Source: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY submitted to
INSECT COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT AND INSECT SYSTEMATICS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0175484
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
TEX08508
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2003
Project End Date
Jun 30, 2009
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Oswald, J. D.
Recipient Organization
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
750 AGRONOMY RD STE 2701
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843-0001
Performing Department
ENTOMOLOGY
Non Technical Summary
Insects have many important beneficial and detrimental impacts on human activities. The purpose of this project is to learn more about insect diversity and to develop specimen collections that provide the permanent verifiable basis for: accurate identifications of pest and beneficial insects, knowledge of their distributions, investigations of biodiversity, and many other derived products.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
90%
Applied
10%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2113110113090%
2113120113010%
Knowledge Area
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
3120 - Spiders, mites, ticks, and other arthropods; 3110 - Insects;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;
Goals / Objectives
(1) Insect Collection Development. Continue development of the specimen holdings of the Texas A&M University Insect Collection through the collection, preservation and identification of insects and related arthropods with a geographic emphasis on Texas and adjacent regions. Continue development of the TAMUIC's digital resources (particularly databases and web-delivery systems) that facilitate collection management activities and that enhance the sharing of TAMUIC data with appropriate general and specialized audiences. (2) Insect Systematics. Advance knowledge of the systematics of selected groups of insects, with emphasis on the superorder Neuropterida (lacewings and allies), through the production of revisions, keys, descriptions, catalogues, bibliographies, checklists, faunas, phylogenetic and biogeographic hypotheses and other related studies. Expand and improve the TAMUIC holdings of the superorder Neuropterida. (3) Identification Service. Provide timely and high-quality insect identification and biological information services to the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas Cooperative Extension and other constituents in the state of Texas.
Project Methods
(1) Standard and emerging collecting, curating, loaning, databasing and networking methodologies and technologies will be used to amass, manipulate, store, organize and disseminate specimens and associated data. Database and web technologies will be utilized to capture and disseminate collection data for internal use and for external distribution. (2) Systematics studies will primarily utilize established comparative morphological techniques coupled with modern software tools for data compilation and analysis. Database and web technologies will be utilized to compile, organize and distribute taxonomic and nomenclatural data. (3) Project personnel will utilize TAMUIC specimen and literature resources to identify submitted specimens and to locate and disseminate appropriate ancillary information.

Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Insect Collection Development.-- Approximately 49,655 specimens were accessioned into the TAMUIC during the year: 47,944 pinned/pointed specimens, and 134 vials. 42 new loans totaling 6,980 pinned specimens and 61 vials were made. Donations of ca. 1000 or more specimens were received from: (i) Ms. Gladys Chamberlain: 1,957 general insects, (ii) Ellwood Hart: 4,068 Reduviidae, (iii) Mr. David G. Marqua: 5247 Coleoptera, and (iv) Dr. Marlin E. Rice: 13,970 Cerambycidae. Work under this project on a variety of systematics, bioinformatics and collection initiatives was supported during the year by grants from NSF, Texas Eco Labs, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University (Department of Entomology), and USDA: APHIS: PPQ. Insect Systematics.-- Work continued on a variety of systematics cataloguing and bioinformatics projects related to neuropterid insects on a global scale. Considerable new database development was accomplished and one significantly updated module of the Lacewing Digital Library web portal (http://lacewing.tamu.edu/) was deployed during the year. Work also continued on an NSF-supported project to digitize, over a three-year period, data associated with approximately 300,000 specimens in the Texas A&M University Insect Collection. Several insect survey and inventory projects were supported by state and local grant sources. Identification Service.-- 976 insect and related arthropod identifications, most with associated biological information, were provided to external clients and BugGuide.net by TAMUIC personnel. PARTICIPANTS: Faculty & Staff: John D. Oswald (Associate Professor & Curator); Ed Riley (Associate Curator); Allen Dean (50% effort). Graduate Students: Joshua Jones, Therese Catanach, Jonathan King, Dilip Ananthula. Hourly Workers (mostly undergraduate students) & Volunteers: 31 Training & Professional Development: (1) 30 undergraduate students were employed on funding from a variety of grant sources to work on various TAMUIC-related projects; (2) the independent research projects of 2 undergraduate students were supported by NSF REU supplement funding; (3) collection facilities provided materials for the studies of at least 3 local systematics graduate students. TARGET AUDIENCES: Local, national and international -- professional and avocational -- insect systematics/taxonomy communities; extension entomologists; plant protection entomologists (various systems); graduate and undergraduate students; general public. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Entomological research collections maintain the fundamental specimen resources that provide the permanent physical basis for: accurate identifications of pest and beneficial insects, knowledge of species distributions, estimation of phylogenetic relationships among species, understanding local and regional insect faunas, conducting small and large scale investigations of biodiversity, and many other derivative outcomes and impacts.

