Dissertation Research: Evolution of Wasp Mimicry in Tiger Moths

9701001只威勒虎蛾以其色彩鲜艳的成虫和毛茸茸的幼虫而闻名。这些蛾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偶序列。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，对于许多蛾类来说，系统发育历史并不是很清楚，或者说不太清楚。在这项研究中，苏珊·韦勒和博士生丽贝卡·西蒙斯将研究一组被称为Myrmecopsis组(Euchromiinae)的虎蛾的黄蜂拟态和雄性气味结构的系统发育历史。该群体的系统发育将由与模仿和求偶无关的内部形态特征重建。数据将通过检查从拥有主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发展史，就将在这个框架上追溯模仿和求爱结构的历史。这项研究应该会提供信息，帮助我们理解各种动物群体中复杂行为是如何出现的，何时出现的，以及为什么出现的。

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.