Systematic Studies in the Meloidae (Coleoptera)

PINTO本项目将首次对水疱甲虫科（虫科：水疱甲虫科）内的亲缘关系进行系统发育分析。该分析将利用成虫和幼虫的形态和生物学特征。目前的分类是根据一龄幼虫的传播行为（通过搭便车传播到其他生物体上，主要是其他昆虫上）建立主要的分类，平托博士认为这些分类是不自然的，因为这种行为可能在不同的谱系中独立出现。这个项目的一个主要贡献将是世界水泡甲虫属的钥匙（目前还没有钥匙存在）。这些密钥的可用性将使世界各地的研究人员能够对这些甲虫进行进一步的研究，范围从对这些农艺学害虫的应用研究到对它们不寻常的变态和其他生物学方面的进化研究。水疱甲虫科的成员被称为水疱甲虫，因为它们会产生有毒的、腐蚀性的防御性化学物质。在世界不同地区，有几种是重要的农作物害虫，而另一些则对牲畜的健康构成威胁（例如，仅在这个国家，每年就有几匹马因食用了虫草而生病和死亡）。该项目将有助于我们了解昆虫生物多样性的这一要素，并提供可能用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. ***