People
UMMAT SOMJEE
I am fascinated by insect behaviour, morphology and evolutionary biology. I spend most of my time integrating diverse tools and fields to understand the links between behaviour, ecology and evolution. Currently, I am trying to understand the consequences of exaggerated traits to physiology, behaviour and selection in non-model insects in the tropics. I am interested in physiological trade-offs, selection in wild populations, sexual selection and the evolution of elaborate morphology.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH MENTEES
2023- Current
JASMINE WATKINS
University of Manchester, UK.
Project: Locomotor behavior in the flag-legged bugs.
Insect collection, rearing, experimental design.
Gamboa, Panamá.
CONNOR EVANS-BLAKE
University of Manchester, UK.
Project: Antipredator behaviour in the flag-legged bugs.
Insect collection, rearing, experimental design.
Gamboa, Panamá.
2023
CHRISTINE KAKAN
National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi.
Project: Morphology measurements and identification of leaf-footed bugs. Insect collection, identification, morphological measurements.
Nairobi, Kenya
CLAUDIA MAMANI
Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Bolivia
Project: The aerodynamic properties of legs in flag-legged bugs. Insect collection, flight experiments.
Gamboa, Panamá.
JANE AGUILAR
Universidad de Panamá, Panamá.
Project: The evolution of morphology in leaf-footed bugs. Insect collection, identification, morphological measurements.
Gamboa, Panamá.
2022
ALEX AVALOS
California State University, Long Beach, USA.
Project: Allometric scaling of weapons in Texas flag-legged bugs. Insect collection, Identification, morphological measurements.
University of Texas at Austin, USA
TAYLOR (WEI CHEN) BI
University of Oxford, UK.
Project: Gliding behavior in the flag-legged bugs.
Insect collection, rearing, experimental design.
Gamboa, Panamá.
2019
CAMERON LONGBOTTOM
University of Manchester, UK.
Project: Flag waving behavior in the flag-legged bugs.
Insect collection, rearing, experimental design.
Gamboa, Panamá.
2017
DANA SANATAMARIA
Universidad de Panamá, Panamá.
Project: Ontogeny and development of flag-legged bugs. Fieldwork, experimental design, insect rearing.
Gamboa, Panamá.
MEREDITH LILLEY
University of Florida, USA.
Project: Male-male aggression and octopamine levels in the Heliconia bug. Fieldwork and behavioural phenotyping.
Gamboa, Panamá.
DECYO MCDUFFIE
University of Florida, USA.
Project: Male-male aggression and octopamine levels in the Heliconia bug. Fieldwork and behavioural phenotyping.
Gamboa, Panamá.
2016
RACHEL WATSON (left) & REBECCA PERRY
University of Florida, USA.
Project: Sexual selection in a wild insect population. Fieldwork, insect collection and mark-recapture.
Gamboa, Panamá.