PEET: Systematics of Chewing Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera): World Checklist and Monographic Revision of the Goniodidae

University Of Utah, Salt Lake City UT

Investigators

Abstract

Collaborative research and training activities at the University of Utah's Price Institute for Phthirapteran Research and the Illinois Natural History Survey will result in the first comprehensive world catalog of chewing lice in half a century, a monographic revision of the family Goniodidae, and training a new generation of scientists with expertise in the taxonomy of chewing lice. Intensive field research will result in much new material and in important experiences for students in the project. Morphological and molecular data will be integrated to hypothesize a phylogeny for Goniodidae, and support the multi-authored monograph of the family. Chewing lice of are great interest because of their accessibility as models for population biology, parasitic adaptation, host selection, and co-speciation and because of their medical and veterinary importance. There are few living experts on chewing lice. This project will contribute directly to the training of one postdoctoral researcher and three doctoral students who will be involved in all aspects of the research from field work to taxonomic revisions and monography. Among the results will be web accessibility to a world catalog of chewing lice and the first modern, phylogenetic monograph of a large, important family of chewing lice.