Nitidulidae
Scientist:
Dr. Andrew Cline |
 |
Current projects
- Taxonomic Revision of Pocadius, representing the taxonomic monograph produced from Dr. Cline’s dissertation. A total of 47 species will be described and illustrated, and an identification key provided.
- New World Epuraea (Epuraeinae): New Species, Immature Stages, Biology, Identification Key, and Species Checklist. This project will focus on reviewing the entire new world fauna of Epuraea, which has been neglected since Parson 1943 revision. The fauna has become somewhat controversial due to several recent papers dealing with new species, synonymies, etc. This review will seek to ameliorate these problems as well as better describe and document taxa in the region.
- Revision of New World Prometopia, with description of larval forms and commentary on related genera.
- New Neotropical taxa related to Soronia, covering new genera and species as well as insights into the biology and phylogeny of these taxa in the New World.
- Revision of New World Platychora, with description of larval forms, exploitation of subcortical habitats, and commentary on related genera.
- Revision and phylogenetic analysis of the genera Teichostethus and Hebascus, with biogeographic commentary on species radiations in the Neotropics.
- Checklist for fauna of Panama: results from the IBISCA study site in the San Lorenzo forest. This project will include a full taxonomic catalogue of species occurring in the country as well as descriptions of more than 20 new species.
- Checklist for fauna of Vanuatu: results from the IBISCA study site. This project will include a full taxonomic catalogue of species occurring in the country as well as descriptions of new species.
- Checklist for fauna of Fiji: results from the Fiji Terrestrial Arthropod Survey. This project will include a full taxonomic catalogue of species occurring in the country as well as descriptions of new species.
- Checklist for fauna of Madagascar: results from the Madagascar Arthropod Biodiversity Project. This project will include a full taxonomic catalogue of species occurring in the country as well as descriptions of new species.
- Checklist for fauna of Thailand: results from the Thailand Insect Group for Entomological Research. This project will include a full taxonomic catalogue of species occurring in the country as well as descriptions of new species.
- Revision and phylogenetic analysis of Psilotus with commentary on sexual dimorphism in sap beetles.
- Collaboration with Richard Leschen
- A new genus from the Neotropics, with phylogenetic analysis of Pocadiini and related genus complexes. This project will finally resolve tribal relationships and definitions within much of the Nitidulinae and make progress towards eliminating informal generic complexes.
- Collaboration with Clarence Collison & Paul Lago
- Taxonomic treatment of this family (and Kateridae) in Mississippi including an identification key to species
- Collaboration with Kelly Miller & Mike Whiting
- Molecular and morphological phylogenetics of the family, seeking to unravel some of the mysteries associated with the higher classification of the family.
- Collaboration with researchers at the University of Georgia
- Sap beetle associations with western honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in North and Central America, which will be the first published recording of sap beetles known to occur with honey bees in the New World.
- Collaboration with staff of the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History
- Sap beetles of the Canadian Maritime Provinces, seeking to understand the species assemblages, biology, biogeography and introduction of these taxa into the region.
|