Publications

  • Barney, R. J.; Clark, S. M.; Riley, E. G. 2009. Annotated List of the Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of Kentucky: Subfamily Galerucinae, Tribes Galerucini and Luperini. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 70:17-28.
  • Barney, R. J.; Clark, S. M.; Riley, E. G. 2009. Annotated List of the Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of Kentucky: Subfamily Galerucinae, Tribe Alticini. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 70:29-55.
  • Oswald, J. D. 2009. Bibliography of the Neuropterida: a bibliography and digital library of the literature on the extant and fossil Neuroptera, Megaloptera and Raphidioptera (Insecta: Neuropterida) of the World. Version 8.00 (posted 7 April 2009; 11,876 total citations, 7765 linked digital files; containing 4342 unique works, ca. 58,400 unique pages) [434 new citations, 3242 updated citations, 5747 new linked files, 2322 new unique linked works, ca. >36,800 new unique pages of text and figures].
  • Oswald, J. D. 2009. Neuroptera Species of the World (Sep 2007 version). In: Bisby, F. A.; Roskov, Y. R.; Orrell, T. M.; Nicolson, D.; Paglinawan, L. E.; Bailly, N.; Kirk, P. M.; Bourgoin, T.; Baillargeon, G. (eds). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2009 Annual Checklist. CD-ROM. Species 2000: Reading, United Kingdom. ISSN 1473-009X. (Also available as an on-line digital resource at http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2009/info_2009_checkl ist.php). [published data provided as digital files equivalent to an ca. 1640 page manuscript]
  • Oswald, J. D. 2009. Megaloptera Species of the World (Sep 2007 version). In: Bisby, F. A.; Roskov, Y. R.; Orrell, T. M.; Nicolson, D.; Paglinawan, L. E.; Bailly, N.; Kirk, P. M.; Bourgoin, T.; Baillargeon, G. (eds). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2009 Annual Checklist. CD-ROM. Species 2000: Reading, United Kingdom. ISSN 1473-009X. (Also available as an on-line digital resource at http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2009/info_2009_checkl ist.php). [published data provided as digital files equivalent to an ca. 68 page manuscript]
  • Oswald, J. D. 2009. Raphidioptera Species of the World (Sep 2007 version). In: Bisby, F. A.; Roskov, Y. R.; Orrell, T. M.; Nicolson, D.; Paglinawan, L. E.; Bailly, N.; Kirk, P. M.; Bourgoin, T.; Baillargeon, G. (eds). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2009 Annual Checklist. CD-ROM. Species 2000: Reading, United Kingdom. ISSN 1473-009X. (Also available as an on-line digital resource at http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2009/info_2009_checkl ist.php). [published data provided as digital files equivalent to an ca. 97 page manuscript]
  • Triplehorn, C. A.; Thomas, D. B.; Riley, E. G. 2009. The genus Eleodes Eschscholtz (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in Texas. Coleopterists Bulletin 63:413-437.


Progress 07/01/03 to 06/30/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Insect Collection Development.-- Approximately 46,458 specimens were accessioned into the TAMUIC during the year: 46,006 pinned/pointed specimens, and 452 envelopes. 36 new loans totaling 10,196 pinned specimens and 6 vials were made. Donations of ca. 1000 or more specimens were received from: (i) Ms. Gladys Chamberlain: 2,411 general insects, (ii) Dr. Henry A. Hespenheide: 3,101 Coleoptera, (iii) Mr. David G. Marqua: 20,661 Coleoptera, and (iv) Dr. Marlin E. Rice: 1,760 general insects. Work under this project on a variety of systematics, bioinformatics and collection initiatives was supported during the year by grants from NSF, Texas Eco Labs, Texas AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, and USDA. Insect Systematics.-- Work continued on a variety of systematics cataloguing and bioinformatics projects related to neuropterid insects on a global scale. Considerable new database development and data entry work was accomplished for the Neuropterida Species of the World and Bibliography of the Neuropterida projects. Particularly significant were the entry and synthesis of primary type data for >1000 neuropterid species and production of >1400 new PDFs to support the digital library aspect of the Bibliography of the Neuropterida. Work also continued on an NSF-supported project to digitize, over a three-year period, data associated with approximately 300,000 specimens in the Texas A&M University Insect Collection. Several insect survey and inventory projects were supported by state and local grant sources. Identification Service.-- 451 insect and related arthropod identifications, most with associated biological information, were provided to external clients and BugGuide.net by TAMUIC personnel. PARTICIPANTS: Faculty & Staff: John D. Oswald (Professor & Curator); Ed Riley (Associate Curator); Allen Dean (25% effort) Graduate Students: Benjamin Diehl, Joshua Jones and Jonathan King Hourly Workers (mostly undergraduate students) & Volunteers: 10 Training & Professional Development: (1) 7 undergraduate students were employed on funding from a variety of grant sources to work on various TAMUIC-related projects; (2) the independent research projects of 2 undergraduate students were supported from a variety of sources; (3) collection facilities provided materials for the studies of at least 4 local systematics graduate students TARGET AUDIENCES: Local, national and international -- professional and avocational -- insect systematics/taxonomy communities; extension entomologists; plant protection entomologists (various systems); graduate and undergraduate students; general public PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No major changes during this reporting period.

Impacts
Entomological research collections maintain the fundamental specimen resources that provide the permanent physical basis for: accurate identifications of pest and beneficial insects, knowledge of species distributions, estimation of phylogenetic relationships among species, understanding local and regional insect faunas, conducting small and large scale investigations of biodiversity, and many other derivative outcomes and impacts.

Publications

  • Oswald, J. D.; Makarkin, V. N.; Tyler, S.; Rogozin, A. G. 2010. Resolution of nomenclatural issues stemming from the homonymy of the genera Kirgisella Martynov, 1925 (Arthropoda: Insecta: Neuroptera) and Kirgisella Beklemishev, 1927 (Platyhelminthes: Rhabditophora: Rhabdocoela). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 112:585-587.
  • Riley, E. G.; Quinn, M. A. 2010. Collection records and first adult host record for Phydanis bicolor Horn, an uncommonly encountered Texas flea beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini). Coleopterists Bulletin 64:100.
  • Hook, A. W.; Oswald, J. D.; Neff, J. L. 2010. Plega hagenella (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) parasitism of Hylaeus (Hylaeopsis) sp. (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) reusing nests of Trypoxylon manni (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) in Trinidad. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 19:77-83.
  • Oswald, J. D. 2010. Neuroptera Species of the World. In: Bisby, F. A.; Roskov, Y. R.; Orrell, T. M.; Nicolson, D.; Paglinawan, L. E.; Bailly, N.; Kirk, P. M.; Bourgoin, T.; Baillargeon, G. (eds). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2010 Annual Checklist. CD-ROM. Species 2000: Reading, United Kingdom. ISSN 1473-009X. (Also available as an on-line digital resource at http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2010/search/all).
  • Oswald, J. D. 2010. Megaloptera Species of the World. In: Bisby, F. A.; Roskov, Y. R.; Orrell, T. M.; Nicolson, D.; Paglinawan, L. E.; Bailly, N.; Kirk, P. M.; Bourgoin, T.; Baillargeon, G. (eds). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2010Annual Checklist. CD-ROM. Species 2000: Reading, United Kingdom. ISSN 1473-009X. (Also available as an on-line digital resource at http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2010/search/all).
  • Oswald, J. D. 2010. Raphidioptera Species of the World. In: Bisby, F. A.; Roskov, Y. R.; Orrell, T. M.; Nicolson, D.; Paglinawan, L. E.; Bailly, N.; Kirk, P. M.; Bourgoin, T.; Baillargeon, G. (eds). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2010Annual Checklist. CD-ROM. Species 2000: Reading, United Kingdom. ISSN 1473-009X. (Also available as an on-line digital resource at http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2010/search/all).


Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Insect Collection Development.-- Approximately 60,734 specimens were accessioned into the TAMUIC during the year - all pinned/pointed specimens. 35 new loans totaling 9,681 pinned specimens, 28 vials, and 2 slides were made. Donations of 1000 or more specimens were received from: (i) Dr. William F. Chamberlain: 3,449 general insects, (ii) Richard Haswell: 24,069 Coleoptera, and (iii) Mrs. Linda Jackman: 17,757 Coleoptera. Work under this project on a variety of systematics, bioinformatics and collection initiatives was supported during the year by grants from NSF, Texas Eco Labs, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas AgriLife Extension, Texas AgriLife Research and Texas A&M University. Insect Systematics.-- Work continued on a variety of systematics cataloguing and bioinformatics projects related to neuropterid insects. Substantial new development work was made on the Lacewing Digital Library web portal (http://lacewing.tamu.edu/) - a ground-breaking web portal serving the global community of systematic entomologists studying insects in the orders Neuroptera, Megaloptera and Raphidioptera. Three new modules were deployed during the year; two research publication modules (the Interactive Digital Key to the Psychopsidae Genera of the World; and the Interactive Digital Key to the Sialidae Genera of the World), and one service module (the Neuropterists Directory). Work also continued on a second NSF-supported project to digitize, over a three-year period, data associated with approximately 300,000 specimens in the Texas A&M University Insect Collection, and several insect survey and inventory projects were supported by local grant sources. Identification Service.-- 118 insect and related arthropod identifications, most with associated biological information, were provided to external clients by TAMUIC personnel. PARTICIPANTS: Faculty & Staff: John D. Oswald (Associate Professor & Curator); Ed Riley (Associate Curator); Allen Dean (50% effort) Graduate Students: Joshua Jones, Therese Catanach, Jonathan King, Krishna Tadi Hourly Workers (mostly undergraduate students) & Volunteers: 26 Training & Professional Development: (1) 22 undergraduate students were employed on funding from a variety of grant sources to work on various TAMUIC-related projects; (2) the independent research projects of 2 undergraduate students were supported by NSF REU supplement funding; (3) collection facilities provided materials for the studies of at least 4 local systematics graduate students TARGET AUDIENCES: Local, national and international -- professional and avocational -- insect systematics/taxonomy communities; extension entomologists; plant protection entomologists (various systems); graduate and undergraduate students; general public PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No major changes during this reporting period.

Impacts
Entomological research collections maintain the fundamental specimen resources that provide the permanent physical basis for: accurate identifications of pest and beneficial insects, knowledge of species distributions, estimation of phylogenetic relationships among species, understanding local and regional insect faunas, conducting small and large scale investigations of biodiversity, and many other derivative outcomes and impacts.

Publications

  • Barney, R. J.; Clark, S. M.; Riley, E. G. 2008. Annotated list of the subfamilies Donaciinae and Criocerinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 69:29-36.
  • Oswald, J. D. 2008. Case 3399. Dichochrysa Yang, 1991 (Insecta, Neuroptera): proposed conservation by ruling that Navasius eumorphus Yang & Yang, 1990 is an available name. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 65:178-182.


Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Insect Collection Development.-- Approximately 42,706 specimens were accessioned into the TAMUIC during the year, including 30,949 pinned/pointed specimens and 921 vials (11,757 specimens). 36 new loans totaling 5,144 pinned specimens, 13 vials, and 2 envelopes were made. Donations of ca. 1000 or more specimens were received from: (i) Dr. William F. Chamberlain: 4,329 general insects, (ii) Mr. Roy Kendall: 4,644 Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera, and (iii) Mr. David Marqua: 4,644 Coleoptera. Work under this project on a variety of systematics and bioinformatics initiatives was supported during the year by grants and other funding from NSF, Texas Eco Labs, Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas A&M University. Insect Systematics.-- Work continued on a several cataloguing and bioinformatics projects related to neuropterid insects. Considerable success was made this year in developing the initial modules of the Lacewing Digital Library web portal (http://lacewing.tamu.edu/) - a ground-breaking new web portal serving the global community of systematic entomologists studying insects in the orders Neuroptera, Megaloptera and Raphidioptera. Three modules were developed and deployed during the year; one research publication module (the Neuropterida Species of the World, version 2.00), and two service modules (the Lacewing Digital Library "home" module and the dataset module Neuropterida Species of the World: a dataset for collection curators, version 1.00). Work continued also on a second NSF-supported project to digitize, over a three-year period, data associated with approximately 400,000 additional specimens in the Texas A&M University Insect Collection, and several insect survey and inventory projects supported by local grant sources. Identification Service.-- 172 insect and related arthropod identifications, most with associated biological information, were provided to external clients by TAMUIC personnel. PARTICIPANTS: Faculty & Staff: John D. Oswald (Associate Professor & Curator); Ed Riley (Associate Curator). Graduate Students: Joshua Jones, Therese Catanach. Hourly Workers (mostly undergraduate students) & Volunteers: ca. 20. Training & Professional Development: (1) ca. 15 undergraduate students were employed on NSF funding associated with our current collection bioinformatics grant; (2) the independent research projects of 4-5 undergraduate students were supported by funding from a variety of sources, including an NSF REU supplement; (3) collection facilities provided materials for the studies of at least 4 local systematics graduate students. TARGET AUDIENCES: Local, national and international -- professional and avocational -- insect systematics/taxonomy communities; extension entomologists; plant protection entomologists (various systems); graduate and undergraduate students; general public. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No major changes during this reporting period.

Impacts
Entomological research collections maintain the fundamental specimen resources that provide the permanent physical basis for: accurate identifications of pest and beneficial insects, knowledge of species distributions, estimation of phylogenetic relationships among species, understanding local and regional insect faunas, conducting small and large scale investigations of biodiversity, and many other derivative outcomes and impacts.

