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People

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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

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JASMINE WATKINS

University of Manchester, UK.

Project: Locomotor behavior in the flag-legged bugs.

Insect collection, rearing, experimental design.

Gamboa, Panamá.

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CONNOR EVANS-BLAKE

University of Manchester, UK.

Project: Antipredator behaviour in the flag-legged bugs.

Insect collection, rearing, experimental design.

Gamboa, Panamá.

2023

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CHRISTINE KAKAN

National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi.

Project: Morphology measurements and identification of leaf-footed bugs. Insect collection, identification, morphological measurements.

Nairobi, Kenya

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CLAUDIA MAMANI

Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Bolivia

Project: The aerodynamic properties of legs in flag-legged bugs. Insect collection, flight experiments.

Gamboa, Panamá.

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JANE AGUILAR

Universidad de Panamá, Panamá.

Project: The evolution of morphology in leaf-footed bugs. Insect collection, identification, morphological measurements.

Gamboa, Panamá.

2022

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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

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TAYLOR (WEI CHEN) BI

University of Oxford, UK.

Project: Gliding behavior in the flag-legged bugs.

Insect collection, rearing, experimental design.

Gamboa, Panamá.

2019

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CAMERON LONGBOTTOM

University of Manchester, UK.

Project: Flag waving behavior in the flag-legged bugs.

Insect collection, rearing, experimental design.

Gamboa, Panamá.

2017

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DANA SANATAMARIA

Universidad de Panamá, Panamá.

Project: Ontogeny and development of flag-legged bugs. Fieldwork, experimental design, insect rearing.

Gamboa, Panamá.

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MEREDITH LILLEY

University of Florida, USA.

Project: Male-male aggression and octopamine levels in the Heliconia bug.  Fieldwork and behavioural phenotyping.

Gamboa, Panamá.

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DECYO MCDUFFIE

University of Florida, USA.

Project: Male-male aggression and octopamine levels in the Heliconia bug.  Fieldwork and behavioural phenotyping.

Gamboa, Panamá.

2016

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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.

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