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fungus growning ants, Sericomyrmex
Sericmyrmex colony

Jeffrey Sosa-Calvo, SI Pre-Doctoral Fellow

  • Phone:   202-633-1002
  • Fax:   202-786-2894
  • E-mail Address:   sossajef@si.edu
  • USPS Address:
    Smithsonian Institution
    PO Box 37012, MRC 188, Rm. CE-518
    Washington, DC 20013-7012
  • Public Carrier Address:
    Smithsonian Institution
    National Museum of Natural History
    10th & Constitution NW
    Washington, DC 20560-0188
  • Education:
    University of Maryland at College Park.
    M. Sc. Candidate in Entomology.

    Universidad del Quindio-Armenia-Colombia
    B.S. Biology & Environmental Education
Jeffrey Sosa-Calvo digging for leaf-cutter ant nests

Research Interests:

My main interests are the systematics, behavior, and evolutionary biology of insects, especially ants (Formicidae) and parasitic wasps (Scoliidae). In particular, I am very interested (as part of my graduate studies) in conducting the systematic revision of the primitive non-leaf-cutting fungus-growing ant genus Myrmicocrypta, and the construction of coevolutionary hypotheses including the ants and their symbionts (fungal cultivars, Escovopsis weed molds, and Pseudonocardia, antibiotic producing bacterial mutualism). To do so, I am planning to use both morphological and molecular approaches as well as data obtained from behavior and natural history to conduct this revision. Taxon sampling will include representative species from the genera that currently comprises the Attini (Formicidae: Mymicinae), and representatives from other Myrmicinae tribes, especially the tribe Blepharidattini (genera Blepharidatta and Wasmannia) which have been proposed to be the sister group of the attines. Morphological data will be recorded from all ant castes (gynes, males and workers). Molecular data will include sequences from nuclear (wingless, 28S- non-protein coding) and mitochondrial (COI) genes. Mitochondrial COI gene has proven to be at an appropriate rate of divergence for examination of species level relationships. If necessary, three more nuclear genes (EF1-alpha, EF2-alpha, and LwRh OPSIN) would be considered.

I am also currently conducting the world revision of the spider-egg predator ant genus Discothyrea (Proceratiinae) with Dr. John LaPolla (Towson University), using both morphological and molecular approaches. I am also conducting biodiversity studies in Central and South America in collaboration with Dr. Ted Schultz (NMNH-SI) and Dr. John LaPolla (Towson University), and comparing the ant fauna in the Guyana Shield vs. the Amazonian forest to extrapolate patterns of endemism and to identify areas of conservation concern.

Publications:

Sosa-Calvo, J. and D. F. Campos. 2005. First record of the family Heloridae
(Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea) for Colombia. Revista de la Sociedad Colombiana de Entomologia (SOCOLEN) 31: 233- 234. (In Spanish)

Sosa- Calvo, J., S. Shattuck, and T. R. Schultz. 2006. Dacetine ants of Panama: New records and description of a new species (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Dacetini). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 108(4): 814-821.

LaPolla, J. S., & J. Sosa-Calvo. 2006. Review of the ant genus Rogeria (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Guyana. Zootaxa 1330: 59-68.

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