Publications

  • Barney, R. J.; Clark, S. M.; Riley, E. G. 2007. Annotated list of the leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of Kentucky: Subfamily Cassidinae. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 68(2): 132-144.
  • Oswald, J. D. 2007. A new replacement name for Pterocalla Panfilov, 1980 (Neuroptera: Polystoechotidae), a junior homonym of Pterocalla Rondani, 1848 (Diptera: Ulidiidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 109:257-258.
  • Oswald, J. D. 2007. Case 3392. Hemerobius elegans Stephens, 1836 (currently Sympherobius elegans) and Hemerobius elegans Guerin-Meneville, 1844 (currently Berchmansus elegans) (Insecta, Neuroptera): proposed conservation of the specific names. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 64:174-177.
  • Oswald, J. D. 2007. Neuropterida Species of the World: a catalogue of the species-group names of the extant and fossil Neuropterida (Insecta: Neuroptera, Megaloptera and Raphidioptera) of the World. Version 2.00. http://lacewing.tamu.edu/Species-Catalogue/index.html.


Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06

Outputs
Insect Collection Development.-- Approximately 61,321 specimens were accessioned into the TAMUIC during the year, including 58,352 pinned/pointed specimens, 221 vials (2,821 specimens) and 148 slides. 58 new loans totaling 11,255 pinned specimens and 113 vials were made. Donations of ca. 1000 or more specimens were received from: (i) Dr. William F. Chamberlain: 4,205 general insects, (ii) Mr. Roy Kendall: 5,954 Lepidoptera, and (iii) Ms. Patricia Wolfe: 16,304 Coleoptera. Work under this project on a variety of systematics and bioinformatics initiatives was supported during the year by grants from NSF, USDA, Texas Eco Labs, Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas A&M University. Insect Systematics.-- Work continued on a several of descriptive, revisionary and cataloguing projects related to neuropterid insects. Considerable effort was directed this year at further development of the Bibliography of the Neuropterida and World Catalogue of the Neuropterida in association with an ongoing grant from the National Science Foundation. Two new, augmented, web versions of the Bibliography were produced. Work also continued on other objectives of the NSF grant to further develop web-based resources in support of global neuropterid research. Work also began on a second NSF-supported project to digitize, over the next three years, data associated with approximately 400,000 additional specimens in the Texas A&M University Insect Collection. Identification Service.-- 177 insect and related arthropod identifications, most with associated biological information, were provided to external clients by TAMUIC personnel.

Impacts
Entomological research collections maintain the fundamental specimen resources that provide the permanent physical basis for: accurate identifications of pest and beneficial insects, knowledge of species distributions, estimation of phylogenetic relationships among species, understanding local and regional insect faunas, conducting small and large scale investigations of biodiversity, and many other derivative products.

Publications

  • Oswald, J. D. 2006. Bibliography of the Neuropterida: a working bibliography of the literature on extant and fossil Neuroptera, Megaloptera and Raphidioptera (Insecta: Neuroptera) of the World. Version 7.06 (11,442 total citations, 155 new, 2344 updated; 2020 total linked digital files, 1000 new; >21,600 linked literature pages, 9500 new; data recorded through 11.v.2005).
  • Oswald, J. D. 2006. Bibliography of the Neuropterida: a working bibliography of the literature on extant and fossil Neuroptera, Megaloptera and Raphidioptera (Insecta: Neuroptera) of the World. Version 7.05 (11,287 total citations, 139 new, 1440 updated; 1020 total linked digital files, 491 new; >12,100 linked literature pages, ca. 6000 new; data recorded through 27.i.2006).


Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
Insect Collection Development.-- Approximately 83,020 specimens were accessioned into the TAMUIC during the year, including 61,332 pinned/pointed specimens, 1,697 vials (21,662 specimens) and 26 slides. 50 new loans totaling 10,444 pinned specimens, 1 vials and 16 slides were made. Donations of ca. 1000 or more specimens were received from: (i) Dr. William F. Chamberlain: 6,213 general insects, (ii) Mr. Roy Kendall: 1,684 Lepidoptera and general insects, (iii) Mr. Edward G. Riley, 1,171 Coleoptera, (iv) Karl Stephan: 9,564 Coleoptera, and (v) Mr. James E. Wappes: 15,246 Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. Work under this project on a variety of systematics and bioinformatics initiatives was supported during the year by grants from NSF, USDA, Texas Eco Labs, Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas A&M University. Insect Systematics.-- Work continued on a several of descriptive, revisionary and cataloguing projects related to neuropterid insects. Considerable effort was directed this year at further development of the Bibliography of the Neuropterida and World Catalogue of the Neuropterida. A new, augmented, web version of the Bibliography was produced. Work continued on a major grant from the National Science Foundation to further develop web-based resources in support of global neuropterid research. Identification Service.-- 263 insect and related arthropod identifications, most with associated biological information, were provided to external clients by TAMUIC personnel.

Impacts
Entomological research collections maintain the fundamental specimen resources that provide the permanent, physical, basis for: accurate identifications of pest and beneficial insects, knowledge of species distributions, estimation of phylogenetic relationships among species, understanding local and regional insect faunas, conducting small and large scale investigations of biodiversity, and myriad other derivative products.

Publications

  • Oswald, J. D. 2005. Bibliography of the Neuropterida: a working bibliography of the literature on extant and fossil Neuroptera, Megaloptera and Raphidioptera (Insecta: Neuroptera) of the World. Version 7.04 (11,149 total citations, 491 new, 2653 updated; 529 total linked digital files, 471 new; data recorded through 11.v.2005). URL: http://insects.tamu.edu/research/neuropterida/neur_bibliography/bibho me.html.
  • Carlton, C. E.; Chandler, D. S.; Leschen, R. A. B.; Riley, E. G.; Skelley, P. E.. 2005. Obituary and dedication: Karl Heinz Stephan 1931-2005. The Coleopterists Bulletin 59(3): 277-283.
  • Moron, M. A.; Riley, E. G. 2005. Four new species of Phyllophaga from Mexico and Central America (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 59(3): 391-399.


Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
Insect Collection Development.-- Approximately 61,282 specimens were accessioned into the TAMUIC during the year, including 56,294 pinned/pointed specimens, 390 vials (4978 specimens) and 10 slides. 64 new loans totaling 25,822 pinned specimens, 254 vials and 0 slides were made. Donations of ca. 1000 or more specimens were received from: (i) Dr. William F. Chamberlain: 12,714 general insects, (ii) Mr. Roy Kendall: 4,027 Lepidoptera and general insects, (iii) Mr. Daniel J. Heffern: 1,447 Coleoptera, and (iv) Dr. Marlin E. Rice: 988 general insects. Work under this project on a variety of systematics and bioinformatics initiatives was supported during the year by grants from NSF, USDA, Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas A&M University. Insect Systematics.-- Work continued on a variety of descriptive, revisionary and cataloguing projects related to neuropterid insects. Considerable effort was directed this year at further development of the World Catalogue of the Neuropterida and the Bibliography of the Neuropterida. A new, augmented, web version of the Bibliography was produced. A global review of predator/prey associations between the Neuropterida and Coccoidea was published in conjunction with Dr. Gary Miller, a USDA collaborator. A major new grant from the National Science Foundation was secured to further develop web-based resources in support of global neuropterid research. Identification Service.-- 384 insect and related arthropod identifications, most with associated biological information, were provided to external clients by TAMUIC personnel.

Impacts
Entomological research collections maintain the fundamental specimen resources that provide the permanent, physical, basis for: accurate identifications of pest and beneficial insects, knowledge of species distributions, estimation of phylogenetic relationships among species, understanding local and regional insect faunas, conducting small and large scale investigations of biodiversity, and myriad other derivative products.

Publications

  • Ohl, M.; Oswald, J. D. 2004. Annotated list of the primary type specimens of Megaloptera and Raphidioptera (Insecta: Neuropterida) in the Museum fur Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 51:87-96.
  • Oswald, J. D.; Makarkin, V. N. 2004. Poison spiders, green lacewings and Russian literature: the minor mystery of a neuropteran biblio-sleuth. Denesia 13:147-152.
  • Ohl, M.; Oswald, J. D. 2004. Annotated catalog of the Mantispidae of the world (Neuroptera). Contributions on Entomology, International 5:131-262.
  • Miller, G. L.; Oswald, J. D.; Miller, D. R. 2004. Lacewings and scale insects: a review of predator/prey associations between the Neuropterida and Coccoidea (Insecta: Neuroptera, Raphidioptera, Hemiptera). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 97:1103-1125.
  • Oswald, J. D. 2004 (20 January). Bibliography of the Neuropterida. Version 7.03 (10,658 citations [365 new, 2126 updated, 58 new linked files]). URL: http:// insects.tamu.edu/research/neuropterida/neur_bibliography/bibhome.html
  • Gillespie, J. J.; Kier, K. M.; Riley, E. G.; Tallamy, D. W. 2004. The evolution of cucurbitacin pharmacophagy in rootworms: insight from Luperini paraphyly, pp. 37-57 in Jolivet, P., Santiago-Blay, J. A.; Schmitt, M. (eds.). New developments in the biology of Chrysomelidae. SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague. i-xx + 804 pp.
  • Oswald, J. D. 2004. Review of the brown lacewing genus Biramus (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae: Hemerobiinae), with the description of a new species from Costa Rica and Panama. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 147:41-47.


Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
Insect Collection Development.-- Approximately 76,135 specimens were accessioned into the TAMUIC during the year, including 68,949 pinned/pointed specimens and 563 vials (7186 specimens). 50 new loans totaling 10,246 pinned specimens, 68 vials and 0 slides were made. Donations of more than 1000 specimens were received from: (i) Mrs. Jan Hayes: 8,305 Diptera (Culicidae), (ii) Mr. Roy Kendall: 1758 pinned & 208 vials Lepidoptera (Saturniidae), (iii) Dr. William F. Chamberlain: 5,964 general insects, and (iv) Mr. Edward Riley: 1,846 Coleoptera (mostly Scarabaeidae). Work under this project on a variety of systematics and bioinformatics initiatives was supported during the year by grants from NSF, the Texas Cooperative Extension and the Texas Department of Agriculture. Insect Systematics.-- Work continued on a variety of descriptive, revisionary and phylogenetic projects related to neuropterid insects. Considerable effort was directed this year at further development of the World Catalogue of the Neuropterida and the Bibliography of the Neuropterida. The first web-based implementation of the World Catalogue was implemented, and two new, augmented, versions of the Bibliography were produced. Identification Service.--429 insect and related arthropod identifications, most with associated biological information, were provided to external clients by TAMUIC personnel.

Impacts
Entomological research collections maintain the fundamental specimen resources that provide the permanent, physical, basis for: accurate identifications of pest and beneficial insects, knowledge of species distributions, estimation of phylogenetic relationships among species, understanding local and regional insect faunas, conducting small and large scale investigations of biodiversity, and myriad other derivative products.

Publications

  • Makarkin, V. N.; Archibald, S. B.; Oswald, J. D. 2003. New early Eocene brown lacewings (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae) from western North America. Canadian Entomologist 135:637-653.
  • Oswald, J. D. 2003 (3 February). Bibliography of the Neuropterida. Version 7.01 (10,085 citations [203 new, 2511 updated]). URL: http://insects.tamu.edu/research/neuropterida/neur_bibliography/bibho me.html
  • Oswald, J. D. 2003 (17 June). Bibliography of the Neuropterida. Version 7.02 (10,293 citations [213 new, 1805 updated]). URL: http://insects.tamu.edu/research/neuropterida/neur_bibliography/bibho me.html
  • Oswald, J. D. 2003 (15 July). Index to the Neuropterida Species of the World. Version 1.00 (9244 species-group names). URL: http://insects.tamu.edu/research/neuropterida/neur_sp_index/ins_searc h.html
  • Riley, E. G., S. M. Clark, and T. N. Seeno. 2003. Catalog of the leaf beetles of America north of Mexico (Coleoptera: Megalopodidae, Orsodacnidae and Chrysomelidae, excluding Bruchinae). Coleopterists Society Special Publication no. 1, 290 pp.
  • Riley, E. G. and C. S. Wolfe. 2003. An annotated checklist of the Scarabaeoidea of Texas (Coleoptera). Southwestern Entomologist, Supplement no. 26. 37 pp.


Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02

Outputs
Specimen Collection Development.-- Approximately 74,580 specimens were accessioned into the TAMUIC during the year, including 70,420 pinned/pointed specimens, 324 vials (4135 specimens) and 29 slides. 64 new loans totaling 12,460 pinned specimens, 14 vials and 0 slides were made. Donations of more than 1000 specimens were received from: (i) Dr. Thomas Atkinson: 10,453 Coleoptera (Scolytidae and Platypodidae), (ii) William F. Chamberlain: 5,644 general insects, (iii) Dr. James Goodwin, 2,214 Diptera (Tabanidae), (iv) Mr. Edward Riley = 2,446 general insects, mostly Coleoptera, and (v) Dr. John Oswald = 5,644 Neuroptera. Work under this project on a variety of systematics and bioinformatics initiatives was supported during the year by grants from NSF, the Texas Cooperative Extension and the National Park Service. Bioinformatics.-- Project personnel continued work on the Tiara Biodiversity Project, a bioinformatics research initiative with >40 collaborators and support from several grant sources. A new searchable implementation of the Bibliography of the Neuropterida was posted (http://entowww.tamu.edu/research/neuropterida/neur_bibliography/bibh ome.html). Insect Systematics.-- Work continued on a variety of descriptive, revisionary and phylogenetic projects related to neuropterid insects. Work continued with graduate student David Baumgardner on myrmeleontoid phylogeny, antlion behavior, and a review of the species of the genus Myrmeleon from America north of Mexico. Neuropterid Catalogue and Bibliography.-- Considerable effort was directed this year at further development of the World Catalogue of the Neuropterida and the Bibliography of the Neuropterida. New or modified data were entered for 2818 species, 438 genera, 2282 references and 9143 distribution records. Identification Service.-- 250 identifications were provided under the TAMUIC's Taxonomic Services Contract with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Impacts
Entomological research collections maintain the fundamental specimen resources that provide the permanent, physical, basis for: accurate identifications of pest and beneficial insects, knowledge of species distributions, estimation of phylogenetic relationships among species, understanding local and regional insect faunas, conducting small and large scale investigations of biodiversity, and myriad other derivative products.

Publications

  • Oswald, J. D.; Contreras-Ramos, A.; Penny, N. D. 2002. Neuroptera (Neuropterida). Pp. 559-581 in: Bousquets, J. L.; Morrone, J. J. (Eds.). Biodiversidad, Taxonomia y Biogeografia de Artropodos de Mexico: Hacia una Sintesis de su Conocimiento. Vol. 3. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico. ISBN 968-36-9488-8.
  • Oswald, J. D. 2002. Bibliography of the Neuropterida: a working bibliography of the literature on extant and fossil Neuroptera, Megaloptera and Raphidioptera (Insecta: Neuroptera) of the World. Version 7.0 (citations: 9882 total, 340 new, 1241 updated; recorded through 10.xii.2002). URL: http://entowww.tamu.edu/research/neuropterida/neur_bibliography/bibho me.html.
  • Ren, D.; Oswald, J. D. 2002. A new genus of kalligrammatid lacewings from the Middle Jurassic of China (Neuroptera: Kalligrammatidae). Stuttgarter Beitrage zur Naturkunde (B)317:1-8.
  • Riley, E. G., S. M. Clark, R. W. Flowers, and A. J. Gilbert. 2002. Chrysomelidae Latreille, 1802, pp. 617-691, in Arnett, R. H., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley, and J. H. Frank (eds.), American Beetles, Volume 2. Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea. CRC Press. xiv + 861 pp.
  • Clark, S. M. and E. G. Riley. 2002. Megalopodidae Latreille 1802, pp. 609-612 in Arnett, R. H., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley, and J. H. Frank (eds.), American Beetles, vol. 2. CRC Press. xiv + 861 pp.
  • Clark, S. M. and E. G. Riley. 2002. Orsodacnidae Thompson, 1859, pp. 613-616 in Arnett, R. H., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley, and J. H. Frank (eds.), American Beetles, vol. 2. CRC Press. xiv + 861 pp.


Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01

Outputs
Specimen Collection Development.-- Approximately 110,200 specimens were accessioned into the TAMUIC during the year, including 101,400 pinned/pointed specimens, 687 vials (8769 specimens) and 0 slides. 64 new loans totaling 10,500 pinned specimens, 204 vials and 0 slides were made. Donations of more than 1000 specimens were received from: (i) Karl Stephan: 50,768 pinned beetles, (ii) William F. Chamberlain: 7,396 general insects, and (iii) David Marqua: 2,581general insects. Work under this project on a variety of systematics and bioinformatics initiatives was supported during the year by competitive grants from NSF, USDA: CAPS, Texas Department of Agriculture and Texas A&M University. Bioinformatics.-- Project personnel continued work on the Tiara Biodiversity Project, a bioinformatics research initiative with >40 collaborators and support from several grant sources. Public version 3.0 of the Tiara web site was released (see URL below). Basic system functions for this web site include: searching and browsing by scientific name, searching and browsing by common name, context-sensitive help, integrated backward/forward functionality, and interactive, on-the-fly, generation of dynamic taxon home pages from multiple underlying data sets. Where underlying data are available, current TIARA implementations offer facilities for displaying the following classes of data: taxon classifications, simple taxon name lists, taxon distributions (maps for Texas and adjacent states, and North America by country/state), taxon-associated web links, specimen-level label data and images. On 31 December 2001 the public version of the TIARA web site provided access to >56,000 dynamic taxon home pages (ca. 8000 new), thousands of interactively generated maps, ca. 800 order- and family-level web links and >4000 arthropod images (ca. 2750 new). More than 124,000 new specimen-level data records were captured into the TAMUIC database during the year. Insect Systematics.-- Work continued on a variety of descriptive, revisionary and phylogenetic projects related to neuropterid insects. Work continued with graduate student David Baumgardner on myrmeleontoid phylogeny, antlion behavior, and a review of the species of the genus Myrmeleon from America north of Mexico. Neuropterid Catalogue and Bibliography.-- New or modified data were entered for 2336 species, 862 genera, 618 references and 486 distribution records. Identification Service.-- 226 identifications were provided under the TAMUIC's Taxonomic Services Contract with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Impacts
Entomological research collections maintain the fundamental specimen resources that provide the permanent, physical, basis for: accurate identifications of pest and beneficial insects, knowledge of species distributions, estimation of phylogenetic relationships among species, understanding local and regional insect faunas, conducting large scale investigations of biodiversity, and myriad other derivative products.

