Current Tendencies to Increase the Number of Higher Taxonomic Units among Insects

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Abstract
There is apparently no current tendency to increase the number of living orders of hexapods, although there is a tendency among entomologists in general to recognize more. There is a distinct tendency for the number of families of living hexapods to be increased, but it is suggested that, although the number of families generally recognized is constantly increasing, the tendency toward absolute increase in numbers is becoming less. A more stable situation is gradually being approached. It does not seem probable that many more than 1000 families of hexapods will be recognized in the foreseeable future. The need for a more objective approach to the problem of status among higher taxa is required. It is probably impossible to equate the status of one group of animals to that of animals in other groups, but at the ordinal and family levels there should be, so far as possible, clear-cut means of differentiating one group from another[long dash]at least so far as living forms are concerned. If "taxonomic gaps" exist they should be recognized by elevating the group concerned to the appropriate category or vice versa. Controversies will continue, but as research t This symbol (t) before abstract number indicates an abstract edited by the editor(s) of the source journal, and republished unaltered by BA editorial staff. proceeds these will become less. We should incline toward accepting the views of specialists rather than adhering to outmoded systems. It is of relatively little importance whether a group be placed at one level in the hierarchy or another, so long as the group is reasonably homogeneous and is approximately equated with comparable related groups.

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