Alaska’s Hidden Bug Bounty | Anchorage News

For two decades, scientist Derek Sikes has been on a daring mission to catalog every insect in Alaska — from buzzing bees to tiny beetles — uncovering that less than half have even been documented. While places like Sweden have studied insects for centuries, Alaska remains the most untouched natural state in the U.S., hiding countless undiscovered species. Traveling from volcanic islands to the Arctic tundra, Sikes battles isolation and limited entomology expertise, using cutting-edge techniques like DNA sequencing and digital barcoding to preserve and share his findings. With time running out before many species vanish, he’s racing to ensure Alaska’s hidden bug treasures aren’t lost forever — and hopes his legacy will inspire others to keep the hunt alive after he retires.

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