Last of His Kind: The Taxonomist Racing to Name Species Before His Science Dies

The intricate world of taxonomy – the science of classifying and naming organisms – is facing a quiet crisis. While over 2.1 million species have been identified on Earth, estimates suggest this represents only around 20% of all life, with some believing as many as a trillion species remain undiscovered. But a critical component of this foundational science is at risk of disappearing: the taxonomists themselves. Art Borkent, a 72-year-old entomologist who has dedicated his life to studying biting midges (ceratopogonidae), embodies both the passion and the precarity of this field.

Borkent, who has described and named more than 300 species of midges, explains his fascination with these tiny flies with a striking intimacy: “I love biting midges because I know what their hearts look like.” He’s spent decades meticulously documenting their anatomy, behavior, and evolutionary relationships, even finding specimens preserved in amber dating back to the time of the dinosaurs. He recently published a large monograph, “The Phylogeny of the Genera of Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the World,” [1] a culmination of a lifetime’s function.

The Looming Threat of “Orphan Groups”

However, Borkent fears his life’s work will effectively end with him. He describes a growing trend of “orphan groups” – branches of the tree of life that are no longer actively studied due to a lack of researchers. “I am one of the last few standing,” he says. “It’s crisis all around. As the taxonomic community ages, we are not being replaced.” The reasons are multifaceted, but funding is a major obstacle. Grant money is increasingly difficult to secure for traditional taxonomic research, and university and museum positions are becoming scarce.

The decline isn’t limited to midges. Insects, representing the most diverse group of vertebrates, are particularly vulnerable. Approximately 170,000 fly species have been identified so far, but entomologists estimate that between 2 and 3 million more await discovery. [2] Half of all insect families, including ceratopogonidae, are now considered taxonomically orphaned, according to Borkent.

Beyond Stamp Collecting: The Importance of Detailed Classification

Borkent is quick to dismiss the notion that taxonomy is merely a matter of “stamp collecting,” as some critics suggest. He emphasizes the crucial role it plays in understanding the natural world. “We are not stamp collectors. We are interpreting the world around us,” he asserts. Detailed taxonomic work provides essential information for fields ranging from conservation biology to public health. For example, understanding the specific habits of biting midges – including their reliance on carbon dioxide to locate hosts and their diverse range of feeding preferences (mammals, reptiles, insects, even fish) – is critical for developing effective control strategies.

these seemingly insignificant creatures play a vital role in ecosystems. Borkent points out that biting midges are important pollinators, and even essential for chocolate production. The loss of taxonomic expertise, represents a loss of fundamental knowledge about the intricate web of life.

DNA Barcoding: A Double-Edged Sword

The rise of DNA barcoding, a technique pioneered in 2003 by Canadian scientist Paul Hebert, has dramatically altered the landscape of species identification. [3] By analyzing a small section of mitochondrial DNA, scientists can quickly differentiate between species. While proponents hail it as a revolutionary tool that could accelerate the pace of species discovery, Borkent and other taxonomists caution against relying on it exclusively.

DNA barcoding can identify a species if it has already been described, but it provides limited information about its biology, behavior, and ecological role. “The people who are working with genes, most of them can’t identify what they’re even looking at,” Borkent explains. “Barcoding is a very powerful technique, it’s really useful. But if we barcoded all the animals in Africa, you couldn’t just identify elephants based on a number. They’ve got a long trunk, they walk around and eat things, rip plants up. We demand to know something about it. That’s what DNA barcoding does not supply you.”

A Field Facing Demographic Challenges

The challenges facing taxonomy extend beyond funding and technological shifts. A 2025 survey across nearly 100 countries revealed a critical shortage of plant taxonomists, with half of the countries having fewer than 10 experts in the field. [2] The field is also overwhelmingly dominated by men, with 41% of countries reporting that all respondents to the survey were male. This lack of diversity further exacerbates the problem of an aging workforce.

The situation is compounded by a shift in academic priorities. Taxonomy is increasingly absent from biology curricula, and its often painstaking, detail-oriented nature doesn’t lend itself to the kind of headline-grabbing research that attracts funding and recognition.

What’s Next for Taxonomy?

The future of taxonomy remains uncertain. Borkent, along with his dwindling cohort of colleagues, regularly gather at “Olympics of fly workers” – international conferences where they share their findings and lament the state of their profession. A recurring theme is the fear of species disappearing before they are even known to science, driven by habitat loss and the accelerating climate crisis.

Addressing this crisis requires a multi-pronged approach. Increased funding for taxonomic research is essential, as is a renewed emphasis on training the next generation of taxonomists. Perhaps most importantly, there needs to be a broader recognition of the vital role taxonomy plays in understanding and protecting the planet’s biodiversity. Without this foundational knowledge, efforts to address the ongoing extinction crisis will be severely hampered. The intricate details – the hearts, the guts, the life cycles – of even the smallest creatures matter, and the scientists who dedicate their lives to uncovering them deserve support.

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