projects->Braconidae->Gastrosema->

The subgenus Gastrosema Fischer is a paraphyletic group of 101 species worldwide. Only some individuals placed in Gastrosema fit the current definition of Gastrosema. Further, most species in Gastrosema are known from only one or a few individuals, and the same few individuals were used to construct identification keys. Thus, the objectives of this study are to: 1) Examine intraspecific variation of potentially informative qualitative and quantitative characters, 2) Establish a reliable identification system based on the findings from objective one, and 3) Construct informal groups that may be tested for monophyly. Additionally, known host records for the genus Opius will be critically evaluated and made available on the internet via the World Wide Web.

Bob Kula