Quantifying the unquantifiable: why Hymenoptera, not Coleoptera, is the most speciose animal order.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We challenge the oft-repeated claim that the beetles (Coleoptera) are the most species-rich order of animals. Instead, we assert that another order of insects, the Hymenoptera, is more speciose, due in large part to the massively diverse but relatively poorly known parasitoid wasps. The idea that the beetles have more species than other orders is primarily based on their respective collection histories and the relative availability of taxonomic resources, which both disfavor parasitoid wasps. Though it is unreasonable to directly compare numbers of described species in each order, the ecology of parasitic wasps-specifically, their intimate interactions with their hosts-allows for estimation of relative richness.

Results

We present a simple logical model that shows

SUBMITTER: Forbes AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6042248 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature