Research Interests: My research is focused on the systematics and biodiversity
of Microlepidoptera. My doctoral work on metalmark moths (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae)
integrates molecular and morphological phylogenetics, alpha taxonomy, and evolutionary
studies of various character systems unique to these handsome moths. Special emphasis
is placed on the description of immature stages and choreutid behavior, both larval and
adult. It also includes a section on modeling of the evolution of numerous morphological
characters that appear to be highly homoplasious. Two especially noteworthy behaviors that
receive attention include jumping spider mimicry in adults of the genus Brenthia and
predator/parasitoid escape mechanisms in larvae of the same genus.
Education:
BS 1998 Biology , University of Zagreb (upper level GPA 4.0, overall 3.85), Diploma
Thesis: Butterflies of Paklenica National Park. Advisor: P. Durbesic.
MS 2003 Entomology, University of Connecticut (GPA 4.0), Masters Thesis: Choreutidae
(Lepidoptera) of La Selva Biological Station (Costa Rica): Taxonomy, Ultrastructure
of Immature Stages, and Life History. Advisor: D. L. Wagner.
PhD Expected Dec 2007 Entomology, University of Connecticut (GPA 4.0), Doctoral Dissertation:
Morphology, Systematics, and Behavior of the Family Choreutidae (Lepidoptera).
Advisor: D. L. Wagner.
Professional Experience:
Research Assistant, University of Connecticut, Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology shared molecular facility: in charge of maintaining the ABI 3100 sequencer
Curatorial Assistant for Dr. Jane O'Donnell, University of Connecticut,
Systematic Collections, spring semester 2003 and 2004
Research Technician for Dr. David Wagner, University of Connecticut: in charge
of insect rearing, macrophotography,
database management, image capture and manipulation, summers 2001-2003
Novice Scientific Associate, Department for City Development Planning and Environmental Protection, City of Zagreb,
Croatia, 1999-2000
Research Assistant, University of Zagreb, Department of Zoology, spring 1999
Teaching:
University of Connecticut: graduate teaching assistant
BIOL 102 Foundations of Biology Laboratory: fall 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005,
and spring 2001 and 2002
BIOL 102 Foundations of Biology Course Administration: spring 2005 and 2006
BIOL 108 Principles of Biology II Laboratory: fall 2004
EEB 286 General Entomology Laboratory: fall 2002 and 2006
EEB 284/284W Medical Entomology Laboratory Đ spring 2007
EEB 458 Principles and Methods of Biological Systematics Laboratory: fall 2003
University of Zagreb
General Zoology: undergraduate teaching assistant in fall 1995 and spring 1996
General Entomology Laboratory: graduate teaching assistant in spring 1999
Fellowships:
Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, University of Connecticut, Graduate School
(Summer 2006)
Graduate Pre-Doctoral Fellowship , University of Connecticut, Graduate School
(Spring 2004)
City of Zagreb Fellowship (academic years 1996/97 and 1997/98)
Grants:
External
2006-2007: NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, Systematics and
Morphology of Metalmark Moths (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae) ($10,989)
2004: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Travel
Fund, Taxonomy of Choreutidae (Lepidoptera: Choreutoidea) ($1421)
2003: Organization for Tropical Studies, F. Christian and Betty Thompson
Fellowship, A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing Revisited: Jumping Spider Mimicry in
Metalmark Moths ($300)
Internal
2001-2006: University of Connecticut, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology, Penner, DeCoursey, Slater, and EEB Endowments (totaling $3,353)
2004: University of Connecticut, Center for Conservation Biology and Biodiversity,
Jumping Spider Mimicry in Metalmark Moth Genus Brenthia (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae) ($750)
Honors and Awards:
2007: elected to Phi Beta Kappa
2004: The Entomological Society of America President's Prize, honorable mention
for outstanding student poster
2004: The Lepidopterists' Society, Harry K. Clench Memorial Award for outstanding
student poster
2004: Teaching Excellence Award, University of Connecticut, Department of Ecology
and Evolutionary Biology, for exceptional teaching at 200's level or above
2003: The Entomological Society of America President's Prize for outstanding
student presentation
2003: elected to Sigma Xi
Theses:
Rota, J. 2003. Choreutidae (Lepidoptera) of La Selva Biological Station (Costa Rica):
Taxonomy, Ultrastructure of Immature Stages, and Life History. MasterŐs Thesis, University
of Connecticut.
