Diversity and Distribution Patterns of Insects in Nigeria: A GBIF-Based Appraisal

Insects provide essential ecosystem services and are key indicators of ecosystem health. Their diversity in Africa is estimated to be high, but they are poorly documented in many African countries, such as Nigeria. In this study, we used insect occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database to investigate and examine insect diversity and distribution patterns across Nigeria's major biomes. We analysed 49,854 records from the GBIF and found 19 orders, 305 families, 2515 genera and 5880 species. However, the richness estimator analysis suggests that current records only represent ~21% of the true insect diversity in Nigeria. We also show that diversity differs between biomes and follows a latitudinal pattern. Overall, our findings reveal geographic and taxonomic gaps, and highlight the need to prioritise under-represented taxa and locations to improve biodiversity assessment and conservation planning. We suggest that the current state of Nigeria's insects reflects a dire situation that needs addressing through local and international collaboration facilitated by extensive government support.