The current state of insect molecular systematics: A thriving Tower of Babel

Insect molecular systematics has undergone remarkable recent growth. Advanc es in methods of data generation and analysis have led to the accumulation of large amounts of DNA sequence data from most major insect groups. In add ition to reviewing theoretical and methodological advances, we have compile d information on the taxa and regions sequenced from all available phylogen etic studies of insects. It is evident that investigators have not usually coordinated their efforts. The genes and regions that have been sequenced d iffer substantially among studies and the whole of our efforts is thus litt le greater than the sum of its parts. The cytochrome oxidase I, 16S, 18S, a nd elongation factor-1 alpha genes have been widely used and are informativ e across a broad range of divergences in insects. We advocate their use as standards for insect phylogenetics. Insect molecular systematics has comple mented and enhanced the value of morphological and ecological data, making substantial contributions to evolutionary biology in the process, A more co ordinated approach focused on gathering homologous sequence data will great ly facilitate such efforts.