Research Area
Active Research fields
Biological control of pest insects, chemical and behavioral ecology of the behavior of their natural enemies, in particular parasitoids and hyperparasitoids, study of the chemical interactions involved in the host location processes in the multi-trophic systems plant - herbivore - parasitoid - hyperparasitoid, with field and laboratory studies. Study the role of parasitoid-associated symbionts in insect-plant interactions
Research projects of the last 5 years
FUNDED RESEARCH
Principla investigator
2019 NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research) - postdoctoral fellowship “Hidden players in plant-insect interactions: effects of third-trophic level symbionts on responses of plants to herbivory”
2017 Agrenskills+ fellowship (FP7 - EU Project). “Unravelling the complexity of plant responses to herbivory: the role of parasitic larvae and their symbiotic viruses as hidden players in plant-insect interaction”
2016-2017 Marie Curie Individual fellowship (H2020 – EU Project). “Unravelling the complexity of plant-insect interactions: the hidden role played by herbivore-associatedorganisms”
2013 European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) short-term fellowship. “Effect of parasitoids maternal factors on developing insect embryos” con durata di 3 mesi
Associated partner
2018-2022 (NWO-AWL competition): “Beware of the enemy of your enemy`s enemy: plant-mediated interaction networks that allow hyperparasitic wasps to find their parasitoid hosts”
2014-2017 Impact of invasive alien true bug species in native trophic webs (Horizon2020 - INVASION)”
2013 Genetic structure of cotton stink bug parasitoids associated with different host plant species” USDASIPMC- IPM Enhancement Grant.
2012-2015 FP7-PEOPLE-IRSES “Better Understanding of Bugs for Improved Environment”. Work Package 4 “Intraguild interactions in egg parasitoids”
2011-2014 Going to the root of plant productivity: how the rhizosphere interact with the aboveground armament for indirect and direct defense against abiotic and biotic stressors (PRO-ROOT) PRIN 2011
2011-2015 Induction of plant VOC emission by biotic and abiotic stresses and consequences for community ecology: a multidisciplinary approach (ESF Eurovol)”
2007-2010 Enhancing foraging behavior of insect egg parasitoids: the role of volatile organic compounds and the epicuticular layers of plants. PRIN 2007
Collaborations
Nina Fatouros - Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Anne-Nathalie Volkoff - 1UMR DGIMI INRA 1333 – Université de Montpellier
Erik Poelman - Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Marcel Dicke - Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Ian Hardy - School of Bioscience, University of Nottingham, UK
Paul Abram - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Bart Lievens - Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven, Belgium