Immunologic Comparisons of Selected Coleoptera With Analyses of Relationships Using Numerical Taxonomic Methods

The status of the cicindelids with respect to the carabids (Coleoptera) is an issue among taxonomists. Data from immunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion were processed using detailed computerized, numerical taxonomic methods which included cluster and principal components analyses. Results indicated that the cicindelids are preferably regarded as a subfamily of the family Carabidae. The genera in the family Carabidae exhibited large amounts of molecular variation. In detailed comparisons, using the computer, unstandardized logarithms of the per cent cross-reaction values gave the highest correlations of the immunological data with morphological classifications of the Coleoptera.