There are three main areas of research which have the phylogenetic systematics as the core perspective and use the insects as model group, these are: Inventory of the biological diversity, study of macroevolutionary patterns, and, historic biogeography of the southamerican northwest.
Inventory of the biological diversity of insects, specially of the wasps families Vespidae and Braconidae. This work in conducted under the assumption that it is difficult to formulate scientific statements about the evolution, conservation and use of the biodiversity having no precise appreciation of what that biodiversity really means. As an example lets just say that the estimation of the species richness range between three and thirty million species, this is a very wide range to say the least. In this area we work with the families Membracidae, Cicadellidae, and Braconidae.
Study of macroevolutionary patterns. Good sources of information for the understanding of the biota responses to the environmental conditions may come from the macrotendencies observed when comparing large numbers of taxa; aspects such as the evolution of body size and shape, the origin of exagerated structures, and the history of complex interactions between species, are important elements to understanding of the general evolutionary process. In this area we work with the families Membracidae, Vespidae, and Braconidae.
Historic biogeography of the the southamerican northwest. The topographic and historic complexity of the Andes have produced a very interesting place to study differentiation and speciation phenomena. In this area we work with the family vespidae as a model.
The Laboratory activities are conducted under the assumption that participants develop their ideas in a constant environment of cooperation and sharing, and having in mind the production of research projects that only are in a good level of development when these are publicated in high ranked journals.