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ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY Vol. 22

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With almost any enterprise, an occasional backward look is in order. In a field an broad, complex, and dynamic as entomology, recourse to hindsight as a means of the art of review the publicarticularly apore approach the quarter-century marke's plans bir yion of the Annual Re we appealogy-the Editorial Committee one before may be usefu were made in of what has December 1976-a scrutiny

It is generally understood that a brojective of Red Boverage of developments siglt is set to entomology is a primary objective of ARE. But it is also apparent that the range of topics appropriate for review each year cannot be covered adequately in a single volume, thus, the desired breadth and balance must be achieved through ansequence of volumes. To meet this particular planning problem, selection of topics for ARE volumes is customarily made on the basis of some 20 general categories The categories currently used as planning guidelines are indicated in the cumulative index of chapter titles, which is found on the last pages of the volume. Not all categories are represented in each volume; some topics appear only in alternate years and a few may be scheduled at greater time intervals, depending upon developments in a particular specialty. The system is flexible and the scope of the categories, as well as the regularity of scheduling topics pertaining to them, may be modified from time to time to reflect changes in research emphasis or in the presumed importance of different lines of inquiry. However, it does give reasonable assurance of breadth and balance in subject-matter coverage, even though Editorial Committee myopia may occasionally cause topics ripe for review to be overlooked.

Achieving breadth and balance in review articles involves more than thorough subject-matter coverage in the planning stage. It is not always possible to find authors willing to attempt a review of complex and dynamic topics. And all too frequently, particularly of late, scientists who initially accepted invitations to pre- pare reviews have defaulted, for one reason or another, or have asked to postpone publication because of the inability to meet editorial deadlines. Some of these problems have seriously affected the contents of certain volumes.

Then there is the matter of the scientific points of view of those responsible for preparing reviews, and these may be as numerous as the potential reviewers. En- tomology, like other branches of science, is not unaffected by national or regional influences, and it is to be expected that the relative significance attached to different entomological developments will vary, depending upon the regional or national background of the reviewer. And from the point of view of national or geographic representation in the preparation of review articles, the ARE record might be improved by a more cosmopolitan orientation. Volumes 1 through 21 contain 406 articles prepared by 519 authors. A tabulation of these contributions reveals a striking imbalance in the national affiliations of the writers. Except for the United Kingdom, relatively few reviews came from Western European or Asiatic countries. Germany, The Netherlands, and Switzerland combined account for 28 reviews, six publication because of the inability to meet editorial deadlines. Some of these problems have seriously affected the contents of certain volumes.

Then there is the matter of the scientific points of view of those responsible for preparing reviews, and these may be as numerous as the potential reviewers. En- tomology, like other branches of science, is not unaffected by national or regional influences, and it is to be expected that the relative significance attached to different entomological developments will vary, depending upon the regional or national background of the reviewer. And from the point of view of national or geographic representation in the preparation of review articles, the ARE record might be improved by a more cosmopolitan orientation. Volumes 1 through 21 contain 406 articles prepared by 519 authors. A tabulation of these contributions reveals a striking imbalance in the national affiliations of the writers. Except for the United Kingdom, relatively few reviews came from Western European or Asiatic countries. Germany, The Netherlands, and Switzerland combined account for 28 reviews, six reviews came from France, and three each came from Czechoslovakia, Italy, and Sweden. Japanese scientists have prepared five reviews, and four came from scien- tists in the USSR. On a percentage basis, scientists in the United States have been responsible for nearly 58% of the reviews, and the combined contributions from English-speaking countries (Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States) amount to a whopping 83% of the reviews. Certainly these data do not reflect geographic distribution of entomological expertise. Presumably the lim- ited number of contributions from non-English countries reflects communication inconveniences associated with language differences. We may hope that problems of this sort can be overcome. Toward that end, the Editorial Committee earnestly solicits suggestions for future issues of ARE regarding potential reviewers of signifi- cant developments in entomology of a worldwide basis.

Comparison of the title pages of successive volumes of the Review shows changes in the composition of its Editorial Committee. These result from the fact that each member may serve for only a five-year term and that one member retires each year. However, few changes have occurred among the Editors who serve ex officio on the Committee. Their possible reappointment after five-year terms has permitted the necessary continuity in the Committee and in other matters relating to the Review. After 21 years of unceasing effort on behalf of the Review, Ray F. Smith has relinquished his leadership role as senior Editor. The entomological community throughout the world is deeply indebted to Ray for his devotion to Annual Review of Entomology since its first publication in 1956.

Louise Libby, who has served us so well for the past two years as Assistant Editor, has been succeeded by Roberta Little. We thank them and the compositors and printers for once again attaining the high standards established by the Annual Review of Entomology.

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Detail Information

Series Title

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Call Number

581.1(058) ANN a

Publisher

Palo Alto (California) : Annual Review Inc.., 1977

Collation

ix, 576hal.: ill.;25cm

Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

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Classification

581.1(058)

Content Type

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Media Type

-

Carrier Type

-

Edition

22

Subject(s)

Entomology

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Statement of Responsibility

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