Last updated: 8 February 2022

About the research

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

Dr Vladimir Blagoderov - Department of Natural Sciences

Research theme

Sustainability


Project contact

Contact list of staff members