Introduction to Research in Our Laboratory

Welcome.  The aim of this site is to introduce the fascinating world of vibrational communication in leafhoppers and treehoppers to undergraduate students and the public.  In the future this site will be expanded to include detailed information on technology and methods that may be helpful to graduate students and researchers.

About the system.

Mating behavior in leafhoppers and treehoppers involves the exchange of vibrational signals between the sexes.  These signals are often complex and are transmitted through plants as minute vibrations that are far beyond the range of human perception. Until recently, the study of their species-specific mating signals has been limited primarily to examining variation in signals at the population and species level in order to resolve taxonomic problems. As compared to birds, frogs, and insects that use airborne signals, broader questions regarding the function and evolution of vibrational communication systems are relatively unexplored.  I believe that these insects will ultimately serve as important model systems for addressing contemporary questions in evolutionary biology. 

Leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) are among the most diverse and abundant of all insect taxa.  Thousands of species have been described.  Even a typical lawn may harbor 20 or more species with up to several hundred individuals per square meter. Much work on these insects has been prompted because a few species are important agricultural pests. Some leafhoppers damage crops by their feeding activities. More important, however, is that they transmit many plant pathogens.  Treehoppers (Membracidae) are close relatives of leafhoppers.  Although they cause few problems and go largely unnoticed,  treehoppers have long fascinated biologists because of their interesting behaviors and morphological adaptations (e.g. crypsis, warning coloration, maternal care of offspring, ant attendance, etc.). 

My students and I are currently engaged in a range of projects aimed at understanding the role of vibrational signals in sexual competition, mate preference, mutualism, and speciation.  Further information can be found in the Current Projects section.