Continuation of Leaf Beetle Inventory
Continuation of Leaf Beetle Inventory
We will continue work started with earlier support from DLIA towards an inventory the leaf beetles of GSMNP and production of a Web-based identification guide. The Identification Guide includes a "species page" for each leaf species where relevant information is conveyed to the general public. Under the current proposal, both PIs will visit GSMNP to perform targeted collecting of leaf beetles. Species not formally recorded from the park but expected to occur there will be targeted, as well as regionally endemic species. Park personnel and ATBI volunteers will be enlisted to help locate potential host plants for selected beetle species. ATBI volunteers will participate in field collection of beetles and possibly carry-on these activities after the PIs‚ departure. This project will generate georeferenced specimen data for the GSMNP ATBI. Approximately 50 to 60 additional species pages will be produced and linked to the Identification Guide.
The software package Auto-Montage (Syncroscopy, Synoptics Ltd.) was purchased and integrated with existing computer, digital camera, and microscope to establish a digital imaging station in the TAMU Insect Collection. The senior PI learned the system sufficiently to produce images of leaf beetles of the mid- to large-size range (2.5 to 10 mm) and for species with varying degrees of surface reflection. Lighting techniques for the smaller specimens were tested but need further refinement. Dorsal habitus images were completed for 26 leaf beetle species (18% of the species confirmed for GSMNP). An image of each species is included as part of the “species page” for each species in the Identification Guide. With the above procedures established and implemented, stock images can be completed at a rate of approximately 1 image/hour. The pre-image specimen manipulation has proven to be more time-consuming than originally estimated.
An identification guide to the leaf beetle species confirmed or expected to occur in GSMNP has been initiated. The guide has three components:
1) Identification Key (working draft completed)
2) Help Boxes (ca. 22 required, none completed)
3) Species Pages (ca. 330 required, 26 completed)
