ABOUT the lab

Catching a meal on the wing

Have you ever wondered how dragonflies catch mosquitos with such agility and precision? Their eyes, brain and wings work together to achieve this feat. In fact, each part of this animal has been fine tuned through millions of years of evolution to get the upper hand in the prey-predador evolutionary race. 

​"Each dragonfly in our arena has its own color code"

.... not just dragonflies!

Damselflies, Robber flies, Killer flies... 

We study the WHY, not just the HOW. Why do damselflies have eyes far apart, but most dragonflies don't?

Answering such questions requires a comparative approach: in addition to Odonata (the dragonflies and damselflies), we also work with Diptera (true flies!). Predation in this group has evolved independently multiple times. Our research shows that each Diptera predatory group hunts differently, and by linking Ecology, Evolution, Neuroscience and Behavior, we are finding out the why!

View Publications

In the news... 

Our research is often highlighted in International Newspapers and TV channels, 
Including NYTimes, The Atlantic, The Late Show, BBC (UK), Television Espanola (Spain)
... find out more HERE 

NY Times Article: 
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/10/science/robber-flies-eyes.html

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NY Times Article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/28/science/jewel-wing-damselfly-dragonfly.html 

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