Description
This is an attempt to bring together classical methods of taxonomy including morphometrics, and newer techniques, including those employing chromosomes, electrophoresis, pheromones, cuticular hydrocarbons, behavioural traits and DNA probes to identify isomorphic species of insects. The scanning electron microscope has substantially aided the morphological approach and its value in taxonomy is shown by SEM photographs of ticks and mosquitoes. Phylogenetic relationships and coevolution, such as between "Anoplura taxa" and their eutherian mammals hosts, are discussed by cladistic methods. The work may be of interest to all those concerned with systematics and taxonomy plus medical entomologists throughout the world, medical parasitologists and specialists in tropical medicine.Table of ContentOld tools and new taxonomic problems in bloodsucking insects, R.W.Crosskey; the "anopheles maculipennis" complex (Diptera - Culicidae) in western North America, A.R.Barr; cytotaxonomy of certain malaria vectors in India, S.K.Subbarao et al; identification of medically important Diptera by analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons, A.Phillips et al; clarification of the biosystematics and vector status of some African "rhipicephalus" species (Acarina - Ixodidae), P.G.Pegram and J.B.Walker; geographic variations in old world phlebotomine sandflies, R.P.Lane; evolutionary parallelism in Anoplura and eutherian mammals, K.C.Kim; compatibility of members of the "aedes (stegomyia) scutellaris" subgroup of mosquitoes (Diptera - Culicidae) and its relevance to the control of filariasis, S.R.Meek; biochemical systematics of nine neartic "aedes" mosquitoes (subgenus "ochlerotatus, annulipes" group B), L.E.Munstermann; taxonomic studies on "culex pipiens and c. torrentium", C.Dahl; biosystematic problems in relation to the vectors of scrub typhus in China, Wang Dun-qing; species-specific DNA sequences from the "anopheles dirus" complex - a potential for efficient identification of isomorphic species, S.Panyim et al; biosystematics and medical importance of the "simulium amazonicum" group and the "s. exiguum" complex in Latin America, A.J.Shelley; a cytological study of the "similium metallicum" complex (Diptera - Simuliidae) from Central and South America, J.Conn; the taxonomic use of variation in repetitive DNA sequences in the "simulium damnosum" complex, R.J.Post and J.M.Crampton; the "lutzomyia longipalpis" complex - reproduction and distribution, R.D.Ward et al; taxonomic problems in "culicoides" of southwest Asia, in particular of the Arabian peninsula, J.Boorman; biosystematics of the Triatominae, C.J.Schofield; giant polyploid cells in "tunga monositus" (Siphonaptera - Tungidae), M.Rothschild; new tools for old taxonomic problems in bloodsucking insects, M.W.Service. List of Systematics Association publications.
