PEET: Monography, Phylogentics, and Developing Expertise in New World Pleurostict Scarab Beetles

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9712447 RATCLIFFE The beetle family Scarabaeidae has approximately 27,800 species. The pleurostict scarabs form a clade within the family and include the subfamilies Melolonthinae, Rutelinae, Dynastinae, Cetoniinae, Euchirinae, and Phaenomeridinae. The clade constitutes about 75% of the family (or 69% of the Scarabaeoidea). The pleurostict scarabs remain poorly known taxonomically, and only about 50% of the genera in the New World can be identified to genus with reliability. Moreover, the current classification of the pleurostict scarabs is based on taxonomic constructs from the last century that do not reflect relationships of taxa. This project, by Brett Ratcliffe and coworkers, will result in phylogenetic analyses of all tribes of the pleurostict clade in order to provide a stable classification of the pleurostict scarabs. This phylogeny-based classification will provide the scientific context for understanding origins of groups, character trait evolution, and implications for species concepts and modes of speciation. The new classification will form the foundation for a taxonomic key to the 320 genera of New World pleurosticts that will be produced in both print and electronic format. In addition, four poorly known, monophyletic groups of New World pleurostict scarabs will be monographed: Gymnetini (Cetoniinae), Pelidnota and related genera, Trizogeniates, and Platycoelia (all Rutelinae). This research will create electronic databases of specimen-level information, character data, geographic and temporal distributions, catalogs, and images. Monographs of the four groups, in addition to the key, will be produced in electronic and print formats. The research will contribute to the development of computer infrastructure for organizing and accessing knowledge about scarab beetles, and it will establish the foundation for future work in scarab systematics. To accomplish all of these goals, the PI and post-doctoral associate will train two Ph.D.-level students who will becom e proficient in modern monographic, taxonomic, and phylogenetic methods and electronic dissemination of information.