SYSTEMATICS AND ENTOMOLOGY: INTRODUCTION

Abstract

Many more species of insects are living than have been described. The dearth of knowledge about insect diversity hinders acquisition of knowledge about the ecological support systems of the planet, which are being destroyed through species extinction and other forms of biological degradation (Soul6 l99l). Therefore, it is timely for systematists to explain again the contributions that they make through their work, and to reassert the importance of this sphere of activity. This volume emphasizes the value of systematics from a variety of perspectives. The papers included here demonstrate to the community of scientists in general, and to the entomological community in particular, the benefits of studies in systematics. The volume is based on a symposium, organized by the editors, that was held under the auspices of the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods) at the joint annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada and the Entomological Society of Alberta on 8 October 1990. A geographical component of that symposium and of the volume that resulted is the source of the contributors: all are Canadian and have done most of their work in Canada; collectively, the papers illustrate the breadth of research in systematic entomology conducted in this country. Although most of the papers are based on study of insects in Canada, they focus on problems that transcend national boundaries. They reinforce the importance of work in systematics and the requirement that it be supported.