A5034076183- Diptera species taxonomy and behavior
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Hemiptera Insect Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Insects and Parasite Interactions
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
North Carolina State University
2016-2025
North Central State College
2021
University of Connecticut
2014-2017
University of California, Los Angeles
2014-2017
National Museum of Natural History
2014-2017
Smithsonian Institution
2014-2017
University of Cincinnati
2012-2017
Yale University
2017
Duke University
2016-2017
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
2017
Insects are the most speciose group of animals, but phylogenetic relationships many major lineages remain unresolved. We inferred phylogeny insects from 1478 protein-coding genes. Phylogenomic analyses nucleotide and amino acid sequences, with site-specific or domain-specific substitution models, produced statistically robust congruent results resolving previously controversial relations hips. dated origin to Early Ordovician [~479 million years ago (Ma)], insect flight Devonian (~406 Ma),...
Flies are one of four superradiations insects (along with beetles, wasps, and moths) that account for the majority animal life on Earth. Diptera includes species known their ubiquity ( Musca domestica house fly), role as pests Anopheles gambiae malaria mosquito), value model organisms across biological sciences Drosophila melanogaster ). A resolved phylogeny flies provides a framework genomic, developmental, evolutionary studies by facilitating comparisons organisms, yet recent research has...
Simpson's postulate that rapid diversification follows entrance into a new "adaptive zone" is frequently invoked posteriori for groups of unusual diversity. The can be tested more rigorously by defining an adaptive zone according to ecological criteria, independent particular organisms. adaptive-zone hypothesis predicts if multiple lineages have invaded zone, they should consistently diverse than their (equally old) sister groups, when the latter retain primitive way life. Higher-plant...
Evolutionary relationships among the 11 extant orders of insects that undergo complete metamorphosis, called Holometabola, remain either unresolved or contentious, but are extremely important as a context for accurate comparative biology insect model organisms. The most phylogenetically enigmatic holometabolan Strepsiptera twisted wing parasites, whose evolutionary relationship to any other order is unconfirmed. They have been controversially proposed closest relatives flies, based on rDNA,...
The order Diptera (true flies) is one of the most species-rich and ecologically diverse clades insects. probably arose in Permian, main lineages flies were present Triassic. A novel recent proposal suggests that Strepsiptera are sister-order to Diptera. Within Diptera, evidence convincing for monophyly Culicomorpha, Blephariceromorpha, Tipulomorpha but weak other basal infraorders relationships among them. lower (Nematocera) paraphyletic with respect Brachycera, morphological sister-group...
Neuropterida comprise the holometabolan orders Neuroptera (lacewings, antlions and relatives), Megaloptera (alderflies, dobsonflies) Raphidioptera (snakeflies) as a monophyletic group sister to Coleoptera (beetles). The higher-level phylogenetic relationships among these groups, well family-level hierarchy of Neuroptera, have date proved difficult reconstruct. We used morphological data multi-locus DNA sequence infer relationships. Nucleotide sequences were obtained for fragments two nuclear...
Abstract Background Phylogenetic analyses provide a framework for examining the evolution of morphological and molecular diversity, interpreting patterns in biogeography, achieving stable classification. The generic suprageneric relationships within mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are poorly resolved, making these subjects difficult to address. Results We carried out maximum parsimony likelihood, including Bayesian, on data set consisting six nuclear genes 80 characters assess their ability...
The dipteran clade Calyptratae is comprised of approximately 18 000 described species (12% the known diversity) and includes well-known taxa such as houseflies, tsetse flies, blowflies botflies, which have a close association with humans. However, phylogenetic relationships within this insect radiation are very poorly understood controversial. Here we propose higher-level hypothesis for based on an extensive DNA sequence dataset 11 noncalyptrate outgroups 247 calyptrate representing all...
Abstract Relationships among families of the lower Diptera (formerly suborder ‘Nematocera’) have been exceptionally difficult to resolve. Multiple hypotheses based on morphology proposed identify earliest lineages flies and place phylogenetic origin higher (Brachycera), but convincing support is limited. Here we resolve relationships major groups using sequence data from four nuclear markers, including both ribosomal (28S rDNA) protein‐coding (CAD, TPI PGD) genes. Our results novel...
