Systematic Studies in the Meloidae (Coleoptera)

9508735 Pinto该项目将首次对瓢虫家族(昆虫门：蚂蜂科)之间的关系进行系统发育分析。这一分析将利用成虫和幼虫的形态和生物学特征。目前的分类建立了基于一龄幼虫的磷化行为(通过搭便车传播，主要是其他昆虫)的主要分组，平托博士认为这些是不自然的分组，因为这种行为可能是独立出现在不同的谱系中。这个项目的一个主要贡献将是世界上瓢虫属的钥匙(目前还没有钥匙。)这些钥匙的提供将使世界不同地区的研究人员能够对这些甲虫进行进一步的研究，范围从关于这些农艺害虫的应用研究到它们不寻常的变态和它们生物学的其他方面的进化研究。%因其产生的有毒、腐蚀性的防御性化学物质而被称为疱甲科成员。一些物种是世界不同地区农作物的重要害虫，其他物种则是对牲畜健康的威胁(例如，仅在这个国家，每年就有几匹马因食用感染了天牛的干草而患病，一些马死亡)。该项目将有助于我们了解昆虫生物多样性的这一要素，并提供可能被证明有助于减少这些害虫造成的经济损失的信息。***

9508735 PINTO This project will provide the first phylogenetic analysis of relationships within the blister beetle family (Insecta: Meloidae). Morphological and biological features of both adults and larvae will be utilized in this analysis. Present classifications establish major groupings based on phoretic behavior (dissemination by hitchhiking on another organism, mostly other insects) of the first instar larvae and Dr. Pinto believes these are unnatural groupings because this behavior has probably arisen independently in different lineages. A major contribution of this project will be keys to the blister beetle genera of the world (At present no keys exist.). Availability of such keys will allow researchers in different parts of the world to undertake further research with these beetles, ranging from applied research concerning these agronomic pests to evolutionary studies of their unusual metamorphosis and other aspects of their biology. %%% Members of the family Meliodae are known as blister beetles because of the noxious, caustic defensive chemicals they produce. Several species are important pests of crops in different parts of the world and others are threats to the health of livestock (e.g. in this country alone several horses become sick and some die each year from eating hay infested with meloid beetles). This project will contribute to our knowledge of this element of insect biodiversity and offer information that may prove of use in reducing economic losses attributable to these pests. ***