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.
- Staff
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Scientific personnel
- Marc De Meyer, Head of department (acting)
Diptera, taxonomy, phylogeny, insect-plant relationships - Benjamin André, Molecular biologist
- Mercy Ashepet, Social biologist
citizen science, snail-borne diseases, natural harzard, surveys, Focus group discussions - Achik Dorchin, Entomologist
Hymenoptera - Diana Erazo Quintero, Ecological modeler
- Lore Esselens, Molecular biologist
Diptera, fruit flies, (population) genomics - Tine Huyse, Parasitologist/molecular biologist
host-parasite relationships, phylogeography and population genetics, invasive species, zoonoses, One Health - Kurt Jordaens, Entomologist
Diptera, hover flies, taxonomy, phylogeny, insect-plant relationships - Fanny Kratz
- Patricia Mergen , Liaison officer
Project proposal & management support, institutional representation, fundraising - Luiza Mitrache, Coordination Citizen Science
- Nathalie Smitz, Molecular biologist
DNA barcoding, phylogeography and population genetics, conservation biology - Sam Vanbergen, Molecular biologist
Population genomics, invasion biology, phylogeography - Massimiliano Virgilio, Taxonomist/molecular biologist
Diptera, fruit flies, molecular and ecological taxonomy, population genetics
Technical and administrative staff
- Myriam Vandenbosch, Administrative Assistant
Volunteers
- Emilie Goossens
- Wouter Hendrycks
- Ruben Schols, Molecular biologist
invasieve soorten, zoönosen, One Health, freshwater snails, trematodes, microbiome - Noelia del Carmen Valderrama Bhraunxs
- Marc De Meyer, Head of department (acting)
- Scientific tools
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Fruit flies (Tephritidae)
Lepidoptera
- AfroMoths, online database on Afrotropical moths
- Global taxonomic database of Gracillariidae
- AfroMoths, online database on Afrotropical moths
- Training
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We organize training courses on African fruit flies (Tephritidae) and fly pollinators.
- Publications
