LA DIVERSIDAD DE INSECTOS (ARTHROPODA: HEXAPODA) EN COLOMBIA I. ENTOGNATHA A POLYNEOPTERA

the present study examines insect diversity (entognatha and polyneoptera) in colombia in terms of number of families, genera and species, in light of the most recent systematic data on the orders treated. we also highlight the work of active specialists and literature sources that are particularly relevant for the study of the colombian entomofauna. we introduce the problem of evaluating species richness of insects in colombia from historical and taxonomic-methodological perspectives. species richness values for each group were derived from what is referred to as “known diversity” or knowledge of species that have been formally described in the taxonomic literature. information was harvested from primary literature sources, reviews, monographs, and both online and printed catalogues. a total of 14 orders, 80 families and 1673 species are reported for the insects treated herein.