An entomologist uses DNA barcoding to identify pollinator species. In a field, 40% of 300 insect samples are bees, 35% are butterflies, and the rest are moths. If 90% of bees, 60% of butterflies, and 70% of moths are effective pollinators, how many effective pollinators were identified?

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:49:55 +0000

An entomologist uses DNA barcoding to identify pollinator species. In a field study, 40% of 300 insect samples were beetles, 35% butterflies, and the remainder moths. Among these, 90% of bees, 60% of butterflies, and 70% of moths proved effective pollinators. This precise identification sheds light on complex ecological roles, a growing topic in conservation and agriculture. In today’s digital landscape, DNA barcoding increasingly influences how scientists monitor endangered species and track biodiversity shifts—especially critical as pollinator populations face mounting environmental pressures. With one in four bee species and many butterfly/moth populations declining, tools like DNA barcoding offer unprecedented accuracy in monitoring real-world populations. This method reveals not just species presence, but functional roles, helping researchers distinguish effective contributors to ecosystem health from incidental observers. Carefully analyzing the field data, 40% of 300 insect samples equates to 120 bees, 105 butterflies, and 75 moths. Of these, 90% of bees (108 individuals), 60% of butterflies (63), and 70% of moths (52.5) are effective pollinators. Since fractional insects can’t exist, rounding reflects realistic counts: 108 bees, 63 butterflies, and 53 moths. Multip