Of the extant insect orders, perhaps the least known are the webspinners, or Embiidina. These insects are part of the basal (“Polyneoptera”) winged insects. The known species diversity is not huge (about 500 species described), but the great majority of specimens in collections are undescribed species, and it is entirely unclear what the actual diversity is.

The higher level groupings are only just now being examined in a cladistic framework, and there is an extensive classification based on traditional evolutionary taxonomy that requires testing, refinement and updating with modern methods.

My work on this group is in collaboration with C. Szumik (CONICET, Tucumán), J. Edgerly-Rooks (Santa Clara University), and C.Y. Hayashi (University of California, Riverside).

Together we are beginning an extensive higher-level revision of the group based on a comprehensive phylogeny using morphological and molecular data. This phylogeny will be used to improve the classification and study the evolution of behavioral ecology and silk structure, production and utilization. We intend to make this project a springboard to additional work on the taxonomy of the group in an attempt to make the species level diversity more well-known and more accessible to scientists.

See page on embiids.