Institute: Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences
Tutor: Prof. habil. dr. Jonas Rimantas Stonis
Consultant: Prof. dr. Virginijus Sruoga
Author: Agnė Rocienė
Assertion date: 2014-09-26
The object of the doctoral research is one of the most phylogenetically primitive (and thus theoretically one of the most important) taxa of the Lepidoptera order. The distinctive feature of the Nepticulidaefamily is deep trophic specialization and wide distribution in almost all terrestrial habitats and continents (except the Antarctic) (Puplesis, 1994; Diškus & Stonis, 2012). Though the family has long been an object of study, the fauna of many regions is still poorly known. East Asia is an important centre of biodiversity and is faunistically related with the European biota. Therefore studies of the East Asiatic Nepticulidae are important for better understanding the old faunogenetic processes which took place in the Eurasian continent. Furthermore, because of the highly characteristic tendencies of stenophagy, sedentary way of life and endemism, Nepticulidae are among the most suitable tools to characterize the richness of biodiversity, origin and relationships of biomes (or biotas) (Stonis, 2010). However, data on these economically and theoretically important insects are rather poor.