Systematic Studies in the Meloidae (Coleoptera)

9508735平托该项目将提供第一个系统发育分析的关系内的水泡甲虫家庭（昆虫纲：Meloidae）。 成虫和幼虫的形态学和生物学特征将用于该分析。 目前的分类建立在一龄幼虫的泳动行为（通过搭便车传播到另一种生物，主要是其他昆虫）的基础上，平托博士认为这些是不自然的分组，因为这种行为可能在不同的谱系中独立出现。 该项目的一个主要贡献将是世界疱甲虫属的检索表（目前没有检索表）。 这些关键的可用性将使世界不同地区的研究人员能够对这些甲虫进行进一步的研究，从有关这些农学害虫的应用研究到它们不寻常的变态及其生物学其他方面的进化研究。 由于它们产生的有毒、腐蚀性的防御性化学物质，因此被称为泡甲虫。 几个物种是世界不同地区农作物的重要害虫，其他物种对牲畜的健康构成威胁（例如，仅在这个国家，每年就有几匹马因吃了被苜蓿甲虫侵染的干草而生病，有些马死亡）。 该项目将有助于我们了解昆虫生物多样性的这一要素，并提供可能有助于减少这些害虫造成的经济损失的信息。 ***

9508735 PINTO This project will provide the first phylogenetic analysis of relationships within the blister beetle family (Insecta: Meloidae). Morphological and biological features of both adults and larvae will be utilized in this analysis. Present classifications establish major groupings based on phoretic behavior (dissemination by hitchhiking on another organism, mostly other insects) of the first instar larvae and Dr. Pinto believes these are unnatural groupings because this behavior has probably arisen independently in different lineages. A major contribution of this project will be keys to the blister beetle genera of the world (At present no keys exist.). Availability of such keys will allow researchers in different parts of the world to undertake further research with these beetles, ranging from applied research concerning these agronomic pests to evolutionary studies of their unusual metamorphosis and other aspects of their biology. %%% Members of the family Meliodae are known as blister beetles because of the noxious, caustic defensive chemicals they produce. Several species are important pests of crops in different parts of the world and others are threats to the health of livestock (e.g. in this country alone several horses become sick and some die each year from eating hay infested with meloid beetles). This project will contribute to our knowledge of this element of insect biodiversity and offer information that may prove of use in reducing economic losses attributable to these pests. ***