Department III. ENTOMOLOGY
The department is divided in two sections.
Head of departement: Patrick Grootaert
- General management, maintenance and updating of entomological and arachnological collections (this website will be opened in a new window).
- Taxonomic and phylogenetic study of insects and arachnids, with a particular stress on the following subjects:
- evolution of ecological adaptations in spiders and groundbeetles of the Galapagos islands (mechanisms of speciation);
- research on speciation modes in insects. It is more particularly attempted to find out whether the behaviour (swarming, mating, capturing of prey) may lead to a genetic isolation within populations and species;
- ecologic research on soil arthropod communities (Viroinval, Forêt de Soignes, Uruguay).
- research on shape evolution of Coleoptera Straphylinidae
- Cartography, ecology and bio-monitoring of various invertebrate taxa (e.g. spiders, ground- beetles, rove-beetles, diptera) in natural, semi-natural and anthropic environments of our country.
- Trophic ecology of bats.
- Carrying on with the museological achievements in the permanent exhibition room devoted to insects and arachnids.