Introduction

Abstract

The high altitude insects, in contra-distinction to the lowland forms, occur exclusively at high elevations on mountains. They are essentially inhabitants of high mountains. As, however, insects are found in great abundance and diversity, continuously from the sea-shore to the foot of mountains and thence upward, without a break, to almost within the shadow of some of the highest mountain summits in the world, it is not always easy to determine whether a given insect is a true high altitude species. The difficulty is in part also due to the vagueness of the expression “high altitude”.