Profile

I grew up in Madrid, Spain, where all my family is from. When I finished my masters I decided I needed to go somewhere else and explore the world as a scientist! I got accepted in a PhD program in Reading University and Rothamsted Research. I ended up working in Rothamsted and living in Harpenden,  lovely town close to London . I live with my boyfriend and surrounded by our friends that, luckily, live next door. I love arts & crafts, I always prefer to make something myself than buy it (if possible!). I love Disney movies, if I had to choose my favourite one… I couldn’t! each one is great in a different way!

I’m studying the ecology of cabbage stem flea beetle and its parasitoids.

Firstly, what does ecology mean? Ecology is a part of science that studies the relationship between living things and the environment. For example, do beetles like hot weather or do they prefer cold days? what plants do the beetles prefer to eat? why?.

Secondly, cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) and parasitoids… what are those? CSFB are small, jumping beetles that eat one of the most important crops in UK, oilseed rape. They eat the leaves and stems causing the death to the plant (and leaving us without the food we obtain from it!). This is what we call a pest. Now, the cool thing, the parasitoids. These are wasp that lay their eggs inside the beetles, these eggs hatch inside the beetle’s body giving rise to a larva. This larva eats the beetle it from the inside killing it (something like an alien!).

By studying how these parasitoids kill the beetles and where do they like to live, I’m finding a way of controlling the CSFB without using insecticides but natural bugs that kill them!