The Song Laboratory of Insect Systematics and Evolution

Orthoptera is a fascinating group of insects that contains grasshoppers, locusts, katydids, and crickets, well known for their ability to jump and acoustic communication. Despite its familiarity, the phylogenetic relationships within Orthoptera are poorly understood and the classification is not stable because of a long history of conflicting taxonomic schemes based on different morphological traits. My research aims at improving the current status of the systematics of Orthoptera through descriptive and revisionary taxonomy and phylogenetic analyses using morphology, DNA, behavioral and ecological traits.

In 2008, I received an NSF grant (DEB-0816962) to reconstruct a comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis of Orthoptera, based on complete mitochondrial genomes and nuclear genes. So far, two major collecting trips (South Africa and Australia) and collaborations with the orthopterists worldwide have provided DNA-grade tissue samples to have the most complete taxon sampling of about 400 species which covers every known family and most subfamilies. Through this project, I will propose testable phylogenetic hypotheses for the major lineages of Orthoptera, which will serve as a foundation for further systematic research for this interesting group of insects. A number of international collaborative projects have been initiated from this project with the researchers from France, Germany, Argentina, Australia, and China.

My long-term goal is to train the next generation of orthopterists through an active systematics program because Orthoptera, unlike other major taxonomic groups, lacks taxonomic expertise and there are only a handful of active specialists around the world.