A5076475437- Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Coleoptera: Cerambycidae studies
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Biological Control of Invasive Species
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Pharmacological Effects of Medicinal Plants
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
2017-2024
Santa Barbara City College
2023
Palacký University Olomouc
2013-2019
University of Kansas
2012-2014
Biodiversity Research Institute
2014
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
2007-2013
Louisiana State University
2008-2013
Houston Museum of Natural Science
2008
Beetles constitute the most biodiverse animal order with over 380 000 described species and possibly several million more yet unnamed. Recent phylogenomic studies have arrived at considerably incongruent topologies widely varying estimates of divergence dates for major beetle clades. Here, we use a dataset 68 single-copy nuclear protein-coding (NPC) genes sampling 129 out 193 recognized extant families as well first comprehensive set fully justified fossil calibrations to recover refined...
In spite of the growth molecular ecology, systematics and next-generation sequencing, discovery analysis diversity is not currently integrated with building tree-of-life. Tropical arthropod ecologists are well placed to accelerate this process if all specimens obtained through mass-trapping, many which will be new species, could incorporated routinely into phylogeny reconstruction. Here we test a shotgun sequencing approach, whereby mitochondrial genomes assembled from complex ecological...
Abstract The first thorough molecular phylogeny of the superfamily Cleroidea, represented by 377 taxa, and with an emphasis on Trogossitidae, was undertaken. Maximum likelihood Bayesian analyses were performed a four‐gene dataset ( 18S , 28S cox1 cytb ) 395 taxa (along 18 outgroups), including all 16 currently recognized families Cleroidea current formerly tribes Trogossitidae. as whole received strong support in analyses. On basis phylogenetic results, are recognized, three elevated to...
The genus Sternosternus Guillebeau, 1894 was described as an aberrant taxon of the family Phalacridae from Sumatra, based on unique morphology its meso- and metaventrite resembling those Cetonia aurata Linnaeus, 1758 (Guillebeau 1894). It contained single species, S. grouvellei 1894, known a specimen. identity long unclear, nothing published until Gimmel (2013) studied type specimen recognized it actually belonged to Hydrophilidae, likely being member Dactylosternum Wollaston, 1854.
The Canadian Phalacridae are briefly surveyed. Two species, Phalacrus politus Melsheimer and Olibrus vittatus LeConte, newly recorded in Canada. As a result, eight phalacrids now known to occur Thirteen new provincial records reported including one from Saskatchewan, two Manitoba, New Brunswick, three Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland Labrador. four species ten of provinces Atlantic Canada the first this family region. Information on bionomics these is summarized. include...
Abstract The transformation of the fore wings into strongly sclerotized protective covers (elytra) is considered a fundamental evolutionary innovation megadiverse order Coleoptera. Surprisingly, these multifunctional structures have been reduced in many distantly related groups beetles. Patterns, drivers and implications this modification never comprehensively discussed. In present study, we surveyed entire Coleoptera to analyse patterns elytral shortening loss, with special focus on...
Abstract Cydistinae are a rare monogeneric beetle lineage from Asia with convoluted history of classification, historically placed in various groups within the series Elateriformia. However, their position has never been rigorously tested. To resolve this long-standing puzzle, we first to present sequences two nuclear and mitochondrial markers for four species determine phylogenetic position. We included these rounds analyses: one including broad Elateriformia dataset test placement at...
A pre-phylogenetic revision of the family Phalacridae at genus level is presented. Twenty-eight new generic synonymies are established as follows: Acylomus Sharp 1888 (=Liophalacrus 1888, syn. nov.; Ganyrus Guillebeau 1894, Podocesus Tinodemus Ledorus 1895, Astenulus 1896, Afronyrus Švec 2006, nov.), Apallodes Reitter 1873 (=Litolibrus 1889, Sphaeropsis 1893, Gyromorphus Augasmus Motschulsky 1858 (=Megischius Nematolibrus Sahlberg 1913, Entomocnemus 1894 (=Stilbomimus Champion 1924,...
Stressed or damaged pine (Pinus sp.) trees in the southeastern United States are often colonized simultaneously by three southern Ips species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae): small engraver, avulsus (Eichhoff); sixspined ips, calligraphus (Germar); and eastern fivespined grandicollis (Eichhoff). All mediate colonization of host material with volatile pheromones. produce cis-verbenol, either ipsdienol ipsenol, electrophysiological studies have demonstrated that all able to detect...
The evolution of animal life strategies is among the main themes current evolutionary biology. Checkered beetles, soft‐winged flower beetles and their allies (superfamily C leroidea), exhibit well‐known aposematic colour patterns, particularly in family leridae, which participate mimicry complexes mostly with unpalatable ants velvet representing a M üllerian– B atesian continuum. Many cleroids also attenuated hardening cuticular layers resulting soft‐bodied appearance. Here, molecular...
New Zealand is an island continent that completed its split from the Gondwanan at 52 Ma, harbouring iconic biota of tuatara, kiwi and weta. The sooty mould community a distinctive trophic element forest ecosystems driven by plant-feeding sternorrhynchan Hemiptera. These produce honeydew, which supports fungal growth, in turn numerous endemic invertebrates, including beetle families. Ancient insect fossils are rare but single fossil cyclaxyrid was recently described Cretaceous Burmese amber,...
Abstract Many insects feeding on nutritionally challenging diets like plant sap, leaves, or wood engage in ancient associations with bacterial symbionts that supplement limiting nutrients produce digestive detoxifying enzymes. However, the distribution, function, and evolutionary dynamics of microbial exploiting other tissues relying a predacious diet remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated history function intracellular gamma-proteobacterial symbiont “Candidatus Dasytiphilus...
The genera of the Gondwanan tribe Picrotini are redefined, resulting in recognition 22 genera. Thirteen new and 10 species described: Austroscelis gen. nov. (type species: Cryptophagus gibbipennis Blackburn, 1892), Bellascelis pecki sp. nov.), Chileothortus infuscatus Chimaerocryptus johnsoni Connatocryptus utiku Cordosomatula magnabagishae Foveocryptus chenyandongi Humerocryptus tumidus Broun, 1893), Notocryptus australis Redtenbacher, 1868), Odontosomatula carltoni Orthoscelis transversus...
Abstract With over 380,000 described species and possibly several million more yet unnamed, beetles represent the most biodiverse animal order. Recent phylogenomic studies have arrived at considerably incongruent topologies widely varying estimates of divergence dates for major beetle clades. Here we use a dataset 68 single-copy nuclear protein coding genes sampling 129 out 194 recognized extant families as well first comprehensive set fully-justified fossil calibrations to recover refined...
Prompted by a forthcoming treatment of the Melyridae United States and Canada at genus level, we implement number taxonomic nomenclatural changes among fauna Dasytinae North American continent beyond. Chief them are 21 new junior synonyms proposed leading to better characterized genera for purposes diagnosis, supported recently published molecular phylogeny: Byturosomus Motschulsky, 1860, Emmenotarsus Holomallus Gorham, 1886, Adasytes Casey, 1895, Cradytes Eudasytes Sydates Sydatopsis...