Declining rates of species description call for improved taxonomic strategies: Insights from a megadiverse insect order
Author(s)
Date Issued
November 19, 2025
Type
article
Volume
51
Issue
1
ISSN
0307-6970
1365-3113
Journal
Abstract
Classifying organisms is fundamental in biodiversity research, but time-consuming.Although technological advances in species discovery and phylogenetic analysis havemarked the early 21st century, we are far from achieving a comprehensive inventory ofspecies diversity, as many taxa remain largely undocumented. Discovering or classifyinglineages without formally describing and naming them leaves biodiversity knowledgeincomplete and non-interoperable, as such units cannot be consistently referenced orvalidated across datasets and disciplines. Accelerating formal species description therefore requires a strategic, data-driven plan to maximize efforts with finite resources. Usinga uniquely complete dataset, we explored past, current and projected trends in thedescription of the megadiverse yet largely understudied true flies (Insecta: Diptera). Wefound evidence of a persistent global decline in Diptera species descriptions since thelate 1990s. At current rates, it will take centuries to describe even the well-studiedgroups, which represent only a fraction of Diptera diversity. We argue that many otherinsect orders are in the same conditions, given the misalignment of research priorities,under-utilization of emerging tools, the overall shortage of taxonomic expertise and thelimited availability of curated data for neglected groups. To address these challenges, wepropose five strategic priorities for a renewed, data-integrative taxonomy aimed at accelerating the formal description of species, with potential applications across much of theremaining undocumented animal diversity.
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