Insect taxonomy

Insect taxonomy classifies and names insects using shared traits and evolutionary relationships. It organizes insect diversity into ranked groups and revises those groups as evidence changes.

Linnaean taxonomy: A hierarchical system that classifies organisms into ranked groups and gives each species a two-part scientific name. Its ranks provide the framework used to organize insect groups.
Taxonomic diagnosis: A concise account of traits that distinguish a taxon from related taxa. Diagnoses state how insect groups can be recognized and separated.
Insect identification: The process of determining an insect specimen's taxonomic identity from its observable or measured traits. Identification applies classification to specimens encountered in research and practice.
Lumpers and splitters: Contrasting taxonomic tendencies to combine organisms into broad species or divide them into narrower ones. Their competing judgments can yield different insect species counts and boundaries.
Insect phylogeny: The evolutionary history and relationships of insects and their major lineages. Some higher-level classifications remain unsettled because deep insect relationships are difficult to resolve.
Binomial nomenclature: A system of naming species with a two-part name consisting of a genus and a specific epithet. Insect species receive names under this shared naming system.
Homology: Similarity between traits because they were inherited from a common ancestor. Homologous insect structures can reveal shared evolutionary history.
DNA barcoding: Species identification using a short, standardized DNA sequence as a genetic barcode. Barcode sequences can help identify insect specimens, including immature or damaged ones.
Morphological species concept: A species concept that distinguishes species by consistent differences in observable form. Morphology-based boundaries may differ from those inferred from evolutionary evidence.
Insect species richness: The number of insect species in a defined region, community, or broader taxonomic scope. Many insect species remain undescribed, limiting the reach of classification.

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