[Syrphidae] Platycheirus

[Francis Gilbert]

hi everyone

I am starting a project on the phylogeny of Platycheirus, my favourite
syrphid genus, and (in my opinion) the most interesting ecologically,
certainly of all the syrphines. 

I wonder if you or any of your colleagues not on this list would
consider helping by collecting just a few (1-5) specimens of each sex of
any Platycheirus you come across in your collecting. You can send them
to me in tubes dry, or (preferably) in ethanol (at least 70%, best is
95%, diluted only by water: NOT methanol or methyl derivatives). All I
would need would be the locality information with them. I will of course
send you some tubes if you don't have them, and refund any postage or
the costs of small amounts of alcohol (receipts would be greatly
appreciated).

We will then use them for DNA sequencing, to work out a molecular
phylogeny of the genus. An Indian Masters student, Uttaran Maiti, will
start this for his degree, in collaboration with a molecular ecologist,
Sara Goodacre, in my department. Once this is done, we can get to grips
with the evolution of their amazing adult morphological changes.

Anyone contributing will of course be fully acknowledged in any
resulting publications.

Thanks very much !

Best wishes

Francis

Send material to:

______________________________________
Dr Francis Gilbert
School of Biology,
University Park,
University of Nottingham,
Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
_______________________________________

Dr Francis Gilbert
www.nottingham.ac.uk/~plzfg
(+44)(0)115 951 3215
BioMAP: www.biomapegypt.org