Several years ago the ash whitefly became a major agricultural nuisance throughout much of California. It was finally controlled by a small parasitic wasp imported from Italy. Such a step, say UC Davis researchers, requires anticipating the impact of biological agents on the biodiversity and well-being of natural ecosystems. A gift of $1 million by UC Davis alumnus Everet Schlinger, former chair of entomology and parasitology at UC Berkeley, and his wife, Marion, has created the Everet and Marion Schlinger Chair in Insect Systematics to breathe new life and renewed interest into this aspect of insect research. The field of insect systematics -- the study of the evolutionary biology, ecology and behavior of natural insect ecosystems -- ties biological pest control to conservation biology, says Michael Parrella, professor and chair of entomology at UC Davis. The gift will fund research by a senior faculty member at UC Davis to investigate different kinds of insects, their diversity and the relationships among them.