Publications

  • Oswald, J. D.; Na, J.-c.; Yoder, M.; Riley, E. G.; >35 collaborators. 2001. The TIARA Biodiversity/Bioinformatics Project. Public version 3.0 (20 July 2000). URL: http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/tiara/
  • Oswald, J. D.; Schiff, N. M. 2001. A new species of the genus Dilar Rambur (Neuroptera: Dilaridae) from Borneo. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 103:74-80.
  • Oswald, J. D.; Tauber, C. A. 2001. Preimaginal stages of the family Hemerobiidae. Pp. 50-60 in: McEwen, P. K.; New, T. R.; Whittington, A. E. (eds.). Lacewings in the Crop Environment. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. i-xviii, 1-546.
  • Riley, E. G.; Clark, S. M.; Gilbert, A. J. 2001. New records, nomenclatural changes, and taxonomic notes on select North American leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Insecta Mundi 15(1):1-17.


Progress 01/01/00 to 12/30/00

Outputs
Specimen Collection Development.-- Approximately 61,680 specimens were accessioned into the TAMUIC during the year, including 51,384 pinned/pointed specimens, 402 vials and 5152 slides. 68 new loans totaling 11,487 specimens, 15 vials and 223 slides were made. Donations of more than 1000 specimens were received from: (i) William F. Chamberlain: 7,826 general insects, (ii) Karl Stephan: 1790 beetles, (iii) U.S. Airforce via David Bowles: 5152 slides of medically important insects, (iv) Roy Kendall: 1750 adults and 102 vials of Lepidoptera, (v) David Marqua: 2616 general insects, and (vi) C. D. Johnson: 1390 bruchids. Work continued this year on an NSF grant to incorporate the Johnson Bruchid Collection into the Texas A&M University Insect Collection. Bioinformatics.-- Project personnel continued work on a major bioinformatics research grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop TAMUIC databases and to deliver entomological content via the WWW. The first two public versions of the web-based TIARA biodiversity/bioinformatics project were released (see URL below). Basic system functions for this web site include: searching and browsing by scientific name, searching and browsing by common name, context-sensitive help, integrated backward/forward functionality, and interactive, on-the-fly, generation of dynamic taxon home pages from multiple underlying data sets. Where underlying data are available, current TIARA implementations offer facilities for displaying the following classes of data: taxon classifications, simple taxon name lists, taxon distributions (maps for Texas and adjacent states), taxon-associated web links, specimen-level label data and images. On 31 December 2000 the public version of the TIARA web site provided access to >48,000 dynamic taxon home pages, thousands of interactively generated maps, ca. 800 order- and family-level web links and >1250 arthropod images. More than 16,000 new specimen-level data records were captured into the TAMUIC database during the year. Several additional smaller grants were obtained to further pursue bioinformatics work involving collection and systematics data. Insect Systematics.-- Work continued on a variety of descriptive, revisionary and phylogenetic projects related to neuropterid insects. Work continued with graduate student David Baumgardner on myrmeleontoid phylogeny, antlion behavior, and a review of the species of the genus Myrmeleon from America north of Mexico. Neuropterid Catalogue and Bibliography. New or modified data were entered for 197 species, 5 genera, 101 references and 1172 distribution records. Identification Service.-- 268 identifications were provided under the TAMUIC's Taxonomic Services Contract with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

  • Oswald, J. D. 1999 [2000.vi.29]. The brown lacewing genus Notiobiella (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae) from Dominican amber. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 107:297-303.
  • Oswald, J. D.; Na, J.-c.; Yoder, M.; Riley, E. G.; >35 collaborators. 2000. The TIARA Biodiversity/Bioinformatics Project. Public version 1 (20 April 2000), 2 (22 June 2000). URL: http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/tiara/


Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99

Outputs
Specimen Collection Development: The Texas A&M University Insect Collection (TAMUIC) was awarded a new NSF collection improvement grant during 1999. This grant, together with matching funds from the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, allowed the TAMUIC to add the Johnson Bruchid Collection and associated parasitoids to its growing holdings, and funded curatorial work on this important collection of economically important seed-feeding beetles and their parasites. In addition to the Johnson materials, 54,310 pinned/pointed specimens, 1049 vials and 45 envelopes were formally accessioned into the TAMUIC from all sources. 69 new loans totaling 21,310 specimens, 244 vials and 24 slides were made. The following donations of more than 1000 specimens were accessioned in the collection during 1999: (i) Johnson Collection:-- 197,650 specimens of bruchids and their parasitoids, (ii) Roy O. Kendall:-- 6,857 specimens and 332 vials of Lepidoptera, (iii) William F. Chamberlain:-- 5,754 specimens of general insects, (iv) Donald Riley:-- 2,137 specimens of general insects, mostly Coleoptera and Diptera, (v) Marlin E. Rice:-- 1,713 specimens of general insects, mostly Coleoptera, (vi) John Hafernik:-- 1,997 specimens of mostly Lepidoptera, (vii) David Marqua:-- 1,137 specimens of Lepidoptera, and (viii) Alan R. Gillogly:-- 1,473 specimens of general insects. Bioinformatics: Project personnel continued work on a major bioinformatics grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop TAMUIC databases and to deliver entomological content via the WWW. The first on-line product of this work, the TAMUIC Species Browser, was publicly announced in February of 1999. Work continued throughout the year on a more feature-rich entomological web interface called the TIARA system. We anticipate the first public release of this site early in 2000. More that 44,000 specimen-level data records were captured in the TAMUIC database during the year. Two additional smaller grants were obtained to pursue additional work on image and map delivery via the TIARA system. Insect Systematics: Work continued on several descriptive, revisionary and phylogenetic projects related to neuropterid insects. Work continued with graduate student David Baumgardner on NSF-supported work on myrmeleontoid phylogeny, antlion behavior, and a review of the species of the genus Myrmeleon from America north of Mexico. Neuropterid Catalogue and Bibliography: New or modified data were entered for 187 species, 26 genera, 476 references and 583 distribution records. This aspect of project 8508 was not a focal area during 1999. Identification Service: 364 identifications were provided under the TAMUIC's Taxonomic Services Contract with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

