9521835 Sperling In spite of their unobtrusive size and appearance, tortricid moths are among the most significant pests of forest trees and fruit orchards worldwide. More than 6,600 species have been named and there are at least as many left to be described, particularly in tropical regions. Many of the pest species are part of complexes that continue to challenge modern taxonomists. Unfortulately, few people have the expertise or experience that is required to unravel the diversity and complexity of tortricid moths. %%% The objectives of this project are to train students in morphological, ecological and molecular investigations of tortricid taxonomy, and to produce electronic databases and keys for the identification of these moths. Catalogues and classifications will be developed for several tribes of tortricids in the New World. This work will allow insight into the origins of plant feeding specialization and tropical biodiversity. The project will also contribute to the development of computer infrastructure for organizing and accessing knowledge about an economically important family of moths. ***
