Ricerc@Sapienza

I am interested in intraspecific diversity of insects, mainly phytophagous and saproxylic species, in both evolutionary contexts—concerning insect–plant relationships and the adaptive significance of genetic polymorphisms in certain groups of phytophagous beetles (Weevils; Curculionidae)—and in conservation-related issues, particularly in the prioritization of protected areas aimed at safeguarding insect species included in the Habitats Directive. I study the relationships between genetic variability and diet breadth (from monophagy to polyphagy) in certain species of Curculionidae and Chrysomelidae, also using a population genomics approach. Additionally, in the context of these studies, from 2002 to 2020 I was the principal investigator of a research project, in collaboration with the European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL) of the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and the Biotechnology and Biological Control Agency (BBCA, Rome, Italy), focused on the biological control of invasive plants. We genetically characterized several natural populations of phytophagous insects to evaluate them as potential biological control agents against invasive weeds. These insect populations were biotypes associated with the target weeds and could potentially serve as sources for the release of biological control agents. Therefore, the project was strongly based on the integration of genetic and ecological data to plan the release of these insects into the wild. Some results of this project initiated a research program aimed at understanding: a) the genetic divergence associated with the use of alternative host plants by closely related species of leaf beetles (Psylliodes spp.; Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Trichosirocalus spp.; Curculionidae), and b) possible hybridization events between host races of these beetles. Regarding the conservation aspects of insects listed in the Habitats Directive, I am working on estimating, based on both publicly available database records and newly generated data for certain saproxylic beetle species, their intraspecific genetic diversity to study its spatial distribution using geostatistical methods and to identify areas of greatest conservation interest.

I am also interested in the taxonomy and systematics of beetle groups, particularly within the families Curculionidae, Nitidulidae, Phalacridae, Scarabaeidae, Hydraenidae, and Endomychidae, from both the Palaearctic and Afrotropical regions. Resolving taxonomic and phylogenetic issues is a fundamental prerequisite for investigating these beetles from a biogeographic and evolutionary standpoint. To this end, I apply both morphological and molecular methodologies within a modern cladistic framework to infer phylogenetic relationships among the taxa under study. My biogeographic and phylogeographic work primarily focuses on analyzing beetle faunas from the Euro-Mediterranean and Afrotropical regions. Key objectives include reconstructing the palaeodynamics of colonization events and delineating biogeographically homogeneous areas, such as zoogeographic regions or districts.

I have published more than 90 scientific papers primarily on insects. I have participated and organized many trips to collect biological samples in European and African countries