Morphology and phylogeny of Ceraeochrysa ADAMs, 1982 (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

• Grant number: 12/12157-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Dalton de Souza Amorim
• Grantee: Caleb Califre Martins
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The family Chrysopidae has a worldwide distribution and is composed of approximately 1,200 species. The family has great morphological richness and has a notable ecological importance in their environments due to their larvae are predators of agricultural pests. However, the systematic knowledge of the family is still limited, mainly due to taxonomic difficulties in their genres and lack of specialist, what also applies to the Neotropical region. Thus, this project creates an excellent opportunity to train a taxonomist to attend the demand for taxonomists of Chrysopidae in Brazil. The genus Ceraeochrysa (Chrysopidae) was described in 1982 by Phillip A. Adams, and today the genus has 61 described species, of which 28 for Brazil. This is the second largest genus of the family Chrysopidae in the Neotropical region and has a great importance in biological control programs. This project aims to conduct a study of comparative morphology that extends the hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships among species of Ceraeochrysa, and map in detail the distribution of species Ceraeochrysa. This should enable understanding of biogeographic evolution of the genus, as well as collect information about the occurrence of the Brazilian species of Ceraeochrysa in crops and in natural environments, supporting future programs of biological control of pests. (AU)

Academic Publications

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

MARTINS, Caleb Califre. Morphology and phylogeny of Ceraeochrysa Adams, 1982 (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.