Rota, J. 1998. Butterflies of Paklenica National Park. Diploma Thesis, Department of Zoology,
University of Zagreb. [In Croatian]
Refereed Publications:
Wagner, D. L., J. Rota, & T. L. McCabe. Larva of Abablemma Nye (Lepidoptera:
Noctuidae: Hypenodinae) with notes on lichenivory and algivory in Macrolepidoptera.
Accepted by the Annals of the Entomological Society of America.
Rota, J. & D. L. Wagner. 2006. Predator Mimicry: Metalmark Moths Mimic Their Jumping
Spider Predators. PLoS ONE 1(1): e45. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000045.
Rota, J. 2005. Larval and pupal descriptions of the Neotropical choreutid genera
Rhobonda Walker and Zodia Heppner (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae). Annals of the
Entomological Society of America 98:37-47.
Non-refereed Publications:
Wagner, D. L. & J. Rota. 2006. Evasive prey mimicry in a tropical tortricid?
News of the LepidopteristsŐ Society 48 (4): 115.
Rota, J. 2000. Flying flowers and jewels. EuroCity, Croatian Railroads Travel
Magazine, Zagreb 2000 (3): 48-53. [In Croatian and German]
Rota, J. 1999. Butterflies of Paklenica National Park. Croatian Natural History
Society Journal Priroda, Zagreb 89 (868): 26-27. [In Croatian]
Digital Publications:
Co-author on Moths of La Selva Web Site. [http://ghostmoth.eeb.uconn.edu/moths]
In Preparation:
Rota, J. Genus Brenthia (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae): Description of the Immature
Stages and Their Natural History.
Rota, J. Predator/Parasitoid Escape Mechanism in Metalmark Moth Larvae of the
Genus Brenthia (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae): Being in Two Places at Once.
Press Coverage:
Apr 2, 2007. UConn Advance. Mimicry an Effective Survival Strategy for Tiny Metalmark
Moth by Cindy Weiss.
Feb 14, 2007. National Geographic News. Moths Escape Spiders by Mimicking Them, Study Says
by John Roach.
Dec 27, 2006. Hungarian National Geographic Website. Ragadoz—nak ‡lc‡zott zs‡km‡ny by Pesthy G‡bor.
Dec 21, 2006. LiveScience. Hunted Becomes Hunter as Moths Mimic Spiders by Charles
Q. Choi (featured on Yahoo and Fox news and a number of other online news portals
in at least five languages).
Museum Experience:
2002-2006 U.S. National Museum of Natural History: examination and photography of
choreutid type specimens, digital photography of Costa Rican Lycaenidae and Riodinidae
for Moths of La Selva website (total time ca. 2 weeks);
2002 and 2006 The Natural History Museum, London: examination and photography of
choreutid type specimens (total time ca. 3 weeks);
2002-2005 Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Costa Rica: identification of Costa
Rican choreutids and digital photography of Costa Rican Papilionidae and Satyridae
for Moths of La Selva website (total time ca. 4 weeks);
2001-2002 American Museum of Natural History: identification of neotropical
Lepidoptera, digital photography of specimens for Moths of La Selva website (total
time ca. 1 week);
2000 Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen, Innsbruck,
Austria: identification of Croatian butterflies (total time 1 week);
1995-1999 Museum of Natural History, Zagreb, Croatia: curation and inventory of
the butterfly collection and creation of the atlas of Croatian Lycaenidae (total
time ca.1 year).
Field Experience:
2001-2005 Collection of Lepidoptera and other insects in Braulio Carrillo National
Park and at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica (Project ALAS) (total time
ca. 5 months);
2001-2006 All Taxa Biological Inventory (ATBI) in Great Smoky Mountains National
Park, USA, Lepidoptera twig (total time ca. 1 month);
2003 Organization for Tropical Studies course OTS 2003-1 Tropical Biology: An
Ecological Approach held at various sites in Costa Rica (total time ca. 2.5
months);
1997-2001: Collection of butterflies in Paklenica National Park, Croatia (total
time ca. 5 months).
Invited Presentations:
Rota, J. Challenges and Progress in Choreutoidea and Sesioidea. Symposium on
Genitalic Homology Challenges in the Lepidopteran Tree of Life organized by Susan
Weller at the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2006.
