The Need for the correct identification of insect species cannot be overemphasized for without names scientific information in the biological literature cannot be meaningfully communicated. As noted by KIM (1975) ‘all biological research begins with accurate identification of the organisms to be studied and is based on general biological information about the organisms derived from the classification’. Further, in applied entomology, it is difficult to imagine an economic entomologist who may be expected to control a pest, the name of which (and hence its biology and distribution) he does not even know correctly. Although entomologists, indeed all biologists have recognized the need to use correct, up-to-date, valid scientific names, it is still fashionable for researchers, at least in the developing world, to work on their insect without worrying about its name which they hope will one day be somehow provided by somebody. Few biologists would consider publishing and fewer journals would be willing to accept articles without a scientific name of the investigated insect (Robinson, 1975).I trust that the members of the African Association of Insect Scientists are aware of the importance of taxonomic studies and the necessity of having an identification service. It is now well appreciated that there are far too few specialists working on the abundant insect species. As an example of the abundance of insect species the bug (Heteroptera) family Miridae has more species than there are birdsin the entire world.

Although organised insect taxonomic services have been in existence in Southern Africa for about 50 years these services are still inadequate and unsatisfactory. To improve this situation there is a need to make insect taxonomy more attractive to prospective entomologists by providing adequate funds, equipment and other facilities. There is also a need to create centralised well-funded and well-staffed institutions in which directed taxonomic studies can be carried out by linking posts with various collections at the same time leaving untreated groups to universities.

In Recent years the pressing need for strengthening taxonomy and taxonomic services has been voiced by many biologists in different parts of the world and several international organizations, notably the International Union of Biological Sciences. The need is still more pressing in developing countries where their fauna and flora are little studied or identified, and experienced taxonomists are exceedingly rare if not non-existent.

I can say with absolute conviction that all taxonomic institutions in the world ought to welcome unreservedly the move that is proposed at this meeting, to expand taxonomic services in Africa. Speaking on behalf of my own organisation, the Centre for Overseas Pest Research, one of the Scientific Units of Britain's Overseas Development Administration, I can point out that we have since our foundation done our best, in the ways open to us, to help taxonomists in Africa as in all other parts of the world. COPR has as its brief the study of pests of agriculture, veterinary and public health, of regional importance in developing countries. We have a set of target pests and crops, and in general work within those limits. Two of our targets are grasshoppers and locusts combined, and termites, and for those we provide taxonomic service on a worldwide basis. More specifically, our staff have run or participated in training courses for groups and for individuals, to enable them to learn to recognise insect pests. Our training programmes have been at all levels, from technicians up to post-graduate specialists. Indeed, in the last few months we have had with us in my own research group in South Kensington Dr A. G. A. Salman from Assiut University, Egypt, and Mr Phillip Nkunika from the Livingstone Museum, Lusaka, Zambia, both working alongside our specialists to learn their expertise.

The idea of a museum in Kenya came about on 25 March 1909 through the efforts of people who were interested in natural history. As their collections increased in size they kept on moving them from one storage to a bigger one until finally a museum was built to house the collection in 1929.

The importance of insect identification services and the value of a quality insect collection to agricultural development in the countries of Africa do not need to be re-emphasized. This fact has been mentioned time and again and, indeed, such an accepted value is the motive force behind this workshop. From what has been said, it should be clear that insect identification services and insect collections cannot correctly be evaluated separately. Each relies on the quality of the other. Without an extensive insect collection, wellcurated and up-to-date nomenclature-wise identification services, if they are provided, are poor and likely to be inaccurate. Conversely, if a professional insect collection is to be developed and maintained, it will only come through the efforts of a competent entomologist specifically given such responsibility.