Taxonomic revision of ensign wasp genus Hyptia (Hymenoptera: Evaniidae)

• Grant number: 08/04661-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2008
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Roberto Ferreira Brandão
• Grantee: Ricardo Kawada
• Host Institution: Museu de Zoologia (MZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Among the extant genera of the Evaniidae, Hyptia Illiger is the fourth richest in species (50), only behind Prosevania Kieffer (102), Evaniella Bradley (73) and Evania Fabricius (67). Its distribution is restricted to the New World, with greater representation in the Neotropics; as far as known their larvae are cockroaches egg predators, while inserted into the oothecae. Its species are diagnosed by the relatively reduced venation in the fore wings; metasoma with small circular hidden ovipositor, in addition to notaulus usually absent. Despite the significant contributions of other authors in the suprageneric level, almost all Hyptia species can not be identified according to the current species concepts, because of the extreme sexual dimorphism, mimicry species complexes, inappropriate descriptions based on a few specimens, no reliable distribution data and inadequate illustrations and identification keys, which makes this project essential to a better knowledge of the family. By comparison, Hyptia is a well-defined and monophyletic taxon, and has been chosen, therefore, to be the subject of this review proposal, aiming the organization and expansion of the knowledge on the taxonomy and phylogeny. One purpose, besides the refinement of the taxonomic knowledge and to expand the geographic record of the species already known, I intend to identify and describe the eventual new species; to construct an identification key;, to illustrate the new species and the already described ones, as well as to establish a character database, in an attempt to better understand the interspecific phylogenetic relationships.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MULLINS, PATRICIA L.; KAWADA, RICARDO; BAHOFF, JAMES P.; DEANS, ANDREW R.. A revision of Evaniscus (Hymenoptera, Evaniidae) using ontology-based semantic phenotype annotation. ZOOKEYS, n. 223, p. 1-38, 2012. (08/04661-3)

KAWADA, RICARDO. Pictorial key for females of Decevania Huben (Hymenoptera, Evaniidae) and description of a new species. ZOOKEYS, n. 116, p. 59-84, 2011. (08/04661-3)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

KAWADA, Ricardo. Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of ensign wasp of genus Hyptia (Hymenoptera, Evaniidae). 2012. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.