Students, together with Professor María Cristina Gallego Ropero, made a remarkable contribution during the event held at the Universidad del Magdalena.

The University of Cauca, with a delegation of 20 students from the Biology program (members of the Functional Diversity and Ecosystem Services Research Seedbed, GEA Group), participated in the 52nd Congress of the Colombian Entomology Society (SOCOLEN). The event took place from July 25 to 27 at the Universidad del Magdalena and brought together researchers and professionals interested in the study of insects to share research findings and advances in the knowledge and management of this diverse group.

 

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The students, accompanied by Professor María Cristina Gallego Ropero from the Department of Biology, researcher and curator of the Entomology Collection at the Natural History Museum, presented their research in both oral and poster formats. Their work showcased advances and results in projects related to insect studies, including ecology, distribution, taxonomy, morphology, and diversity of various groups such as dragonflies; Hymenoptera like bees, ants, mutillids, and halictids; Coleoptera such as weevils, dung beetles, carabids, and ladybugs; Lepidoptera; Orthoptera; among others.

Professor Gallego Ropero, mentor of the research seedbed, also served as moderator and presenter of the lecture “Cauca and Its Bees: From Conservation to Sustainable Production” during the symposium “Native Bees: Knowing Our Pollinators, Conserving Our Future.” She also organized and moderated the panel discussion “Entomological Collections in the Digital Era: How Do They Adapt to the Changes Imposed by New Technologies?”

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During the event, Unicaucano students stood out with their research, earning recognition from the Board of Directors of the Colombian Entomology Society (SOCOLEN) with the following awards:

First place, National Entomology Award “Francisco Luis Gallego, 2025 Edition” for the presentation “Hummingbird Moths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) from the Entomology Collection of the Natural History Museum at the University of Cauca.”

Second place, National Entomology Award “Francisco Luis Gallego, 2025 Edition” for the presentation “Composition of Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) Associated with Coffee-Growing Systems in La Rejoya, Popayán, Cauca.”

Second place, “Hernán Alcaraz Viecco, 2025 Edition” award for the presentation “Genetic Barcodes for the Discrimination of Butterflies of the Family Nymphalidae in Natural Forests of Piamonte, Cauca.”

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The students and Professor María Cristina Gallego Ropero expressed their gratitude to the Functional Diversity and Ecosystem Services Research Seedbed, the Department of Biology, the Entomology Collection of the Natural History Museum, the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Natural, Exact and Education Sciences, the Vice-Rectory for Research, and the University of Cauca.

The Seedbed, affiliated with the Biology program of the Faculty of Natural, Exact and Education Sciences, focuses its research lines on zoology, entomology, ecology, functional diversity, ecosystem services, and natural habitats.

 

Written by: Communications Management Center