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Last updated: 8 February 2022
Larvae of sawflies feed on plants; females often lay eggs inside the plant tissue. Ovipositors of many sawflies have characteristic shapes that are seen in saws used for cutting various materials. Some saws in these insects however, look different which might suggest new or modified designs of cutting instruments. The aim of the project is therefore to study morphology and structure of ovipositors of selected species of sawflies, model them, and simulate their mechanical characteristics. Lessons learned from this initial work will be translated into the manufacture of tools at a larger scale especially for medical applications.
Lead image: Tip of ovipositor of Janus femoratus (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Cephidae)
Project title
Ovipositor of sawflies for the design and manufacture of enhanced surgical tools
Student
Marti Verdaguer
Project active
2021 - present
Funder
Heriot-Watt University - James Watt Scholarship
University Supervisors
Prof. Marc Desmulliez and Prof. Julian Vincent - Heriot-Watt University, Prof. Jerome Casas - University of Tours, Andrew Liston - Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut
National Museums Scotland Supervisor
Research theme
Sustainability