Rebecca Simmons

Assistant Professor of Biology
University of North Dakota
rebecca.simmons@und.nodak.edu
(701) 777-3439

B.S. 1992, Bridgewater College
M.S. 1995, Wake Forest University
Ph.D. 2001, University of Minnesota
Postdoctoral Fellow, USDA/ARS/PSI/Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Systematics of Lepidoptera, especially Tiger moths ( Arctiidae ) and Cutworms ( Noctuidae ), Evolution of Mimicry and Courtship Behaviors, Identification of Pest Species

RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am interested in the evolution of mimetic tiger moths, members of the arctiid tribes Euchromiini and Ctenuchini . These moths are intriguing because they closely resemble wasps, toxic beetles, poisonous butterflies and other noxious insects. These moths are not harmless, Batesian mimics of their models, but are toxic because of their larval hostplants . As larvae, these moths sequester toxins such as alkaloids and cardeonolides , and carry them into their adult stage. In addition to this precise mimicry of other insect groups, these moths have diverse courtship behaviors involving both scent and sound.

One of my long-range research objectives is to construct an evolutionary tree (phylogeny) for both of these tribes. With this phylogeny, collaborators and I will be able to track the evolution of mimetic type and other behaviors. This phylogeny will be constructed from multiple sources of data, such anatomical (morphological) data and from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA.

In addition to my research with mimetic tiger moths, I am interested in the cutworm family, particularly the most speciose lineage, the trifine noctuids . I have been working with the genus Copitarsia , an important economic pest in Central and South America . Thus far, I have been constructing useful identification tools using both traditional anatomical characters and DNA sequences. Further, I am involved in an effort to construct a morphological phylogeny of the pest noctuid subfamilies.

Prospective Graduate Students :   to get more information about research opportunities in Dr. Simmons's lab, contact her directly.  Additional information can also be obtained from the UND Graduate School and the UND Department of Biology , including application information.

PREVIOUS FUNDING

Externally Funded

2001 USDA-APHIS. Title: Systematics as a tool for assessing interception and control strategies of Copitarsia spp . (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae ), advised by Dr. Michael Pogue and Dr. Sonja Scheffer (USDA/ARS/PSI/SEL). ($287,052)

1997 NSF-DIG. Susan Weller as senior PI. Title: Dissertation Improvement Grant: Evolution of wasp mimicry in tiger moths. ($9,601)

1996 Theodore Roosevelt Natural History Award. American Museum of Natural History. Title: A Costa Rican trip to collect Arctiid wasp-mimics (Lepidoptera). ($1,000)

1993 Grant in Aid of Research. Sigma Xi. ($250)

Internally Funded

2004 Senate of Scholarly Activities, Univ. of North Dakota . Title: Evolution of Warning Coloration in Two Lineages of Tiger Moths (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae : Arctiinae , Euchromiini & Ctenuchini ). ($1,760.32)

2000 Dayton and Wilkie Award. Bell Museum of Natural History , Univ. of Minnesota Title: A Molecular Phylogeny of Euchromiine Wasp Mimics (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae ). ($1,400)

1999 Dayton and Wilkie Award. Bell Museum of Natural History , Univ. of Minnesota Title: A Molecular Study of Wasp Mimicking Tiger Moths. ($900)

1997 Dayton and Wilkie Award. Bell Museum of Natural History , Univ. of Minnesota . Title: A Molecular Study of Mimetic Tiger Moths. ($1,200)

1996 Dayton and Wilkie Award. Bell Museum of Natural History , Univ. of Minnesota . Title: A Costa Rican trip to collect Arctiid wasp-mimics (Lepidoptera). ($1,350)

PUBLICATIONS

2005. Simmons, R. B. and S. J. Weller. In press. Review of the Sphecosoma genus group using adult morphology (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae ). Thomas Say Monograph Series , 101 pp., 108 figs.

2004. Simmons, R. B. and M. G. Pogue. Accepted pending revisions. Redescription of two often confused noctuid pests, Copitarsia decolora ( Guenée ) and C. incommoda ( Walker ) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae : Cuculliinae ). Annals of Ent . Soc. Amer.

2004. Simmons, R. B. and S. J. Scheffer . Evidence of cryptic species within the pest Copitarsia decolora ( Guenée ) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae ). Annals of Ent . Soc. Amer. 97: 675-680.

2004. Simmons, R. B. Description of Sphecosoma pattiannae Simmons, a new euchromiine species, with comments on novel male androconia (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae : Arctiinae : Euchromiini ). Zootaxa 519: 1-12.

2004. Weller, S.J., R. B. Simmons, and A. Carlson. Empyreuma species and species limits: Evidence from morphology and molecules ( Arctiidae : Arctiinae : Ctenuchini ). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 58: 21-32.

2002. Simmons, R. B. and S. J. Weller. What kind of signals do mimetic tiger moths send? A phylogenetic test in tiger moths (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae : Euchromiini ). Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, series B 269: 983-990.

2001. Simmons, R.B. and S. J. Weller. Preliminary phylogeny of mimetic tiger moths (Lepidoptera) and evolution of cyt b in Insecta . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 20: 196-210.

2000. Weller, S. J., R. B. Simmons, R. Boada , and W. E. Conner. Abdominal modifications occurring in wasp mimics of the ctenuchine-euchromiine clade . Annals of Ent . Soc. Amer. 93(4): 920-928.

1998. Simmons, R. B., W. E. Conner, and R. B. Davidson. Identification of major components of the female pheromone blend of Euchaetes egle Drury ( Arctiidae ). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 52(4): 356-363.

1996. Simmons, R. B. and W. E. Conner. Acoustic cues in the defense and courtship of Euchaetes egle Drury and E. bolteri Stretch (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae ). Journal of Insect Behavior 9: 909-919.