I am primarily interested in the ecology and evolution of social insects, in particular the social Lepidoptera and Symphyta, with a parallel interest in the history and philosophy of social insect biology.

Recent research includes: Trail-marking and foraging behavior of social caterpillars and sawflies, in particular Arsenura armida, a Neotropical saturniid moth we study in Costa Rica, and the North American diprionid sawfly Neodiprion lecontei.

My students and I employ videography, classical experimental techniques, and genetic markers in studies of communication, group foraging dynamics and colony genetic structure. Colony performance experiments using eastern tent caterpillars as a model system to dissect the ecological factors underlying group size effects. Many caterpillar and sawfly colonies enjoy enhanced survivorship and growth as a function of group size, one result of which is that group-merging is favored regardless of genetic relationship between caterpillars of component groups. My students and I are now conducting experiments to document the mechanism, costs and benefits of supercolony formation.


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