Anthropogenic origin of island entomofaunas: a case study of Diptera and Odonata

Several examples of modern entomofaunas (particularly orders Diptera and Odonata) of remote islands, and to a lesser degree, recently colonised continents were considered. The author presents taxonomic, biogeographical, logical, and molecular-genetic arguments to support the idea that the modern composition of these entomofaunas can be effectively explained by the anthropogenic invasion that has occurred within the last 3000 years. The author estimates that rare undoubted cases of natural colonisation do occur on islands once every one to three million years. It is assumed that pre-anthropogenic entomofaunas were poorer, but much more endemic. If so, entomologists should consider this when proposing taxonomic hypotheses. Molecular genetic methods can verify the author's conceptual idea.