The first stage in taxonomy, viz. the descriptive stage which is concerned with the characterisation and naming of species. An example of a taxonomic exercise at the alpha level is:
Hines, J.S., 1911. New species of Diptera of the genus Erax. - The Ohio Naturalist 11(6): 307-311.
The next two stages in taxonomy are systematising (beta taxonomy) and evolutionary studies (gamma taxonomy).