Subspecies v/s different species

[Fernando]

Hi to everyone!

As someone who hasn't formal studies, I've been wondering this for a good while: what is the boundary line between two insects being different species, or two insects being the same species, but different subspecies?

Or, to make it clearer, when someone finds a new bug, what are the key facts that make the scientists say either "this is a new species" or "this is a subspecies of X species".

I hope you understand my question

[simosg]

I think all of you questions are answered here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subspecies

Hannes

[Fernando]

Thanks! I'll read the article now.

[surroundx]

Technically speaking, 'subspecies' and 'species' are just artificial terms used by taxonomists and others. Horizontally speaking, we can see clear phenotypic and cryptic gentoypic differences between various taxa; lions and tigers for example. And so in some sense there is some justification for making a distinction between the two. Although the criteria are themselves arbitrary.

However, if we follow a population through time what we see is that the population evolves so slowly that making any kind of distinction between 'when' one species evolves into another, or one subspecies into another, evaporates completely.

[africaone]

old debate that never will end !

[Fernando]

hhehehe sorry if this has been asked before in the forum. I hope it doesn't unleash a "holy war"

[Deleted]

For the sake of peace....I'll refrain from 'vociferizing' about this

One can read (for "fun") some of the older posts in the Old Forum Archives Pre-2011. But.......get out the aspirin......it gets going

[africaone]

"old debate " in the biological world !
Forum is not the only place where it is discussed !