Phylogenetics of Ichneumonoidea (Hymenoptera): understanding host-choice evolution using innovative molecular approaches

在加拿大几乎所有的陆地栖息地，大约十分之一的动物是寄生蜂总科的寄生蜂。这些益虫对人类无害，它们攻击并杀死农业和森林生态系统中的主要害虫，从而保护我们最宝贵的资源。不幸的是，我们对这些黄蜂的了解是有限的，因为很少有研究致力于研究这些高度多样化的物种。该研究计划结合了遗传学，进化和生物学，以记录和描述鱼腥小蜂的巨大生物多样性，并确定这些物种之间的进化关系。这项研究将增加我们对加拿大寄生蜂种类的了解，在哪里可以找到它们，以及它们与其他物种的相似或不同。对这些物种的描述和开发易于使用的识别工具将促进研究人员和公众对这些黄蜂的了解，以便在作物，森林和花园中保护它们。本研究的重点是寄生蜂的寄主选择的进化，以及这种特性如何有助于生物多样性的起源。了解生物多样性的驱动力是一个至关重要的概念，特别是当我们努力在栖息地破坏，生物入侵和气候变化中保护物种时。这项研究还将为寄生虫利用什么宿主提供深入了解，并为预测新发现物种的生物学提供工具。

In almost every terrestrial habitat in Canada, approximately one out of ten animals is a parasitic wasp in the superfamily Ichneumonoidea. Harmless to humans, these beneficial insects attack and kill major insect pests in agricultural and forest ecosystems, thereby protecting our most valued resources. Unfortunately, our knowledge of these wasps is limited as little research has been devoted to studying these highly diverse species. This research program incorporates phylogenetics, evolution, and biology to document and describe the immense biodiversity of ichneumonoid wasps and determine the evolutionary relationships among these species. This research will increase our understanding of what species of parasitic wasps we have in Canada, where they can be found, and how they are similar or different from other species. Species descriptions and the development of easy to use identification tools for these species will foster understanding of these wasps by researchers and the general public so they can be conserved in crops, forests, and gardens. This research focuses on the evolution of host-choice in parasitoid wasps and how this trait has contributed to the genesis of biodiversity. Understanding what drives biodiversity is a fundamentally important concept, particularly as we strive to conserve species in the midst of habitat destruction, biological invasions, and climate change. This research will also provide insight to what hosts are utilized by parasitoids and provide tools for predicting the biology of newly discovered species.