Taxonomical identity, morphology and genetics of Exocnophila (Phasmatodea: Diapheromeridae) stick insects and related Diapheromerinae

• Grant number: 22/06273-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: August 28, 2022
• End date: October 29, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Eliana Marques Cancello
• Grantee: Victor Morais Ghirotto
• Supervisor: Sven Bradler
• Host Institution: Museu de Zoologia (MZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Göttingen University, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/03458-4 - Morphology, biology and taxonomic revision of Exocnophila Zompro, 2001 (Insecta: Phasmatodea: Diapheromeridae), BP.MS

Abstract

Stick insects belong to the order Phasmatodea, comprising large herbivorous insects, which are masters in camouflage. Exocnophila is a Neotropical genus of stick insects belonging to the Diapheromeridae, currently comprises a single species and recorded for Espírito Santo state, Brazil. As several phasmids, and most Brazilian stick insects, this genus is poorly defined and poorly characterized, and the male is unknown. My master project deals with the taxonomic revision of Exocnophila. The holotype and paratypes of the single described species, as well as several others described in other genera that I believe should be transferred to Exocnophila based on preliminary analysis, are all housed in European collections. Furthermore, there are no phasmid experts employed in Brazil, that is, there aren't established research lines or groups on Phasmatodea in the country. To attend these issues, I propose an internship to analyse type material related to Exocnophila allowing a proper taxonomic revision, and conduct molecular studies of Exocnophila and related stick insects, under the supervision of foreign experts. Furthermore, I intend to learn from them about morphological techniques and stick insect taxonomy to expand my knowledge as a phasmid researcher, and to help to establish protocols in this new line of research in Brazil. (AU)