Global Malaise Program

Large Scale Sampling for Worldwide Biodiversity Assessments

The Global Malaise Program (GMP) was launched by the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (CBG) in 2012 and aims to unite researchers worldwide in documenting and monitoring terrestrial arthropod diversity. The program includes hundreds of sampling sites in 50+ countries and provides a detailed look at how arthropod communities vary across space and time. The program combines Malaise traps (tent-like structures that passively catch flying insects) and DNA barcoding a standardized gene to distinguish species contributing them to a growing global dataset.

Overview

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Current Projects

BIOSCAN

BIOSCAN is laying the foundation for a global biodiversity monitoring system and exploring its socio-economic implications. It encompasses a massive, strategic sampling campaign combined with technologies that have never been integrated and implemented at the scale required for planetary biosurveillance. BIOSCAN is led by the International Barcode of Life (iBOL) Consortium.

BugQuest

BugQuest is a community science project that aims to study insect diversity across Canada. The program sent Malaise traps to over 400 schools and community sites in its first year and will continue into 2027/28. The samples are shipped back to the CBG and identified using metabarcoding. The project focuses on engaging students and community members to learn more about the insects in their area.

Million Species Project

The Million Species Project is a new project commencing in 2027, it aims to add 1 million new species to the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD).

Past Projects

National Botanical Gardens Malaise Program (NBGMP)

The project aimed to develop a comprehensive inventory of Malaise-trappable arthropod species in 11 South African National Botanic Gardens (NBG) by coupling a year-long sampling program with subsequent DNA barcode analysis of the specimens. Malaise traps were deployed at 22 sites (2 traps per NBG – one in the cultivated part of the garden, and the other in the non-cultivated part) then samples were collected weekly.

Bees@Schools Bees@Schools was a program run by CBG that provided classrooms with hands on scientific experience collecting data about wild bees in Canada. Each school recieved a nest box that was installed through summer then sent back to CBG for analysis in fall. The nest contents were analyzed using DNA barcoding and the results explorded wild bee distriburion and diet.

Canadian National Parks Malaise Program (CNPMP)

ABOUT PROJECT

Terrestrial Arthropods Monitoring Program (TRACE) PROGRAM INFO

Past Projects

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Last Updated: 2026/10/20 3:05pm