A Taxonomic Revision and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Ant Genus Gnamptogenys Roger in Southeast Asia and Australasia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae)


Book Description

Ants belonging to the genus Gnamptogenys are important and diverse predators in the forests of the tropics of the Americas, Southeast Asia and Australasia. The recent rapid accumulation of these ants in collections rendered the last revision obsolete, raising the number of known species from about 80 to over a 120 species worldwide. The present study recognizes 49 Old World species, almost half of them new, distributed among 5 species groups. They are present in many entomological collections as the large size of some species and their conspicuousness has caught the attention of even general collectors. They figure increasingly in studies of diversity and ecology due to aspects of their biology such as predatory specialization or their reproduction which includes proper queens in some species and worker reproduction in other species. While most species are ground nesters in forests, some are arboreal and others are subterranean. This revision covers all the Old World species and proposes phylogenetic relations among the different species groups. The identification of the species is possible with aid of well-illustrated keys for workers and queens. The results of working with the keys can be rapidly confirmed by consulting the diagnosis that accompanies each species account, or the full description if need be. The phylogenetic analysis uses a valuable series of internal morphological characters previously unconsidered in ant systematics. Detailed distribution data is also included for each species. This work will be valuable for those studying insect diversity and ecology of forests in Southeast Asia and Australasia. Their diverse biology and relative large size of many species make these ants attractive subjects for comparative studies and this reference should open the door for further studies.




The Ants of Fiji


Book Description

The ant fauna of the Fijian archipelago is a diverse assemblage of endemic radiations, pan-Pacific species, and exotics introduced from around the world. The Ants of Fiji describes the entire Fijian ant fauna, and includes the results of a recently completed archipelago-wide biodiversity inventory. A total of 187 ant species representing 43 genera are recognized here with an illustrated key to genera, synopses of each species, keys to species of all genera, and a species list. The work is heavily illustrated with specimen images, distribution maps, and habitat elevation charts.




Species Revision and Generic Systematics of World Rileyinae (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae)


Book Description

The subfamily Rileyinae (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) is redefined to contain 6 genera and 69 species for which keys are provided. Two morphological data sets, analyzed via maximum parsimony with PAUP*, yield hypotheses on the placement of Rileyinae within Eurytomidae and internal relationships of Rileyinae. Tables detailing host utilization for Eurytomidae (genera), Rileyinae (species), and confirmed/suspected plant associations for Rileyinae are included.




International Advances in the Ecology, Zoogeography, and Systematics of Mayflies and Stoneflies


Book Description

The purpose of this volume is to encourage and facilitate focused research and provide a forum for scholarly exchange about the status of Mayfly and Stonefly science. Professor John Brittain, whose research is focused on freshwater entomology, especially egg development and life cycle strategies of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera, presents a chapter reflecting on the quality of mayflies as good indicators of global warming and the quality of streams and lakes. Professor Emeritus Andrew Sheldon, whose interests have encompassed community and population ecology of aquatic animals over a span of more than 40 years, especially insects and fishes, explores topics of Scale and Hierarchy and the Ecology of Plecoptera, discussing how studies emphasizing scale and perspective reveal importance of stoneflies to ecosystems. Other topics cover a broad base of disciplines including morphology, physiology, phylogeny, taxonomy, ecology and conservation. The chapters have been compiled into three sections for this volume: Ecology, Zoogeography and Systematics.




Phylogenetic Relationships within Heliodinidae and Systematics of Moths Formerly Assigned to Heliodines Stainton (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea)


Book Description

Heliodinids are tiny, brightly colored dayflying moths. Phylogenetic relationships among genera of Heliodinidae are proposed using parsimony and character compatibility. We describe and illustrate 45 North and Central species (25 newly named) assigned to five genera (two new, two exhumed from synonymy). Larval host plants are recorded for 33 species (14 newly discovered), about 45% of the known fauna; 90% of these are specialists on Caryophyllales, primarliy Nyctaginaceae.




California Cuckoo Wasps in the Family Chrysididae (Hymenoptera)


Book Description

California has one of the world's most diverse chrysidid wasp faunas. These are large, brightly metallic-colored parasitoids of sphecoid wasps and bees. This study reviews the species and genera of Chrysididae in California, maps their overall distributions, and gives keys to California genera and species. In addition, three species described by Linsenmaier in 1994 are synonymized.




Evolutionary Biogeography


Book Description

"Rather than favoring only one approach, Juan J. Morrone proposes a comprehensive treatment of the developments and theories of evolutionary biogeography. Evolutionary biogeography uses distributional, phylogenetic, molecular, and fossil data to assess the historical changes that have produced current biotic patterns. Panbiogeography, parsimony analysis of endemicity, cladistic biogeography, and phylogeography are the four recent and most common approaches. Many conceive of these methods as representing different "schools," but Morrone shows how each addresses different questions in the various steps of an evolutionary biogeographical analysis. Panbiogeography and parsimony analysis of endemicity are useful for identifying biotic components or areas of endemism. Cladistic biogeography uses phylogenetic data to determine the relationships between these biotic components. Further information on fossils, phylogeographic patterns, and molecular clocks can be incorporated to identify different cenocrons. Finally, available geological knowledge can help construct a geobiotic scenario that may explain how analyzed areas were put into contact and how the biotic components and cenocrons inhabiting them evolved. Morrone compares these methods and employs case studies to make it clear which is best for the question at hand. Set problems, discussion sections, and glossaries further enhance classroom use."--Publisher's description.







Insect Biodiversity


Book Description

Volume One of the thoroughly revised and updated guide to the study of biodiversity in insects The second edition of Insect Biodiversity: Science and Society brings together in one comprehensive text contributions from leading scientific experts to assess the influence insects have on humankind and the earth’s fragile ecosystems. Revised and updated, this new edition includes information on the number of substantial changes to entomology and the study of biodiversity. It includes current research on insect groups, classification, regional diversity, and a wide range of concepts and developing methodologies. The authors examine why insect biodiversity matters and how the rapid evolution of insects is affecting us all. This book explores the wide variety of insect species and their evolutionary relationships. Case studies offer assessments on how insect biodiversity can help meet the needs of a rapidly expanding human population, and also examine the consequences that an increased loss of insect species will have on the world. This important text: Explores the rapidly increasing influence on systematics of genomics and next-generation sequencing Includes developments in the use of DNA barcoding in insect systematics and in the broader study of insect biodiversity, including the detection of cryptic species Discusses the advances in information science that influence the increased capability to gather, manipulate, and analyze biodiversity information Comprises scholarly contributions from leading scientists in the field Insect Biodiversity: Science and Society highlights the rapid growth of insect biodiversity research and includes an expanded treatment of the topic that addresses the major insect groups, the zoogeographic regions of biodiversity, and the scope of systematics approaches for handling biodiversity data.