Invertebrates
We study the biodiversity of tropical African invertebrates.
Our research focuses on:
- flies
- spiders
- parasitic flatworms
- millipedes
- sea cucumbers.
We cover several disciplines:
- taxonomy
- population genetics
- phylogenetics
- biogeography
- ecology (insect-host plant and parasite-host relationships)
- insect pest control
- conservation
- parasitic diseases.
The museum’s molecular biology laboratory (Joint Experimental Molecular Unit, JEMU) is managed together with the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, with which we also handle the BopCo (Barcoding of Organisms and tissues of Policy Concern) project. We are part of the Belgian Network for DNA Barcoding.