I have been contributing to the knowledge of Neotropical Anthribidae, a weevil family very poorly studied. During my short career, I have published a detailed morphological paper, the description of a new genus (Mermudes 2003), which includes one of the largest known anthribid species of the Neotropical fauna, Unanthribus maximus Mermudes, 2003, and cladistic analyses for the genera Ptychoderes Schoenherr, 1823 and Hypselotropis Jekel, 1855.

I have also contributed to training other researchers, in different families of Coleoptera. The study of the beetle fauna (adult and mainly immature) occurring in the Neotropical region is still very incipient for several families. I have been coordinating research since 1997, which has encouraged publications with 13 neglected families in Brazil: 12 in Polyphaga, Anthribidae, Belidae, Buprestidae, Brentidae, Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae, Lampyridae, and Cicindelidae (Adephaga).

The team of researchers I have formed has diagnosed extreme cases of endemism involving geographically separated species in the Serra do Mar and Mantiqueira mountain system in conservation units in the Southeast region of Brazil.

Mermudes, J. R. M. 2003. Unanthribus, um novo gênero Neotropical de Ptychoderini Jekel, 1855 (Coleoptera, Anthribidae, Anthribinae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia. 47: 239–244. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0085-56262003000200014