The vision of David Grimaldi

Abstract

We are honored to present this special issue of Palaeoentomology in celebration of our dear friend, mentor, and collaborator, David A. Grimaldi (Fig. 1), and on the occasion of his 65th birthday on 22 September 2022. This issue has been compiled in recognition of David’s remarkable ongoing impact on the fields of paleontology, entomology, and evolutionary biology. Throughout his career David has worn an inspirational path across disciplines as an exceptional, thoughtful, and creative scientist. His body of work is vast, punctuated by long-lasting classics that are international in scale and recognition. David is a world authority in multiple arenas; his well-earned expertise ranges from the fossil record and evolutionary history of insects beginning 400 million years ago in the Devonian to the systematics and morphology of notoriously complex drosophilids at the species level. His contributions have helped shape modern palaeoentomology. We are grateful for David’s work and fellowship and look forward to his continued accomplishments.