Dissertation Research: Phylogeny and the Evolution of Host Use and Host Specialization in the Endophagous Moth Genus Papaipema (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

该项目将研究北美最大的本土飞蛾群之一——木瓜飞蛾属（鳞翅目：夜蛾科）的物种间关系。木瓜蛾在北美大属飞蛾中是独一无二的，它既包含广泛的农业害虫物种，也包含高度专门化的物种（大多数），这些物种只以一种或几种植物为食，出现在非常有限的地理区域，或者两者兼而有之。虽然Papaipema的形态、分类和生活史相对于其他大型蛾属已经被很好地了解，但还没有人试图重建该属的系统发育或解决物种之间的关系。这个项目将利用分子DNA序列数据来构建一个谱系图或系统发育模式的关系。一旦各种物种之间的关系得到尽可能多的解决，进化图将用于检验关于通才/害虫/爆发生活方式及其相反的，对特定寄主植物的极端专门化的假设。具体来说，将会提出以下问题：专业化先于更普遍的“害虫”习惯，还是反之亦然？在何种程度上，这类植物使用的本质可以用植物中化合物的相似性来解释，而不是用植物本身或它们生长的栖息地之间的关系来解释？这个项目将有助于我们对这群北美飞蛾的生物多样性有基本的了解。它还将提供有关昆虫如何形成寄主植物关联以及有害物种如何起源的重要信息。这一知识为制定控制农业、森林和苗圃作物害虫的战略带来了希望。＊＊＊

WAGNER 9423516 This project will examine the relationships among species for one of North America's largest native groups of moths, the genus Papaipema (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Papaipema is unique among large genera of North American moths in containing both widespread agricultural pest species and highly specialized species (the majority) that feed on only one or a few plants, occur in a very restricted geographical area, or both. Although the morphology, taxonomy, and life history of Papaipema species are well-understood relative to other large moth genera, no one has yet attempted to reconstruct the phylogeny or address relationships among the species in this genus. This project will utilize molecular DNA sequence data to construct a cladogram or phylogenetic pattern of relationships. Once the relationships among the various species have been resolved as much as possible, the cladogram will be used to test hypotheses concerning the generalist/pest/outbreak life style and its converse, extreme specialization on particular host plants. Specifically, the following questions will be asked: Did specialization precede the more generalized "pest" habit or vice versa? To what degree can the nature of plant use in this group be explained by similarities in chemical compounds occurring in the plants versus the relationships among the plants themselves or the habitats in which they occur? %%% This project will contribute to our basic knowledge of biodiversity in this group of North American moths. It will also contribute important information about how insects form host plant associations and how pest species originate. This knowledge holds promise for developing strategies for controlling agricultural, forest and nursery crop pests. ***