Community ecology of insects in human environments
I investigate the structure, dynamics, and interactions of insect communities across spatial and temporal scales worldwide. My research reveals how biodiversity patterns, species interactions, and ecological processes shape community assembly in both disturbed and intact ecosystems. I specialize in insect pollinators—including wild bees, hoverflies, beetles, solitary wasps, butterflies, and moths—and examine how land-use change and habitat disturbance influence their populations and the ecosystem functions they support. By studying insects across gradients of urbanization, agriculture, and environmental change, I uncover the mechanisms driving biodiversity responses in a rapidly changing world.
Biodiversity Assessments and Quantification
I use biodiversity data to reveal how insect communities respond to environmental change. By integrating field sampling, standardized surveys, trapping methods, and metabarcoding approaches with quantitative ecological analyses, I measure patterns of species richness, diversity, and community structure. This work provides critical insights into the drivers of biodiversity and the processes that shape ecological communities across human-modified and natural landscapes.
Insect–Microbe Interactions and Microbiomes
I investigate the role of microbial communities associated with insects, particularly in systems such as aphids and black soldier fly larvae. This work explores how microbiomes influence insect physiology, ecological interactions, and potential applications in waste valorization and biocontrol.
Data Science, Modeling, and Emerging Tools in Entomology
I integrate quantitative approaches such as ecological modeling, statistical analysis, and machine learning (e.g., deep learning for insect detection and monitoring) to better understand biodiversity patterns and improve research methodologies.