Systematic Entomology

Opinion Pieces

Systematic methods and interpretations remain contentious, perhaps especially in the field of biogeographic reconstruction. In the Lepidoptera, for which data are as good as for any organisms, studies of current and historical distributions abound. Unexpected, counter-intuitive and controversial patterns are proposed and countered. In Early View (see left side panel) we publish a counter and a defence concerning the use and interpretation of algorithms to derive an evolutionary history of Vanessa butterflies. We encourage non-polemical debate on such pressing issues in our field in the form of Opinion pieces. Further, we encourage authors to submit a well reasoned response to a systematic paper published in another journal that is less responsive to debate. To encourage wide dissemination, we are making all Opinion pieces, plus any underlying paper, free to all.

Read the latest Opinion Piece and Response below:

Anomalous areas and awkward ages: alleviating concerns
Niklas Wahlberg, Daniel Rubinoff

Anomalous areas and awkward ages: concerns about over-reliance on model-based biogeographical and temporal inferences
Andrew V. Z. Brower, R. I. Vane-Wright

'Best Paper' Award

NEW! SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY BEST PAPER AWARD FOR 2011

The 2011 prize for the best paper published in Systematic Entomology in 2010 has been awarded to:

On wings of lace: phylogeny and Bayesian divergence time estimates of Neuropterida (Insecta) based on morphological and molecular data
SHAUN L. WINTERTON, NATE B. HARDY, BRIAN M. WIEGMANN
Systematic Entomology (2010), 35, 349-378

Read the article free online

Discover the extensive resource of backfiles from the Royal Entomological Society's illustrious history online, dating back to 1836, and including work by eminent scientists such as Wallace, Wigglesworth and Westwood.

• Systematic Entomology: 1976, Vol 1 Issue 1 to date

• Journal of Entomology, Series A: 1971 - 1976 (in full)

• Journal of Entomology, Series B: 1971 - 1976 (in full)

• Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society, Series A: 1936 - 1970 (in full)

• Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society, Series B: 1932 - 1970 (in full)

• Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society, Series C: 1936 - 1977 (in full)

• Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society: 1926 - 1936 (in full)

• Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London: 1836 - 1975

Read the latest Virtual Issues from Systematic Entomology

New in November 2011

Molecular phylogeny of Lepidoptera in the 21st century

Insect Morphological Studies

Systematic Melittology: a virtual issue on bee systematics

The editors of Systematic Entomology are proud to present a new virtual issue dealing with bee systematics in the broadest sense. Comprising some twenty papers including an introductory piece by Michael Engel, it covers a substantial part of the diversity of bees... Read more

Read more Virtual Issues from Systematic Entomology all free online

Systematics of fossil insects

Larval information in entomological systematics

Systematics and Diversity of Coleoptera

Two New Bee Species Discovered

The article 'The Panama microplate, island studies and relictual species of Melipona (Melikerria) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)' was featured by online news site Physorg and The New York Times

Click on the links above to read the article and the press release.