The phylogeny and evolution of the "Lower Neoptera" (Insecta)

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Rolf Georg Beutel; Privatdozent Dr. Thomas Hörnschemeyer; Dr. Klaus-Dieter Klass
• Subject Area: Systematics and Morphology (Zoology)
• Term: from 2011 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 194096734

Considerable efforts have been made in recent years to reconstruct the phylogeny of the lower neopteran insects. Nevertheless, their relationships are still largely unresolved. This gap of knowledge might repre-sent the greatest shortcoming in insect systematics and evolution. The "Lower Neoptera" comprise 9 of the 11 principal lineages of neopteran insects (excluding Acercaria and Holometabola): the species-rich Orthoptera and Dictyoptera, the generalised Plecoptera, the highly specialised Phasmatodea, Embiop-tera, and Dermaptera, and the microdiverse Grylloblattodea, Mantophasmatodea, and Zoraptera. The knowledge of the morphology of all these groups is very fragmentary and superficial. Our project is de-signed to compile an extensive morphological dataset for a carefully chosen taxon sample, with a focus on presumptive key taxa. Examined character systems will include the skeletomuscular systems of the head, thorax, pregenital abdomen, female postabdomen, and the tarsal and pretarsal attachment struc-tures. The obtained data will be combined with those from existing character systems provided by interna-tional collaborators. The involved expertise on different body parts, taxa and innovative methods will lead to strong synergistic effects. The phylogenetic reconstruction based on the novel morphological evidence will provide a source for testing molecular trees and for placing extinct taxa. A well supported phyloge-netic hypothesis and comprehensive evolutionary scenario for the “Lower Neoptera” are the ultimate goals of the project.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Persons: Privatdozent Dr. Sven Bradler; Dr. Rebecca Klug