Mayra Vidal

Tuesday, October 11th, 2022

IN PERSON MEETING

Virtual Zoom Option
7:30 PM EST

Ecology and evolution of interactions between insect herbivores and plants

Mayra Vidal
Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston

Abstract:

Nature can be seen as an ‘intertwined web of interactions’, where species directly or indirectly influence each other. Interactions between different species can drive the evolution of traits and potentially lead to the formation of new species, thus contributing to the diversity of organisms we have on Earth. Insect herbivores are one of the most diverse groups of organisms, and the interaction with their host plants is arguably a major driver of their diversification. In this talk, I’ll explore how host plants and natural enemies influence the evolution of a generalist herbivore, and how global environmental changes affect the interaction between insect herbivores and their host plants.

NOTICE: Welcome back to the first CEC meeting of the 2022-2023 academic year! We will be holding hybrid meetings to accommodate COVID-19 precautions and audience members from around the world. 

For those attending in person, we will have an informal dinner (5:45 – 7:15 pm) at Cambridge Common Restaurant with the speaker, followed by our formal meeting (7:30 – 9:00 pm) in the Gilbert Room of the Museum of Comparative Zoology (there will be signs to help direct). The meeting will begin with club announcements, followed by a 60-minute presentation by the invited speaker and Q&A. Membership is open to amateur and professional entomologists. 

CEC meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month from October through May.

Christina Kwapich

Watch the zoom recording of Christina Kwapich’s talk here

Tuesday, May 10th, 2022

Virtual Zoom Meeting
7:30 PM EST

The economics of granivorous ant societies

Christina Kwapich
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Abstract:

The survival of an animal group can depend on its size and stability over time. To avoid losses in size, ant colonies must offset worker mortality with new worker production by the end of each annual cycle. This talk will compare the innovations in seed processing and labor allocation that allow granivorous ant societies to balance their annual budget, and occasionally, to grow. While some species rely on germination to access large seeds, others increase worker number by reducing worker body size. In turn, worker body size influences nest complexity, the tendency to rescue of sisters from spider webs, and even the size of invading myrmecophiles, like parasitic ant crickets. For more information, visit the Kwapich lab website.

Due to visitor restrictions on Harvard campus and COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, we are temporarily suspending all physical meetings and formal pre-talk dinners until further notice. 

CEC meetings are normally held the second Tuesday of the month from October through May. The evening schedule typically includes an informal dinner (5:45 to 7:15 PM) followed by our formal meeting (7:30 – 9:00 PM). The latter begins with club business and is followed by a 60-minute entomology related presentation. Membership is open to amateur and professional entomologists.

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