Frequently, the diversity of umbrella taxa is invoked to predict patterns of other, less well-known, life. However, the utility of this strategy has been questioned. We tested whether a phylogenetic diversity (PD) analysis of CO1 DNA barcodes could act as a proxy for standard methods of determining sampling efficiency within and between sites, namely that an accumulation curve of barcode divers...

We describe a previously uncharacterized function for changes in plant chemistry induced by phytophagous insects: to provide cues for mate location. Larvae of the gall wasp Antistrophus rufus Gillette (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) feed within inconspicuous galls inside the flowering stems of the prairie perennials Silphium laciniatum L. and Silphium terebinthinaceum Jacquin (Asteraceae). Adult male ...

Many studies have addressed the latitudinal gradients in intraspecific genetic diversity of European taxa generated during postglacial range expansion from southern refugia. Although Asia Minor is known to be a centre of diversity for many taxa, relatively few studies have considered its potential role as a Pleistocene refugium or a potential source for more ancient westward range expansion int...

ten known cynipid inquiline species associated with oak cynipid galls (hymenoptera, cynipidae: synergini and cynipini), their distribution and host associations are given for the first time for the iranian cynipid fauna: ceroptres cerri mayr, c. clavicornis hartig, saphonecrus haimi (mayr), synergus gallaepomiformis (b. de fonsc), s. pallidipennis mayr, s. pallipes hartig, s. reinhardi mayr, s....