Vol. 12, Issue 6, Part B (2025)

Author(s): Nayna Vyas-Patel, Sai Ravela, Agenor Mafra-Neto and John D Mumford

Abstract: The certainty that a species is accurately identified is the cornerstone of appearance based classification; however, the methods used in classical taxonomy have yet to fully catch up with the digital age. Recognising this, the CO1 algorithm presented on the StripeSpotter platform was used to identify different species and sexes of mosquito wings (Diptera: Culicidae) and honey bee and bumblebee wings (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Images of different species of mosquito and bee wings were uploaded onto the CO1 database and test wing images were analysed to determine if this resulted in the correct species being identified. Out of a database containing 925 mosquito and bee wing images, the CO1 algorithm correctly identified species and sexes of test wing image presented, with a high degree of accuracy (80% to 100%). Using a larger database of wing images resulted in significantly higher numbers of test images being correctly identified than using a smaller database. The hind wings of Hymenoptera provided higher levels of correctly identified results than using the fore wings. It is suggested that a primary aim in the digital age should be the production of a ‘World Wide Database’ of insect images, when all known insect images can be made available to everyone, with image recognition and species knowledge at its core.

DOI: 10.22271/23487941.2025.v12.i6b.875