tech
March 2, 2026
‘I love midges because I know what their hearts look like’: is the passion for taxonomy in danger of dying out?
Insect taxonomist Art Borkent has described and named more than 300 species of midges but fears his field of science is dying out, despite millions of insects, fungi and other organisms waiting to be discovered
TL;DR
- Art Borkent, a taxonomist who has named over 300 midge species, fears his field is dying out.
- The field faces a crisis due to a lack of funding, university positions, and an aging community of experts.
- Millions of insect, fungi, and other species are yet to be discovered, and many risk extinction before identification.
- DNA barcoding, while a powerful tool, cannot fully replace traditional taxonomy's ability to understand species interactions and behavior.
- Borkent emphasizes the importance of taxonomy for understanding the natural world, noting midges' role as pollinators.
- A universal lament exists among taxonomists about the stress and lack of resources in their profession.
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