Founder
Dr Wendy Harris
I am an Associate Professor at Swansea University where I lecture in Entomology and Science Communication, as well as field courses in Field Zoology, Professional Skills in Conservation, and Tropical Ecology and Conservation in Borneo. My research crosses pollinator distributions, dragonfly behaviour, and collaborative work with material engineering, and I have recently developed a huge fascination with ants. I wanted to create a way to support engagement with entomological research in a transparent and accessible format, and have been lucky enough to find a group of students with the same drive and enthusiasm for the subject!
Editors-In-Chief
In no particular order, the editors-in-chief are:
Madeleine Fabušová
Hi, my name is Madeleine Fabušová, and I am a PhD student at Newcastle University, studying the impacts of artificial light at night on biodiversity, primarily insects. My favourite group of insects are ‘Lepidoptera’, our moths and butterflies- their diversity and ecological importance makes them truly fascinating! I got involved with EntoBites as I hope to make insect science and entomology accessible to everyone.
Stephanie Glendinning
Hello! My name is Steph Glendinning and I’m a PhD student at the University of Sheffield, researching pollinating insects in urban areas. My favourite insect is the bee-fly (Bombylius major) which looks really cute and cuddly, but the larvae are actually sneaky nest parasites on ground-nesting bees. I love communicating the wonder of insect science, and EntoBites is an amazing opportunity to share my knowledge.
Katie Morgans
Hi, my name is Katie Morgans, and I am a PhD student at Swansea University. My research looks at the Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle, an economically important crop pest, and how its visual ecology can inform the development of more effective monitoring and control measures. Despite my work focusing on beetles, my favourite insect is the Drinker Moth because it is quite possibly the cutest thing on the planet! I joined Entobites because I love science communication and outreach, and I want to develop my skills in disseminating research, making it accessible to everyone!
Veronika Pavlasová
Hello, my name is Veronika Pavlasová, and I am a PhD student at Newcastle University. I am investigating nutrient transport between crop pest insects and their endosymbionts. This symbiotic relationship helps the insects thrive and allows them to inhabit various niches. I am particularly interested in insects that harbour endosymbionts (such as aphids), as well as parasitic insects and other ectoparasites (like ticks and mites). I joined EntoBites because it offers a fantastic platform to connect with a broader audience and share my enthusiasm and knowledge.
Armando Rosario-Lebrón
I’m Armando Rosario-Lebrón, a PhD student at Swansea University, with a passion for entomology, arachnology and science outreach.
There is a large and complex world of life under our feet, a world that has so much to tell us, we can study arthropods for a lifetime and just begin to understand them! My current focus as a PhD student is on parasiticide persistence in the environment. Specifically, I am investigating the impact of environmental exposure to parasiticides from livestock and pets on non-target organisms. I hope to shed some light on some of the more novel and interesting organisms most people have never even known existed with my contributions to EntoBites.
Matthew Sparks
Hi, my name is Matthew Sparks and I’m a current PhD student at Swansea University. I am researching how flies view urban environments which has come with a lot of unique challenges trying to recreate their vision as there’s a lot of elements to consider (being able to see ultraviolet and polarised light for a few examples!). Flies are obviously my favourite group of insects although I do have a soft spot for common cockchafers (Melolontha melolontha) as they do have adorable faces and since I raised one from a grub found in my dads garden. I believe there’s an insect species or group for everyone out there which is why I write for Entobites to help you find yours.
Authors
In no particular order, the article authors are:
Maddie Park
Hello, my name is Maddie Park and I am a PhD student at Newcastle University. My research looks to further understand nutrient transport in sap feeding crop pests which have evolved relationships with bacteria. This includes aphids, whitefly and psyllids. The sap that these insects feed on is low in essential amino acids, but the bacteria they house are able to provide these essential amino acids. The final part of my research will involve finding ways to disrupt the relationship between sap feeding insect pests and their symbiotic bacteria as a way to develop new species specific pesticides, which don’t harm beneficial insects as many current pesticides do. My favourite insects are the true bugs (hemiptera) which includes sap feeding insects but also a whole variety of other interesting species like the water strider which can walk on water! I got involved with EntoBites as I love learning about and communicating science and believe that entomology should be more accessible for everyone.
Dr. Alfonsina Grabosky
Hi, I am a Doctoral Fellow at the National Scientific and Technical Research
Council (CONICET, Argentina). I hold a Master’s degree in Biodiversity
Conservation from Rey Juan Carlos University (Spain) and completed my PhD
in Biological Sciences at the National University of Salta (Argentina). Since my
undergraduate studies, I have focused on understanding urban diversity
patterns in tardigrades—commonly known as “water bears”— exploring how
these microinvertebrates respond to environmental gradients and urbanisation.
