, a formal description and name must be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The traps remain open, and Vox continues to collect and preserve bugs in their quest to discover a new species in New York City.