A Survey of Insects of the Florida Keys: Post-Pleistocene Land-Bridge Islands: Introduction

Abstract

This paper introduces a series investigating the fauna of selected insect and arthropod groups occurring in south (subtropical) Florida, especially in the Florida Keys. Characteristics of the region are summarized. Collections were made continuously with malaise and flight-intercept traps for 1 year or more in 21 hardwood hammock or pineland habitats, and by other methods. Based on numbers of species of trees and shrubs, a prediction is made that a conservative total of at least 5,000 insect species should occur in south Florida. Six generalizations about the insect fauna are suggested for future testing.