Alongside my research, I am the director of the science outreach project
Discovering the Microfauna, which aims to bring the hidden world of
microscopic invertebrates closer to the public through accessible
communication.
Molly Walker
Hi I’m Molly Walker, I am an undergraduate Biology student at the University of Oxford hoping to pursue further study in insect sensory Biology. I am particularly drawn to Hymenoptera, especially solitary bees and parasitic wasps. I love to share my interest in the natural world with others, usually though my artwork, so I was excited to join the authors at Entobites to make entomology research more accessible and help others appreciate how amazing and diverse insects are.
Baxter Walters-Hutton
Hey! I’m Baxter Walters-Hutton (They/Them/He/Him) , and I’m an undergraduate student at Swansea University, studying Zoology. Currently I’m on my placement year at the Natural History Museum, which Entobites have helped us to document and provide a place to share the journey. Personally, I have a great interest in Hymenopterans, specifically Eusocial insects, as I am fascinated by their societies, however the parasitic wasps are a group I appreciate increasingly as my placement continues!
Lucas Aucock
Hi, my name is Lucas Aucock! I’m a Zoology student at Swansea University, and currently undertaking a placement year at the Natural History Museum! I’m working in the Hymenopteran department, which is great as my favourite insects are the tarantula hawks, belonging to the genera Pepsis and Hemipepsis! They are said to possess the most painful sting of any wasp, certainly making a big impression – ouch! I hope to make a big insect impression on all EntoBites readers with lots of entomological extracts from my museum adventure!
Alejandra Castañeda González
Hi! My name is Alejandra Castañeda González. I’m an experimental biologist from the University of Guanajuato, and I hold a PhD in Life Sciences from CICESE, México. I currently live in Baja California, a beautiful place full of nature, especially rich in native bees. I’m passionate about insects, with a speciality in bees and their relationship to wildfires. I’ve also worked with beetles and mites. My interest is to communicate science in a fun and accessible way, which is why I create content on social media as @abejandra_nativa.
Tyler Maire
Hi, my name is Tyler Maire, and I am a Research Entomologist at the Indian River Mosquito Control District in Vero Beach, Florida. My work focuses on mosquito surveillance, oviposition behavior, and chemical attractants. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on the planet, and understanding their biology is critical for protecting public health. My favorite group of insects, however, are weevils (Curculionidae) for their incredible diversity and bizarre morphology. I got involved with EntoBites because I believe accessible science communication is essential for bridging the gap between mosquito control and the broader public’s understanding of the insects that impact their daily lives.
Pablo Lechuga-Paredes
Hi, I’m Pablo, a PhD student in Biological Sciences at the University of Plymouth (UK), where I study population genetics and environmental DNA. I hold a Master’s degree in Entomology from Colegio de Postgraduados (Mexico). I chose to pursue postgraduate studies in entomology simply because, at some point of my life, I fell in love with insects. Over time, I’ve been able to combine my interest in molecular biology and entomology, focusing part of my work on the molecular mechanisms that shape chemical ecology in the pepper weevil. At the same time, I’m deeply concerned about the conservation of native insects, which have been heavily impacted by urbanization and pest control practices. Through my writing for EntoBites, I hope to share fascinating insights about insects’ topics (although I’m afraid mostly focused on genetic stuff), that may seem hard to swallow at first but are ultimately engaging and worth exploring.
Shanmuga Priya
Hi, my name is Shanmuga Priya, and I have recently submitted my doctoral
thesis in Agricultural Entomology at Annamalai University (Faculty of
Agriculture), focusing on the red weaver ant (Oecophylla smaragdina). I am
also a writer and enjoy presenting ideas in a simple and easy-to-understand way.
When I came across Entobites, I was excited to contribute and explore how I
can share my work through writing. My favourite insects are fairyflies
(Mymaridae), the most tiniest insects, yet incredibly powerful in their role as
biological control agents, and of course, the red weaver ant from which I have
learned a great deal. Through Entobites, I hope to share the fascinating world of
insects with readers and inspire a deeper appreciation for them.
Penny Newton
Hi! My name is Penny Newton. I am a woodland conservation undergraduate from Bangor University in North Wales, UK. I am a religious lepidopterist with extensive experience researching British butterflies. I monitor butterfly populations where I live in southern England, and study the exciting use of UV torching to locate caterpillars and pupae of woodland and grassland butterflies. I joined EntoBites for the opportunity to teach more people about my butterfly friends! I am also a poet and a storyteller and greatly enjoy creating beauty with words.
EntoBites 