Sosa-Calvo, Jeffrey

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
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. To determine the relationships of the species within the genus, I will employ both morphological and molecular characters including, for the former, characters of all castes and life stages and, for the latter, the nuclear genes wingless, 28S, EF1-alpha F1 and F2 paralogs, and LwRH opsin, and the COI mitochondrial gene. Mitochondrial COI gene has proven to be at an appropriate rate of divergence for examination of species level relationships. 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.

Education University of Maryland at College Park. U.S.A Ph. D. program, Department of Entomology (2007- present)

University of Maryland at College Park. U.S.A M. Sc. Entomology. Fall 2003-2007

Universidad del Quindio- Armenia- Colombia B.S. Biology and Environmental Education: April 2002

TAXONOMIC PUBLICATIONS

 * Azorsa, F. & Sosa-Calvo, J. 2008. Description of a remarkable new species of ant in the genus Daceton Perty from South America. Zootaxa 1749: 27-38.


 * Bolton, B., Sosa-Calvo, J., Fernández, F. & Lattke, J.E. 2008. New synonyms in neotropical myrmicine ants. Zootaxa 1732: 61-64.


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


 * Sosa-Calvo, J., S. G. Brady and T. R. Schultz. 2009. The gyne of the enigmatic fungus-farming ant species Mycetosoritis explicata. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 18(1): 113-120.


 * Sosa-Calvo, J. & Longino, J.T. 2008. Subfamilia Proceratiinae (pp. 219-237). In Jíminez, E., Fernández, F., Arias, T.M. & Lozano-Zambrano, F.H. (eds). Sistematica, biogeografia y conservación de las hormigas cazadoras de Colombia: 609 pp. Instituto Alexander von Humboldt, Bogota.


 * Sosa-Calvo, J. & Schultz, T. R. 2010. Three remarkable new fungus-growing ant species of the genus Myrmicocrypta, with a reassessment of the characters that define the genus and its position within the Attini. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 103: 181-195.


 * Sosa-Calvo, J., Shattuck, S.O. & Schultz, T. R. 2006. Dacetine ants of Panama: new records and description of a new species. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 108: 814-821. [12.x.2006.]


 * Sosa-Calvo, J., T.R. Schultz, and J.S. LaPolla. 2010. A review of the dacetine ants of Guyana (Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 19(1): 12-43.