The taxonomy of the order Piroplasmida, which includes a number clinically and economically relevant organisms, is hotly debated topic amongst parasitologists. Three genera (Babesia, Theileria, Cytauxzoon) are recognized based on parasite life cycle characteristics, but molecular phylogenetic analyses 18S sequences have suggested presence five or more distinct Piroplasmida lineages. Despite these important advancements, few studies been unable to define taxonomic relationships some organisms...
Anchored hybrid enrichment is a form of next-generation sequencing that uses oligonucleotide probes to target conserved regions the genome flanked by less in order acquire data useful for phylogenetic inference from broad range taxa. Once probe kit developed, anchored superior traditional PCR-based Sanger terms both amount genomic can be recovered and effective cost. Due their incredibly diverse nature, importance as pollinators, historical instability with regard subfamilial tribal...
Abstract The Calyptratae, one of the most species‐rich fly clades, only originated and diversified after Cretaceous–Palaeogene extinction event yet exhibit high species diversity a diverse array life history strategies including predation, phytophagy, saprophagy, haematophagy parasitism. We present first phylogenomic analysis calyptrate relationships. is based on 40 representing all families nucleotide amino acid data for 1456 single‐copy protein‐coding genes obtained from shotgun sequencing...
Abstract Mosquitoes have profoundly affected human history and continue to threaten health through the transmission of a diverse array pathogens. The phylogeny mosquitoes has remained poorly characterized due difficulty in taxonomic sampling limited availability genomic data beyond most important vector species. Here, we used phylogenomic analysis 709 single copy ortholog groups from 256 mosquito species produce strongly supported that resolves position major disease lineages. Our analyses...
The insect order Diptera, the true flies, contains one of four largest Mesozoic radiations within its suborder Brachycera. Estimates phylogenetic relationships and divergence dates among major brachyceran lineages have been problematic or vague because a lack consistent evidence rarity well-preserved fossils. Here, we combine new from nucleotide sequence data, morphological reinterpretations, fossils to improve estimates evolutionary ages. 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene was sequenced for...
The Diptera, or true flies (mosquitoes, gnats, and house flies) comprise 12-15% of animal species, are the most ecologically diverse order insects, spanning ecological roles from detritivory to vertebrate blood feeding leaf mining. earliest known fossil Diptera early Triassic 240 mya, probably arose in late Permian. brachyceran fossils found Jurassic, but diversification extremely Calyptrata (ca. 30% described species) began Creataceous. monophyly is supported by numerous morphological...
The spectacular diversity of insects has often been attributed to accelerated radiation groups acquiring specialized trophic habits. In accord with this hypothesis, a previous study demonstrated consistently greater diversification in clades attacking higher plants, as contrasted their predaceous or saprophagous sister groups. Faster phytophagous could represent an unsaturated adaptive zone result from the population fragmentation and diversifying selection imposed by ecological...
Members of the megadiverse insect order Diptera (flies) have successfully colonized all continents and nearly habitats. There are more than 154 000 described fly species, representing 10–12% animal species. Elucidating phylogenetic relationships such a large component global biodiversity is challenging, but significant advances been made in last few decades. Since Hennig first discussed monophyly major groupings, has attracted much study, most researchers used non‐numerical qualitative...
Tipuloidea, the crane flies, are a diverse lineage of true flies (Insecta: Diptera) whose phylogenetic classification and taxonomy remain challenge. Here we present results quantitative analysis Tipuloidea based on combined morphological characters (adult, larvae pupae) nuclear gene sequence data (28S rDNA CAD). Forty-five species, from 44 genera subgenera, were sampled, representing four putative families (Cylindrotomidae, Limoniidae, Pediciidae Tipulidae sensu stricto). Analyses individual...
Abstract Horse flies, family T abanidae, are the most diverse family‐level clade of bloodsucking insects, but their phylogeny has never been thoroughly explored using molecular data. Most adult female abanidae feed on nectar and blood various mammals. Traditional horse fly classification tends towards large heterogeneous taxa, which impede much‐needed taxonomic work. To guide renewed efforts in systematics flies relatives, we assembled a dataset 110 exemplar species nucleotide data from four...
Abstract Background The most species-rich radiation of animal life in the 66 million years following Cretaceous extinction event is that schizophoran flies: a third fly diversity including Drosophila fruit model organisms, house flies, forensic blow agricultural pest and many other well poorly known true flies. Rapid diversification has hindered previous attempts to elucidate phylogenetic relationships among major clades. A robust hypothesis for lineages containing these 55,000 described...