Abstract: Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), which has been developing since 1990, is a molecular approach to reveal DNA polymorphism. It is believed that this approach is valuable in studies involving genetics, molecular evolution, taxonomy et al. because of its advantages, such as simplicity, sensitivity, cheapness and, the most important, lower requirement of materials.In the field of insect taxonomy, the molecular approaches which are valuable in other fields can not be used widely due to polymorphism of insects. The obstacle to the progress of insect taxonomy should better be overcome by molecular approaches which relate to DNA. Now, RAPD is considered to be an effective key.In this paper, the peculiarity of RAPD and its superiority in insect taxonomy are discussed.

Key words: random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), insect taxonomy