Southeast Asia encompass 4 of the 25 Biodiversity Hotspots of the world - areas with the highest amount of endemic species and also facing the greatest threat of extinction. This holds true especially for the insect fauna that has so far been poorly documented, with many waiting to be discovered. My research interest includes improving the taxonomic status of heteropteran insects with a focus on assassin bugs (Reduviidae) as well as gathering knowledge on their natural history in this region. Assassin bugs are one of the largest group of predatory insects (6,800 described species) with the highest species richness in the tropics. Southeast Asia contains some of the most enigmatic assassin bugs with unique predatory behaviour (e.g., ant/termite/millipede/blood specialist) and others with unknown feeding habits. My research focus on integrating morphological and ecological data with their underlying evolutionary history to reveal the biological factors that led to the successful diversification of this insect group
