Research Outline

With over 1,000,000 species, insects are undoubtedly the most diverse group of organisms on this globe. They play a crucial role in natural ecosystems and serve as valuable resources in biological research. Insects have been fascinating researchers and naturalists for centuries due to their peculiar ways of life and morphological characteristics. However, sadly, our understanding of these creatures remains disproportionately incomplete. For instance, some scientists even estimate that there may be more insect species than are currently known.
My research aims to explore the biodiversity and evolutionary history of parasitoid wasps of the family Mutillidae, aka velvet ants. Velvet ants exhibit various unique features, which potentially provide novel insights into biology. As part of my work, I am revising the classification system and gathering natural history data on velvet ants through fieldwork and museum visits.