  • Allen, R. L.; Penny, N. D.; Oswald, J. D. 1999. Phillip Anthony Adams, 1929-1998. Journal of Neuropterology 2:75-86.
  • Oswald, J. D.; Riley, E. G.; Na, J.-c. 1999. Texas A&M University Insect Collection Species Browser. Version 1. URL: http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/ento/bugadmin/spbrowserv3/main1.html


Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98

Outputs
(1) Texas A&M University Insect Collection (TAMUIC): Approximately 65,000 new specimens were formally accessioned into the collection during the year. 70 new loans involving ca. 16,500 specimens were sent out. 33 returned loans involving ca. 5000 specimens were received and reincorporated into the collection. Collection personnel initiated a new project to bar-code portions of the TAMUIC to facilitate the capture of specimen-level data and to investigate the feasibility of implementing bar-coding and specimen-level label data capture as a routine feature of TAMUIC management activities. (2) Bioinformatics: A major upgrade to the Bibliography of the Neuropterida web site (URL: http://entowww.tamu.edu/research/neuropterida/bibhome.html) was posted on the WWW. This upgrade allows interactive querying of the base data underlying the Bibliography site. One paper was published describing information resources available on the web concerning the insect superorder Neuropterida. Work is continuing on several interrelated projects involving the capture of species- and specimen-level data in the TAMUIC and the parallel development of software to disseminate these data via the WWW. The first web products resulting from these efforts will be available in 1999. (3) Insect Systematics: One paper was published on the systematics of the Australian nymphid genus Osmylops. This paper, which completed a two-part revision of this genus, treated nine species, six of which were described as new to science. Two additional papers treated the world taxonomy of the family Dilaridae, and redescribed the only known specimen of the Chilean species Polystoechotes gazullai, the rarest of the four species of the family Polystoechotidae. Two other papers were submitted for publication. Work is ongoing on a project to estimate phylogenetic relationships within the neuropteran superfamily Myrmeleontoidea. (4) Neuropterida Catalogue and Bibliography: New data on the taxonomy, distribution and literature of the Neuropterida were added to the Catalogue/Bibliography database from a wide variety of sources. Special emphasis areas were on the entry of taxonomic and distribution data of North American and Australian species and the entry of new bibliographic information contained in the recently acquired Ellis G. MacLeod literature collection. (5) Insect Identification and Information Service: TAMUIC personnel provided more than 360 identifications of insects and related arthropods during the year. Many of these identifications included remarks of related biological or economic interest.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

  • Oswald, J. D. 1998. Annotated catalogue of the Dilaridae (Insecta: Neuroptera) of the World. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 141:115-128.
  • Oswald, J. D. 1998. Osmylops Banks (Neuroptera: Nymphidae): generic review and revision of the armatus species group. Journal of Neuropterology 1:79-108.
  • Oswald, J. D. 1998. Rediscovery of Polystoechotes gazullai Navas (Neuroptera: Polystoechotidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 100:389-394.
  • Oswald, J. D.; Schiff, N. M. 1998. Ellis Gilmore MacLeod, 1928-1997. Journal of Neuropterology 1:155-159.
  • McEwen, P.; Oswald, J. D. 1998. Neuroptera on the Internet. Acta Zoologica Fennica 209:151-152.


Progress 01/01/97 to 12/31/97

Outputs
Insect Systematics and Insect Collection Development Specimen Collection Development. The Texas A&M University Insect Collections (TAMUIC) latest NSF grant terminated during 1997. All objectives of the grant were met or exceeded and the final report for the project was submitted. The TAMUIC will be listed as a suggested depository for insect voucher specimens collected under the aegis of all newly issued Texas State Park Scientific Study Permits. 56,846 pinned specimens and 252 vials were formally accessioned into the TAMUIC from all sources. 67 new loans totaling 18,259 specimens, 221 vials and 9 slides were made. Two major new donations to the TAMUIC were accepted: (i) the John Hafernik Collection of Lepidoptera containing ca. 7,500 specimens from western Texas and the western United States and (ii) the Gilstrap Slide Collection containing 52 slide boxes of mites, thrips and other slide-mounted arthropod specimens. Bioinformatics. The TAMUIC received a major new grant ($109,000 over two years) from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to extend TAMUIC activities in the area of specimen-level data capture and WWW delivery of entomological information. Species-level data capture has now been completed for approximately 95% of the TAMUIC. A new version of the Bibliography of the Neuropterida containing approximately 8600 citations (ca. 500 new) and featuring an extensively revised and upgraded web-based interface was implemented. Insect Systematics. Work continued on the development of a database system to capture character data for the myrmeleontoid phylogeny grant project. Approximately 2000 character x species records were entered. A preliminary list of Texas Neuroptera was compiled and approximately 50% of the TAMUIC Neuroptera collection was recurated to species level. Work continued on several descriptive and revisionary papers. Neuropterid Catalogue and Bibliography. Significant progress was made in developing an integrated application framework for entering and displaying bibliographic data and taxonomic information. All input and display forms for these aspects of the project are now integrated into one screen with a two-tiered tab-control form that allows rapid and flexible access to all major data entry and data viewing screens. New data for all taxonomic levels of the Neuropterida were added from the most recent version of the Zoological Record. Several hundred new bibliographic records were entered and many updates were made. More than 3350 state or country distribution records were added to the database. Identification Service. 349 identifications were provided under the TAMUIC's Taxonomic Services Contract.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

  • Oswald, J. D. [Proofs returned]. Review of the sejunctus species group of the split-footed lacewing genus Osmylops Banks (Neuroptera: Nymphidae), with remarks on the functional morphology of terminalic coupling. Australian Journal of Entomology.
  • Oswald, J. D. [Accepted]. Osmylops Banks (Neuroptera: Nymphidae): generic review and revision of the armatus species group. Journal of Neuropterology.
  • Oswald, J. D. 1997. Bibliography of the Neuropterida. Version 6. http://entowww.tamu.edu/research/neuropterida/bibhome.html.