昆虫形态学是一门古老的学科，一直在昆虫分类学、昆虫系统学及昆虫胚胎学等领域发挥着重要的作用。近年来，随着科技的发展，新的技术和方法不断地被引入该领域。计算机三维重建方法因其可以真实而直观的反映动物体的空间形态结构，近年来越来越多地被应用于动物形态学研究领域。
由杨星科研究员领导的中科院动物所鞘翅目形态与进化研究组自2006年起一直致力于将基于显微CT、激光共聚焦显微镜技术及组织切片技术的三维重建方法应用于昆虫形态学研究，并取得了重要进展。主要包括应用显微CT技术、计算机三维重建及系统发育分析等方法对叶甲亚科两个属榆叶甲属和喜山叶甲属的系统关系进行了深入探讨，确立了二者的单系性，并推测了上述两个属的起源及扩散方式，文章发表于昆虫学领域核心期刊《系统昆虫学》（Systematic Entomology）；应用显微切片技术、激光共聚焦显微技术及计算机三维重建方法，重构了鞘翅目寄生性甲虫Lytta vesicatoria一龄幼虫的全部肌肉、神经系统及消化系统，探讨了昆虫微小化的结构特点，比较了与其他寄生性甲虫及捻翅目的内外形态结构相似性，文章发表于PLoS One，目前尚有部分数据正在进一步整理之中。
此外，在中国科学院重大装备研制计划资助下，与中国科学院深圳先进技术研究院共同研制开发了应用于动物形态学研究的显微CT设备，目前已落户动物所，等待验收。以上一系列成果不仅为进一步开展大规模的昆虫乃至动物形态学研究工作及相关平台建设奠定了坚实基础，也为昆虫形态学研究提供了全新的思路与方法。(生物谷Bioon.com)
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052511
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The First Complete 3D Reconstruction of a Spanish Fly Primary Larva (Lytta vesicatoria, Meloidae, Coleoptera)
Si-Qin Ge, Benjamin Wipfler, Hans Pohl, Yi Hua, Adam Ślipiński, Xing-Ke Yang mail, Rolf Georg Beutel
The first detailed anatomical study of a primary larva of Meloidae is presented. Thereby techniques such as three-dimensional reconstructions, microtome sections, SEM (scanning electronic microscopy) and CLSM (confocal laser scanning microscopy) are applied. The structural features are discussed in the context of phylogeny, but also possible correlations with parasitism, phoresy and miniaturisation. The triungulin first instar larva is likely an apomorphy of Meloidae excl. Eleticinae and linked with a specialisation on acridoid eggs or larvae and provisions of bees. The campodeid body shape of Lytta and Meloinae is a groundplan feature of Meloidae, whereas a navicular body is an autapomorphy of the generally phoretic larvae of Nemognathinae. Head structures of Lytta and features of the postcephalic body are largely plesiomorphic. The musculature of the head is only moderately simplified while the one of the postcephalic body is well developed. Its thorax is largely characterised by plesiomorphies. The characteristics of the legs suggest phoretic habits, even though this does not apply to larvae of Lytta. It is conceivable that a phoretic behaviour is secondarily lost, together with some but not all morphological modifications related to it. Derived features of the abdomen of Meloidae are the complete loss of the fixed urogomphi (also missing in Rhipiphoridae and other related groups) and the presence of one or two conspicuous caudal bristles. Only few features of Lytta are shared with the parasitic larvae of Rhipiphoridae and Strepsiptera. These characteristics, which are possibly linked with specialised life habits, have obviously evolved independently. Miniaturisation effects are minimal in the larvae of Lytta.
