This is the second of a planned three-volume series that will provide an overview of Canada's grasslands and its associated insects, mites, and their close relatives. Volume 1 reviews the formation and extent of native grasslands and subsets of their associated arthropods. Volume 2 expands this focus with chapters on arthropods in agro-ecosystems.

Grasslands were once a dominant feature of Canada's landscape, extending across most of southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with smaller expanses in the Yukon, the interior of British Columbia, and in eastern Ontario. Now, virtually all of these grasslands have been extensively modified for agricultural production with only scattered patches left undisturbed.

Our current knowledge of grassland arthropods largely is limited to species of economic importance; usually exotic species or native species that have become agricultural pests. There exists relatively little information on the arthropods of native grasslands, such that we know little about their biodiversity, their role in ecosystems, and their ability to respond to habitat change.

With the publication of Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands, the Biological Survey of Canada hopes to increase awareness of the plight of Canada's grasslands, to draw attention to its associated arthropods, and to provide a baseline reference to support future studies of arthropods in these environments.