Revisionary Studies of Endemic New World Chrysopidae

【摘要】新大陆特有蝶蛹的远景研究。问题：绿草蛉科（草蛉科）是一种地理上广泛分布、生物学上迷人、经济上重要的食肉昆虫。然而，它的分类处于非常糟糕的状态。准确地识别绿草蛉的种类是很困难的（通常是不可能的）；许多书没有描述或命名；因此，潜在的有价值的进化、生态和应用研究的群体受到阻碍。目标和研究范围：该项目的目标是修订分类并提供最大的绿草蛉部落（Leucochrysini，约200种）的系统发育（进化）分析。这个部落原产于新大陆；它的分布范围从美国到南美洲大部分地区。而且，它的分类是所有菊花群中最穷的。C.方法：本研究将首次应用现代（分支）分类方法对草蛉进行分类。它将创建并分析一个大型数据集，其中包括以前未使用的幼虫和成虫形态学特征，以及比较生物学特征。这项工作的结果将是(a)描述、插图和识别物种的关键；(b)反映所包括物种之间进化关系的部落分类。预计该项目的方法和分析将为全世界的蛹系统学家提供一个有用和有效的模板。科学意义和社会效益该项目对Leucochrysini部落的进化分类将使大部分（50%）新热带绿草草物种的识别和调查成为可能。分类的潜在好处有以下几方面：A.系统学和进化：首先，该项目将为定义鲜为人知的蝶科昆虫中不同分类群之间的进化关系提供重要的新信息。这些信息也将有助于阐明蝶科与神经翅目其他科的关系。生物防治与应用生态学：草蛉是最重要的捕食者之一，以农业和园艺作物的害虫为食。该项目将能够鉴定、研究和使用新热带草蛉作为虫害管理的本地生物防治剂。它的比较生物学和进化方法对生物防治特别重要，因为它提供了对正在考虑在特定农业生态情况下使用的物种的生物学特性的预测性见解。C.生物多样性和保护：菊花在生物多样性评估和保护项目中具有作为可量化（第三营养水平）生物指标的巨大潜力。该项目将提供对这种应用至关重要的系统信息。D.学生培训。该项目与拉丁美洲同事和学生的协同合作将刺激和促进有关新热带昆虫系统分类学和多样性的进一步研究。pi将鼓励合格的学生在美国的大学进行高级分类学培训。

ABSTRACTREVISIONARY STUDIES OF ENDEMIC NEW WORLD CHRYSOPIDAEI. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT A. Problem: The green lacewing family (Chrysopidae) is a geographically widespread, biologically fascinating, and economically important group of predaceous insects. Nevertheless, its classification is in a very poor state. It is difficult (often impossible) to identify species of green lacewings accurately; many are not described or named; as a result, potentially valuable evolutionary, ecological and applied research with the group is hindered. B. Goals & Scope of Research: The project's goal is to revise the classification and provide a phylogenetic (evolutionary) analysis of the largest tribe of green lacewings (Leucochrysini, ~200 species). This tribe is native to the New World; it ranges from the United States through most of South America. And, its classification is in the poorest state of any group of chrysopids. C. Methods: The proposed study will be the first to apply modern (cladistic) methods of classification to the green lacewings. It will create and analyze a large dataset that includes previously unused characters from larval and adult morphology as well as comparative biology. The outcome of the work will be (a) descriptions, illustrations, and keys for identifying species and (b) a classification of the tribe that reflects evolutionary relationships among the included species. It is anticipated that the project's methodology and analysis will provide a useful and efficient template for chrysopid systematists worldwide.II. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE & SOCIETAL BENEFITSThe project's evolutionary classification of the tribe Leucochrysini will enable the identification and investigation of a large proportion (50%) of neotropical green lacewing species. Potential benefits from the classification fall into several categories: A. Systematics & Evolution: First, the project will provide crucial new information for defining the evolutionary relationships among the diverse taxa in the poorly known insect family Chrysopidae. The information will also help elucidate how Chrysopidae is related to the other families in the order Neuroptera. B. Biological Control & Applied Ecology: Green lacewings are among the most important predators that feed on insect pests of agricultural and horticultural crops. The project will enable the identification, study and use of neotropical lacewings as native biological control agents in pest management. Its comparative biological and evolutionary approach is especially important to biological control because it provides a predictive insight into the biological characteristics of species that are under consideration for use in specific agro-ecological situations. C. Biodiversity & Conservation: Chrysopids have significant potential as quantifiable (third-trophic-level) bio-indicators in biodiversity assessments and in conservation projects. The project will supply systematic information that is essential to such applications. D. Student Training. The project's synergistic collaboration with Latin American colleagues and students will stimulate and nurture additional studies on the systematics and diversity of neotropical insects. The PIs will encourage qualified students to pursue advanced taxonomic training at universities in the USA.