Grand challenges in insect systematics.

This article explores the challenges and importance of insect systematics, focusing on the need for taxonomic research and understanding the vast diversity of insects. It emphasizes the constant discovery of new species and the role of fieldwork and publishing taxonomic accounts. The article also discusses the use of advanced technologies in visualizing morphological data and the significance of biological research collections in museums. It highlights the relevance of insect systematics in addressing climate change, habitat destruction, and biodiversity preservation. The article calls for deeper exploration of individual characters and character systems, the development of comprehensive criteria for understanding insect evolution, and contributions that improve concepts in evolutionary biology. It emphasizes the importance of studying embryology and genome biology to understand developmental stages and the factors influencing phenotypes. The concept of heterology, which refers to independent phenotypes produced by the same genetic architecture in unrelated clades, is also discussed. The article suggests that there is still much to be discovered in terms of heterologs and calls for a more comprehensive comparative genomic treatment across insects. The role of phylogenetics in systematics is explored, with a suggestion to integrate it with other fields of inquiry to reinvigorate insect phylogenetics. The article encourages researchers to explore the fascinating world of insects and offers the Insect Systematics section of Frontiers in Insect Science as a valuable resource for further exploration. [Extracted from the article]