Research
I am currently studying stemmata, the larval eyes of holometabolous insects. These are the insects which undergo complete metamorphosis like beetles, flies and butterflies. While most insects have compound eyes that are composed of multiple repeating units known as ommatidia at all life stages, holometabola are different. While adults have insect-typical compound eyes, the larvae have single-chamber camera-type eyes which in terms of optical organisation resemble our own. Interestingly, ample evidence suggests that these eyes have evolved from compound eye ancestry. This makes them excellent model systems to study organogenesis. How a common eye development ground plan modified to give rise to these structurally and optically distinct organs is one of the main questions I hope to answer through my doctoral studies using the newly established model organism, the sunburst diving beetle.
Like most animals with complex eyes, many insect larvae display complex visually-guided behaviours. This requires correctly focused eyes so their vision is sharp. This state of focus needs to be maintained as the larvae rapidly grow via moulting, a process in which the dimensions of their eyes and lenses which focus light, change. Thus stemmata are also ideal model systems to explore the mechanisms of lens development and how this contributes to correct focusing, forming another component of my doctoral studies.