Dr. Lisa Filippi
Undergraduates
Marcia Jacobs confirmed that Sehirus cinctus cinctus females guarding their eggs use a twitching movement near the time of hatch that synchronizes the hatch process, resulting in enhanced offspring success.
Josh Rosero clarified that the improved offspring success that resulted from female manipulation of the eggs near hatch (twitch of mother’s legs while guarding eggs) also translated into improved success of adults.
Mona Munshi used SEM to determine that trophic eggs of Parastrachia japonensis have fewer micropyles (structure that allows sperm to enter egg) than fertile eggs, and they are shorter and narrower than fertile eggs. She will also be using molecular techniques to identify the symbiotic bacteria housed in the gut of Sehirus cinctus cinctus. This information will help sort out the phylogeny of this interesting group of insects.
Shazrah Syed is clarifying the preferred microclimate characteristics in the field for habitation of S. cinctus cinctus.
Miranda Figueras and Anthony LoMaestro examined the correlation between insect abundance and diversity in the Hempstead Plains and the abundance and variety of native vs invasive plants.
Miranda Figueras used SEM to characterize fertile and trophic eggs of Adomerus rotundus.
Natalia Prieto, Shaina Colazzo and Joe Wrobleski doing bug rearing maintenance in the lab
Scanning electron micrograph of sperm inside the spermatheca of Sehirus cinctus. SEM images by Shaina Colazzo.
Zarlasht Khan, Shaina Colazzo and Natalia Prieto taking photos with Macropod; Zarlasht weighing bugs in lab.
Photos with macropod clockwise Milkweed bug eggs; Sehirus cinctus eggs; fifth instar Sehirus cincus; (Lisa Filippi): Sehirus cinctus albonotatus female with egg mass. (Natalia Prieto)
1st to 5th instar Sehirus cinctus, Natalia Prieto