Classification and Evolution of the Eucharitidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)

小行星9629515 该奖项将支持世界范围内的属级修订和系统发育分析的寄生蜂科Eucharitidae（昆虫纲：Hyplittera）的基础上的形态特征的成年人和幼虫。 这些微小的黄蜂寄生在蚂蚁蛹上，并且该家族表现出不同的模式来获得宿主协会。 宿主协会的进化假说将被测试和宿主协会的机制将被深入研究的属Orasema的成员之间的研究生，这些领域的研究重点在美国西南部。 热带种类最多的真鲨科有五十六属，编制了世界真鲨属检索表。 计划在巴西、南非和澳大利亚进行实地工作，为关键分类群提供幼虫材料和行为信息。 这些黄蜂是各种蚂蚁物种的重要自然种群控制，包括已知寄生在火蚁属Solenopsis物种中的成员。 该奖项将提供可能用于生物控制害虫管理策略的生物信息。 将为这一重要的寄生蜂家族制作一把世界属的钥匙;一名研究生将接受现代系统研究方法的培训;我们对昆虫生物多样性这一有趣而重要的组成部分的了解将大大提高。

9629515 HERATY This award will support a world-wide generic level revision and phylogenetic analysis of the parasitoid wasp family Eucharitidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) based on morphological features of adults and larvae. These minute wasps parasitize ant pupae and the family exhibits different modes of attaining that host association. Evolutionary hypotheses of host association will be tested and mechanisms of host association will be studied intensively by a graduate student among members of the genus Orasema with a focus of these field studies in the southwestern United States. Fifty-six genera are included in the Eucharitidae with greatest species abundance occurring in the tropics; a key to the genera for the world will be produced. Field work in Brazil, South Africa, and Australia is planned to provide larval material and behavioral information for critical taxa. These wasps are important natural population controls for various ant species, including members known to parasitize species in the fire ant genus Solenopsis. This award will provide biological information that might be of use in biological control pest management strategies. A key to genera of the world will be produced for this important parasitic wasp family; a graduate student will be trained in modern methods of systematic research; and our knowledge of this interesting and important component of insect biodiversity will be greatly enhanced.