PEET: Monographic Research on Parasitic Hymenoptera

寄生性膜翅目（黄蜂）非常多样化，包含约70,000种已描述的物种，尽管它们在了解陆地生态系统方面具有重要意义，但在分类学上所知相对较少。几乎所有的膜翅目寄生性昆虫都是其他昆虫的类寄生性昆虫，其中许多具有宿主特异性。因此，它们是自然生态系统复杂食物网的重要组成部分，也是管理生态系统中害虫天敌的宝贵来源。改进的寄生蜂分类学和更多的自然分类将有助于更好地描述和管理生物多样性，并将直接支持针对更可持续农业的研究，减少对环境的负面影响。本研究由Robert A. Wharton, James B. Wooley及其同事完成，将为寄生膜翅目昆虫的四个关键类群提供全面的分类专著。该项目将解决寄生膜翅目4个主要谱系（超科）的分类需求：1)小蜂科（超科），2)蜂科（超科），3)真核蜂科（超科），4)双翅蜂科（超科）。具体目标是在全球范围内对这些科的关键属进行专著处理，处理近1000个物种。四名博士生将在项目过程中接受培训，每个主要谱系各有一名。该项目的合作性质（包括来自四个不同国家的专家）将为学生在现代，基于收集的系统学研究的各个方面提供非常广泛的培训和经验。培训将强调物种一级的分类学方法，包括计算机/录象辅助图像分析和特征数据以及宿主和地方数据的计算机数据库。

9712543 WHARTON Parasitic Hymenoptera (wasps) are extraordinarily diverse, containing some 70,000 described species, but comparatively poorly known taxonomically despite their importance in understanding terrestrial ecosystems. Virtually all parasitic Hymenoptera are parasitoids of other insects and many are quite host-specific. They are therefore essential components in the complex food webs of natural ecosystems and they provide a valuable source of natural enemies for pest insects in managed ecosystems. Improved taxonomy and more natural classifications of parasitic wasps will enable better characterization and management of biological diversity, and it will directly support research directed at a more sustainable agriculture with fewer negative impacts on the environment. This research, by Robert A. Wharton, James B. Wooley and colleagues, will provide comprehensive taxonomic monographs in four key groups of parasitic Hymenoptera. The project will address taxonomic needs in four families representing four major lineages (superfamilies) of parasitic Hymenoptera: 1) Braconidae (superfamily Ichneumonoidea), 2) Encyrtidae (superfamily Chalcidoidea), 3) Eucoilidae (superfamily Cynipoidea), and 4) Diapriidae (superfamily Proctotrupoidea). Specific objectives are to produce worldwide monographic treatments of key genera in each of these families, treating nearly 1000 species. Four Ph.D. students will be trained in the course of the project, one in each major lineage to be addressed. The collaborative nature of the project (including specialists from four different countries) will provide exceptionally broad training and experience for the students in all aspects of modern, collection-based systematics research. Training will emphasize taxonomic methodology at the species-level, including computer/video-aided image analysis, and computer databasing of character data as well as host and locality data.