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Development of taxonomic resources in the tropics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Virendra K. Gupta
Virendra K. Gupta
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
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Abstract

The tropics abound with insect diversity; yet we hardly know about a tenth of them. Destruction of natural habitats due to deforestation, monoculture and urbanization results in their extermination or change of habits, often with devastating results. If the insects are to be properly managed for the benefit of mankind, an inventory of them should be taken before they are destroyed and their habits and habitats studied. A team of well trained taxonomists is required. Taxonomie centres are to be developed where taxonomists can be trained and insect collections can be housed and studied. Taxonomie manpower and resources should be developed in various countries of the tropics so that the rich and abundant insect diversity is studied and finally utilized for the benefit of mankind.

Résumé

La diversité d'insectes dans les régions tropicales est immense et pourtant on ne connait environ qu'in dixième des espèces. La destruction des habitats naturals par l'exploitation forestiere, la monoculture et l'urbanisation entaîne soit la disparition des insectes ou un changement dans leur comportement qui peut avoir des conséquences néfastes. Afin de faire un arrangement effleiace des insectes au profit de l'humanité, il est primordial d'en faire l'inventaire avant qu'ils saient exterminés et d'étudier deur comportement et leur habitat. Pour cette tāche, il faut assembler un groupe de taxonomistes compétants. Des centres de taxonomie doivent être créés pour permettre la formation de taxonomistes et le développement de collections d'insectes aptes à être étudier. On lait développer les resources et la main d'oeuvre nécessaire dans divers pays tropicaux pour permettre l'étude et l'aménagement de la riche faune entomologiques pour bien de l'homme.

Keywords

Taxonomysystematicstropical insectsinsect diversitytaxonomie resourcestropicsTaxonomicesystématiquesinsectes tropicauxdiversité des insectesresources taxonomiquestropiques
Type
Plenary Lectures I–III
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 8 , Issue 4-5-6: Recent Advances in Research on Tropical Entomology , December 1987 , pp. 407 - 412
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1987

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