Welcome to the Insect Ecology and Communication Lab in the Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Department at Columbia University.  Our research focuses on understanding communication pathways in insects (inter- and intra-specific communication) and their environment (plant-insect interactions and foraging). We are interested in using chemical ecology, behavioral ecology and physiology to advance our knowledge of basic insect ecology (foraging, mate location) in particular for pest management (e.g., bird blow flies, midge flies, mosquitos), conservation (e.g., longhorn beetles) and pollination (e.g. native pollinators) applications, and to develop viable monitoring techniques and strategies.

To tackle these research avenues, my interdisciplinary lab uses a combination of laboratory assays, field experiments and surveys, chemistry and chemical ecology methods (Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry [GCMS], computing machinery methods (e.g. Arduino programing and building attractive prototypes), and diagnostic tests that measure sensory transduction (electroantennogram [EAD] and electroretinogram [ERG]).

Check out current research projects under the “Research” tab.

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IN THE NEWS

Lanternfly Egg Masses Can Survive Winter! New Yorkers are stomping, scraping, and even vacuuming them away! Featuring Master student, Katherine Poulos. Published February 17, 2023.

Masters Student, Katherine Poulos, is interviewed for a Columbia Spectator article, “Spotted Lanternfly numbers are flying high in New York, as the small insects are wreaking havoc on local ecosystems“. Published September 27, 2022.

Sarah Romer receives the Canton Audubon Scholarship! Congratulations, Sarah!  Sarah is an aspiring entomologist, ornithologist, and an overall superb young naturalist.  Follow her, and her many adventures, via twitter @Romerishere.

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Team #OHIOinsects represented at the Student Expo! Wesley Walsh pushed and pulled pestiferous midge flies smell and sight cues  (#MidgeManagementOH), Makayla Deyling and Sarah Romer (#MidgeManagementOH) took 1st place among Biological Sciences Undergraduate Students for their poster “Flirty Flashy Flies”, and Helen Stec and Wesley Beuck won the Peoples Choice and the HTC Award for their poster “Beauty is in the Eye of the Fly” (#FlashingWingbeats). A much deserved CONGRATULATIONS!

Undergraduate Research Student, Wesley Walsh, is featured in the Logan Daily News, “Health department, Ohio University students monitor mosquitoes“.  (Published July 24, 2021)

Join Brodie Thursday, June 10 at 9am on WATH radio when Brodie will discuss her recent research investigating visual cues used by swarming flies, e.g., midges and mosquitos, for attracting potential mates.

It’s going to get loud, Mark Shaffer at The Tribune, interviews Dr. Brodie on 17-year Cicadas (Brood X) returning to the area.

An article, “Undergraduate researchers virtually travel the world to study role of flies in pollination” featured in OHIO news.  #BeyondBees is an Ohio University research project that uses photographs, taken by citizen scientists, as a tool to help identify how flies are involved in pollinating flowers. Read the article here. (Published April 15, 2021)

Lots of exciting research from the Bug Lab showcased at the Ohio University #OUVirtualExpo… We talk to bugs!  Emi Olin took 1st Place in Creative Arts for illustrating understanding and awareness of our fly (Diptera) pollinators, #BeyondBees (watch it here), Helen Stec placed for most creative title, and Morgan Bickel and Sarah Romer,  attracted a Twitter crowd of “likes”! A much deserved CONGRATULATIONS!

Helen Stec receives the OHIO University Presidential Undergraduate Research Fund (PURF) to Investigate multimodal cues used by female mosquitos (Culex pipiens) for locating reproductive swarms: implications for human health. (Received December 2021)

https://www.wevideo.com/view/1901877881

Sarah Romer is awarded first place for her outreach video about fly pollinators during OHIO University’s Education week (Received November 2021)

Our work with longicorn beetles in Romania was showcased on national TV (in Romanian); authorities are using pheromones to mitigate impacts of highway construction on endangered beetles. Check it out here.

OHIO University Undergraduate researchers win scholarships to travel to and present at the 2019 Annual Entomological Society of America conference.  Madeline Sudnick and Evelyn Blakeman won 1st place oral presentations in their respective symposia.  CONGRATULATIONS!!

Read about it in the Ohio University College of Arts & Sciences Forum: OHIO Undergraduate Researchers Rock the Insect World

Let’s talk about the birds and the… flies? A featured article in the Ohio University College of Arts and Sciences Forum. Summary: Madeline Sudnick investigates foraging ecology of avian fly parasites. (Published May 16, 2019)

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Team OHIO insects represented at the Student Expo! Olivia Amos and Claire Rothmann attracted wasps and a crowed, Mitch Duffner (#MidgeManagementOH) and Maddie Sudnick (#VampireMaggots) took 1st and 2nd place among Biological Sciences Undergraduate Students, and Julie Hixon (#BeyondBees) won 1st place for regional campuses at the OHIO University Student Expo on April 11, 2019.  A much deserved CONGRATULATIONS!

Students study vampire maggots was published in The Post and written by undergraduate student Jordan Ellis. Summary: Ohio University researchers study parasitic bird blow flies (AKA vampire maggots) in an attempt to identify new management techniques for control. (Published March 5, 2019)

Biologists lure beetles to diversity study in Romania as a featured article in the Ohio University College of Arts and Sciences Forum. Summary: Ohio University researchers use non-lethal techniques to monitor long horned beetles that are considered both pest and an endangered species. (Published February 3, 2019)

We received funding from OHIO University Research Council and Columbus Audubon in support of our Avian Parasitic Fly Project (#VampireMaggots). In collaboration with Avian Behavioral and Physiological Ecology Lab, led by Dr. Kelly Williams, this research seeks to identify communication pathways for management of parasitic bird blow flies.

Maddie Sudnick wins Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fund (PURF) to support her 2019 project investigating management strategies for the Avian Parasitic Fly (#VampireMaggots).  CONGRATULATIONS!!

Athens Area Birders features Dr. Bekka Brodie, “In the Eye of a Fly: What is behind the large, specialized eyes of flies?  And how do they use them to communicate, find mates, and food?” ODNR meeting room, 6:30pm, 6 November 18.

Anna Pasternak presented a poster “Exploring novel ways to control nuisance non-biting midges other than larvicides: polarized light and chemical odors as oviposition attractants” at the 34th Annual Scientific Symposium of the Ohio River Basin Consortium for Research & Education (ORBCRE) and the Ohio River Basin Alliance (ORBA) Conference, Thomas More University. Crestview Hills, KY 17-19 October 2018.

We received funding from Intko Supply Ltd. to assist with developing the most attractive wasp trap in Canada and the U.S.! Undergraduate Research Students Claire Rothman and Olivia Amos started preliminary work this fall (2018) at Snowville Creamery!

Sustainability Theme at Ohio University features Dr. Bekka Brodie.  Understanding and manipulating fly visual cues for earth friendly pest management solutions. 319 Alden Library, Ohio University, at 4:30pm. 25 October 18.

Madeline Sudnick, Undergraduate Research Student, wins first place award for her poster, “Nest structure, temperature and blow fly (Protocalliphora) parasitism in nest box breeding birds” at the Ohio Avian Research Conference at Denison University (21 Oct 18).

Researchers study midge fly infestation in Ohio wastewater treatment plants as a featured article in Phys.org. Summary: Brodie and Johnson are leading a team of undergraduate researchers in an effort to combat the pest midge flies in wastewater treatment plants.

Ayden Wilson, Undergraduate Research Student, wins second place award in sustainability for her poster, “Are flies pollen their weight? Data mining social media for information on fly (Diptera) pollinators” at the Ohio University Student Expo (April 2017).

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