前跗节是昆虫足的重要组成部分，其形态结构及其表面着生的感受器是物种分类鉴定及系统发育重建的重要特征资源。先前对头喙亚目（半翅目）昆虫足前跗节的形态学研究工作较少，特别是缺乏系统性的比较研究。本项目拟利用光学和扫描电子显微镜技术对头喙亚目164个代表种及13个外群种的足前跗节的形态结构及其表面着生的感受器的超微形态开展研究，将重点研究爪、中垫、爪垫、掣爪片等的形态结构及其表面着生的感受器的种类，在对形态特征进行观察、搜集、图像采集、描记及比较的基础上，将重点研究各类结构和感器的形态、种类、数量、分布及其在不同总科及科之间的相似性和差异性以及在分类鉴定与系统发育研究上的意义，通过对特征的同源性分析，检验头喙亚目及其各个总科及科的单系性，重建总科及科之间的系统发育关系。本项目的研究结果对于探讨半翅目昆虫的起源与演化及头喙亚目有害种类的生物学、生态学研究及防治都将具有重要的理论与实践意义。

The pretarsus is one of the important segments of the legs in insects. Previous studies have shown that the morphological structures and the various sensors on the surface of the pretarsus are important characters for the species identification and phylogenetic inference. Few and limited work was done on the comparative morphology of the pretarsus of the species of the suborder Auchenorrhyncha (Hemiptera). The present project is designed to study the comparative morphology of the pretarsus and the ultrastructural morphology of the sensilla on the pretarsus of the Auchenorrhynchous species using both the light and scanning electron microscopy. Totally 164 representative species from the four superfamilies (Cercopoidea, Fulgoroidea, Cicadoidea and Membracoidea) of Auchenorrhyncha and thirteen outgroup species from three other hemipterous suborders, namely Sternarrhyncha, Heteroptera and Coleorrhyncha will be observed. The morphology, measurements, type, distribution, number and variation of the structures of claws, arolium, pulvillus, unguitractor plate and the sensilla on the pretarsus will be investigated, photographed and described. The homology of different types of the structures and sensilla will be analysed. The monophyly of the Auchenorrhyncha and its included superfamilies and main families will be tested and the interrelationships of the superfamilies and families within Auchenorrhyncha will be analysed cladistically, based on the character data of the structures and sensilla found on the pretarsus. Results from this project will be useful for the understanding of the evolution of the Auchenorrhyncha and the Hemiptera as well and for the study of the biology, ecology and control of the pest species in Auchenorrhyncha.