INSECTS IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION - SOME PERSPECTIVES AND DIRECTIVES

The Insecta is the most speciose class in the Animal Kingdom. The inse ct-plant relationship is the dominant biotic interaction, yet plants h ave many times the biomass of all animals together. The functional sig nificance of insects is enormous, owing to the large numbers of indivi duals and great intra- and interspecific variety. Lack of human apprec iation of importance, coupled with the general disregard and dislike o f insects, is an enormous perception impediment to their conservation. This impediment coupled with the taxonomic impediment (at most only a bout 7-10% of insects are scientifically described) must be overcome f or realistic biodiversity conservation. As it is not possible to know all the species relative to the rate at which they are becoming extinc t, it is essential to conserve as many biotopes and landscapes as poss ible. These would be for typical species and communities, as well as f or endemic sinks. It is also essential to preserve species-dynamo area s as an insurance for future biodiversity. Preserved areas must also b e linked by movement and gene-flow corridors as much as possible. Reco gnition, functional importance, taxic uniqueness, typicalness, genetic variation and important behavioural traits place much more emphasis o n qualitative biodiversity conservation than on quantitative approache s. Ecological entomologists play a significant double role, suppressin g noxious populations on crops, livestock and other products, while at the same time identifying and using beneficial species. There are wel l-known inherent and environmental risks with many traditional control methods and high risks with the use of genetically engineered biopest icide baculoviruses. Preservation technologies, where individuals are held in suspended animation, must be developed soon. However, such tec hnologies, as with restoration activities such as site restoration, ca ptive breeding, reintroductions and translocations, all require consid erable knowledge and economic input to be predictably successful. Ecol ogical restoration involves so many biotic and abiotic interactions in even the simplest of communities, that predictiveness under all poten tial conditions is virtually unattainable. Instead, there should be st rong focus on the preservation and conservation of as many, and as lar ge as possible, pristine and near-pristine unique and typical landscap es as soon as possible.