Ecological specialization and generalism in insects reflect the existence of an evolutionary bidirectional continuum involving complex, multidimensional scenarios. It has been often assumed that ecological generalism in phytophagous insects comes at the expense of less intense exploitation of specific resources and that this trade-off will promote the evolution of ecologically more specialized daughter species. In the so-called "oscillation hypothesis" speciation could be driven by host-plant generalists giving rise to specialist daughter species, while in the so-called "musical chairs hypothesis", speciation could be driven by host-plant switching, without substantial changes in niche breadth (Hardy & Otto, 2014). Due to discordant ideas about the actual role of transitions from generalists to ecological specialists as potential drivers of speciation (Forister et al. 2012), the present project is aimed to focusing on these important aspects of the evolutionary relationships between phytophagous insects and their (larval) host-plants, using members of the widespread subfamily Meligethinae (Coleoptera, Nitidulidae; ca. 200 species in W Palearctic, most of them being highly specialized anthophagous beetles) as case study.
