We are losing large numbers of insects and arachnids at a rate unprecedented in the history of life, whereas they are the most diverse and abundant of all living things. Arthropods constitute an important aspect of biodiversity conservation and yet are the most neglected in the global conservation effort. At the same time, despite the publication of an Annual Review article on insect conservation by Pyle et al. (1981) and a prophetic book, Insect Conservation -an Australian Perpsective by New (1984), the world entomological community at large has not dealt with biodiversity issues in any serious manner. For the first time a symposium on the global biodiversity issues was organized for the 18th International Congress of Entomology (Vancouver, Canada) in August 1989. Since then two major efforts have been published by Hawksworth (1991) and by Collins and Thomas (1991), and several major works, such as a textbook on insect conservation by Samways (1993) are being prepared for publication.
Toward engaging the North American entomological community in the global biodiversity issues and insect conservation, an international symposium on biodiversity was convened for the 1991 Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting in December 1991 (Reno, Nevada, USA) -Section A Symposium, sponsored by International Affairs Committee; co-organizers and co-moderators K.C. Kim and Hiram Larew. This symposium provided the forum for entomologists to discuss the issues on global biodiversity and conservation of insects and arachnids. The symposium consisted of seven papers with a concluding remark: K.C. Kim (global biodiversity), N.E. Stork (insect diversity), J.C. Miller (insect natural history), P. Opler (endangered species), L. Knutson (biological control), M. Kogan (integrated pest management), M.J. Samways (insect conservation) and K.C. Kim (conclusion).
With Professor Alan T. Bull's encouragement we have put together a series of five papers from the symposium and present them here in this issue of Biodiversity and Conservation. K.C. Kim in the first paper discusses the global biodiversity issues pertaining to insects and related arthropods with a focus on inventory and monitoring. N.E. Stork deals with insect diversity, specifically species richness and related issues concerning insect conservation. This paper is followed by J.C. Miller expounding the role of insects in the ecological processes. Marcos Kogan and J.D. Lattin discuss the relevance of insect conservation in pest management. In the last paper Michael Samways provides principles and perspectives on insect conservation.
To complete this effort, I am indebted to many colleagues in numerous ways including manuscript reviews with constructive suggestions. I wish to thank my colleagues, N.E. Stork, J.C. Miller, M. Kogan, J.D. Lattin and M.J. Samways for their efforts to provide contributions on time and also thank the following colleagues for taking time to review