Message from
the President.

Message

The advancement of entomology has long benefited from the contributions of numerous amateur researchers. It is widely recognized that individuals such as Walter Rothschild, Jean-Baptiste Boisduval, Hans Fruhstorfer, and Etsuzo Tsukada, despite not being formally affiliated with research institutions, played important roles in the development of entomological science.

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In recent years, however, the increasing strictness of collecting permit regulations has made it progressively more difficult to conduct independent field surveys, both within and outside Japan, without formal authorization. In response to these circumstances, and motivated by a desire both to contribute to the further advancement of entomology and to preserve the joy of exploration shared by those who love insects, we established the Asian Insects Research Society (AIRS) in 2013.

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As an English name, Asian Entomological Research Society might have been the more conventional choice. However, we intentionally adopted the word Insects so that the acronym would become AIRS rather than AERS. The name AIRS embodies our belief that scientific inquiry should be pursued freely and naturally, like the air itself, without being constrained by institutional formality or academic hierarchy. Guided by this philosophy, AIRS does not charge membership fees and seeks to provide an open platform where both professional and amateur researchers can freely present their findings in taxonomy, ecology, and other fields of entomological research.

Recognizing the decreasing number of opportunities available for publishing new scientific findings, we have also actively promoted international collaboration with overseas institutions. Our first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was concluded in April 2014 with the Vietnam National Museum of Nature (VNMN), marking the beginning of international collaborative research.

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Field surveys at Hon Ba Nature Reserve in Khanh Hoa Province and Bidoup–Nui Ba National Park in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, which began under this collaboration, continue to this day.

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Through repeated investigations in various parts of Vietnam, AIRS has produced numerous scientific publications. Furthermore, in 2025, AIRS entered into a research cooperation agreement with the Myanmar Entomology Research Society (MERS), resulting in the description of a new species of nymphalid butterfly discovered in Myanmar.

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Now, in the thirteenth year since the establishment of AIRS, we are launching the AIRS Journal of Entomology in order to further expand opportunities for scientific publication. Submission to the journal is free of charge. We welcome contributions from both professional and amateur researchers on the taxonomy, morphology, ecology, and history of entomological research concerning Asian insects, including those of Japan. Short communications are also encouraged, provided they contain at least one new scientific finding.

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Those already familiar with AIRS may assume that the new journal is devoted exclusively to butterflies. Indeed, the core members of AIRS are specialists who have made significant contributions to the taxonomy, ecology, and history of butterfly research. However, the AIRS Journal of Entomology is intended to cover insects in the broadest sense, rather than butterflies alone. We are therefore delighted that distinguished specialists in other fields of entomology—including moths, beetles, Hymenoptera, and Hemiptera—have agreed to join us as members of the Advisory Board.

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Through this journal, we aim to actively disseminate new scientific findings to researchers in Japan and abroad, thereby promoting the exchange of scientific knowledge and information.

We sincerely hope that you will share our vision and support the activities of AIRS. As colleagues united by a common passion for entomology, we warmly invite you to participate in and support our activities through manuscript submissions and subscriptions to the journal as we work together to advance the future of entomology.

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June 2026

Asian Insects Research Society

(AIRS)