Insect Biodiversity and Systematics Laboratory

University of Hawai’i at Mānoa

Hawaiʻi’s insects reveal both remarkable evolutionary diversity and the pressures created by invasive species. Rubinoff’s laboratory uses DNA sequence information, morphology, ecological studies, and field and laboratory work to investigate these organisms. Research addresses relationships among native and introduced insects, the routes through which invasions occur, and causes of declines in native insects and plants. The group connects systematics with conservation planning and land management, using evidence about species identities and ecological relationships to inform efforts to protect biodiversity.