Research interests
NEMI is developing projects related to the following lines of research:
1. Biology and ecology of insects
This line of research includes studies on the influence of host plants and temperature on insect biology and ecology, the role of biotic and abiotic factors on insect pest abundance, as well as the use of biological control for population regulation of agricultural pests. With these studies, we intend to shed light on the factors influencing the occurrence of insect pests in agroecosystems and help others in the development of Integrated Pest Management programs aiming to reduce the use of pesticides.
2. Development of phenological models for insect pests
This line of research focuses on the development of phenological models to predict the occurrence of insect pests under field conditions and understand the effects of global warming on insect voltinism. We aim to develop tools that allow us to coincide control measures with the occurrence of the vulnerable stages of the pest in the field.
3. Ecological niche modeling
This line of research aims to understand the factors that influence the distribution of species on both regional and global scales. These studies are used to evaluate the risk of invasion of agricultural and forestry pests, as well as to understand the effect of climate change on species distributions. This information can be used to implement quarantine measures in order to prevent the spread of insect pests and understand the vulnerabilities related to climate change.
