Dissertation Research: Evolution of Wasp Mimicry in Tiger Moths

虎蛾以其颜色鲜艳的成虫和毛茸茸的熊幼虫而闻名。这些蛾子还具有迷人的生活史特征，例如与有毒寄主植物的复杂联系，对黄蜂和其他昆虫的极端模仿，以及涉及气味和声音的复杂求爱序列。如果科学家想要了解这些特征出现的时间、方式和原因，了解虎蛾的系统发育历史是至关重要的。然而，对于许多种类的飞蛾来说，它们的系统发育历史并不为人所知，或者知之甚少。在这项研究中，苏珊·韦勒和博士候选人丽贝卡·西蒙斯将调查一组被称为金翅蛾组（Euchromiinae）的虎蛾的黄蜂模仿和雄性气味结构的系统发育历史。该群体的系统发育将从与模仿和求爱无关的内部形态特征重建。数据将通过检查从拥有重要藏品的博物馆借来的标本来收集。一旦确定了这一群体的系统发育，模仿和求爱结构的历史将在这个框架上进行追踪。这项研究应该能提供一些信息，帮助我们理解不同动物群体中复杂行为是如何、何时以及为何出现的。

9701001 WELLER Tiger moths are known for their brightly colored adults and woolly bear larvae. These moths also have fascinating life history traits such as complex associations with toxic hostplants, extreme mimicry of wasps and other insects, and elaborate courtship sequences involving both scent and sound. An understanding of the phylogenetic history of tiger moths is critical if scientists are to understand when, how and why these traits appeared. For many groups of moths, however, phylogenetic histories are not, or are poorly, understood. In this research, Susan Weller and doctoral candidate Rebecca Simmons will investigate the phylogenetic history of wasp mimicry and male scent structures in a group of tiger moths called the Myrmecopsis group (Euchromiinae). The phylogeny of the group will be reconstructed from internal morphological characters not associated with mimicry and courtship. Data will be gathered by examining specimens borrowed from museums with major holdings. Once the phylogeny of this group is determined, the history of mimicry and courtship structures will be traced on this framework. This study should yield information leading to an understanding of how, when and why complex behaviors appeared in various groups of animals.