Researcher biography
Bronwen’s research activities focus on biological surfaces with relevance to invertebrates, in particular insects. Examples include how urticating setae from lepidopteran caterpillars cause abortion in horses; how naturally occurring particulates applied to arthropod surfaces can be used to improve pest management (e.g. application of diatomatious earth); understanding the role that nano and microstructures present on insect cuticle play in self-cleaning, wettability and microbial interactions; discovering novel functional aspects of cuticle-derived insect gland-systems; the role that plant physical and chemical surfaces play in insect-plant interactions with a focus on improving pest management practices; and responses of Queensland Fruit Fly to visual cues from biological surface mimics.