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The case for the establishment of an insect identification service and taxonomic research centre (s) in Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

R. Kumar
R. Kumar
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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Extract

The Need for the correct identification of insect species cannot be overemphasized for without names scientific information in the biological literature cannot be meaningfully communicated. As noted by KIM (1975) ‘all biological research begins with accurate identification of the organisms to be studied and is based on general biological information about the organisms derived from the classification’. Further, in applied entomology, it is difficult to imagine an economic entomologist who may be expected to control a pest, the name of which (and hence its biology and distribution) he does not even know correctly. Although entomologists, indeed all biologists have recognized the need to use correct, up-to-date, valid scientific names, it is still fashionable for researchers, at least in the developing world, to work on their insect without worrying about its name which they hope will one day be somehow provided by somebody. Few biologists would consider publishing and fewer journals would be willing to accept articles without a scientific name of the investigated insect (Robinson, 1975).I trust that the members of the African Association of Insect Scientists are aware of the importance of taxonomic studies and the necessity of having an identification service. It is now well appreciated that there are far too few specialists working on the abundant insect species. As an example of the abundance of insect species the bug (Heteroptera) family Miridae has more species than there are birdsin the entire world.

Type
Papers Presented
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 1 , Issue 4 , December 1981 , pp. 425 - 430
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1981

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