Insect biodiversity and conservation in Australasia

*[Australasia, which consists of Australia and the adjacent islands of the southwestern Pacific Ocean, has an insect diversity approximately proportional to the land mass. This diversity is distinctive, with some major groups missing and others having radiated. Conservation of Australasian entomological biodiversity is an increasing challenge for contemporary scientists. There are 1275 described species & subspecies (103) of Formicidae in Australia. Ants dominate ecologically in all but tropical rainforests.]