N. Bricker, Rota, J., and D. L. Wagner. Biodiversity of Tiger Moths (Lepidoptera:
Arctiidae) Along an Elevational Transect on the Atlantic Slope of Costa Rica.
Symposium organized by John Longino titled: “Tropical Arthropod Diversity from
Sea-level to Cloud Forest: Project ALAS results from the Barva Transect” at the
Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2006.
Rota, J. Little Known Family of Microlepidoptera: Systematics, Life History, and
Behavior of Metalmark Moths (Choreutidae). Connecticut Entomological Society Student
Symposium, Storrs, CT, 2004.
Rota, J. Metalmark Moths (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae) of La Selva: Systematics, Life
History, and Behavior. Dr. J. T. Longino’s Tropical Biology Course, Evergreen
State College, La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. 2004.
Rota, J. Predator/Parasitoid Defenses Employed by Members of the Genus Brenthia
(Lepidoptera: Choreutidae). Connecticut Entomological Society Student Symposium,
Storrs, CT, 2003. Oral presentation.
Contributed Presentations:
Rota, J. A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing Revisited: Evolution of Jumping Spider Mimicry
in Moths. Evolution 2006, SUNY Stony Brook, NY. 2006.
Rota, J. Jumping Spider Mimicry in the Metalmark Moth Genus Brenthia (Lepidoptera:
Choreutidae). The Graduate Student Symposium, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. 2006.
Rota, J. Evolution of Morphology and Host Plant Utilization in Metalmark Moths
(Lepidoptera: Choreutidae). The Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of
America, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 2005. Oral presentation.
Rota, J. Evolution of Complex Morphological Characters in Metalmark Moths
(Lepidoptera: Choreutidae). The Annual Meeting of the Lepidopterists' Society of
America, Sierra Vista, AZ, 2005. Oral presentation.
Rota, J. Morphology and Natural History of Metalmark Moth Immature Stages
(Lepidoptera: Choreutidae). The Graduate Student Symposium, Department of
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. 2005.
Rota, J. Biosystematics of the Genus Brenthia (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae). The
Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2004.
Poster presentation.
Rota, J. Ultrastructure of Immature Stages of Hemerophila sp. 1 (Lepidoptera:
Choreutidae) from La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, With Notes on Life
History. The Annual Meeting of the LepidopteristsŐ Society, Washington, DC, 2004.
Poster presentation.
Rota, J. Defensive Behavior of Larvae and Adults in the Genus Brenthia (Lepidoptera:
Choreutidae). The Annual Meeting of the Lepidopterists' Society of America,
Washington, DC, 2004. Oral presentation.
Rota, J. Fascinating Metalmark Moths from the Genus Brenthia (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae):
Morphology, Life History, and Behavior. The Northeast Ecology and Evolution
Conference, Storrs, CT. 2004. Oral presentation.
Rota, J. A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing Revisited: Jumping Spider Mimicry in Metalmark
Moths from the Genus Brenthia (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae). The Annual Meeting of
the Entomological Society of America, Cincinnati, Ohio. 2003. Oral presentation.
Rota, J. Metalmark Moth (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae) Fauna of La Selva Biological
Station, Costa Rica: Ultrastructure of Immature Stages and Life History. The
Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Ford Lauderdale, Florida.
2002. Oral presentation.
Professional Societies:
Connecticut Entomological Society (since 2001)
Society of Systematic Biologists (since 2002)
Entomological Society of America (since 2002)
Lepidopterists' Society (since 2002)
Organization for Tropical Studies (since 2004)
Service:
2006/2007 and 2007/2008: president of the Connecticut Entomological Society
2005/2006 and 2006/2007: committee member for the Invertebrate Systematic
Collections at the University of Connecticut
2005/2006: vice president of the Connecticut Entomological Society
2004: member of organizing committee for NEEC 2004 (Northeast Ecology and Evolution
Conference)
2002/2003-2006/2007: student representative for the Entomological Society of America
Eastern Branch
Public Outreach:
Connecticut BioBlitz, member of Lepidoptera twig, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007
Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science, gave a presentation on jumping spider
mimicry in metalmark moths, April 2007
Windham High School Experimenta, gave a presentation on jumping spider mimicry in
metalmark moths and served as a judge for student posters, March 2007
All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, member
of Lepidopteran BioBlitz, 2002, 2004, and 2006
La Selva Biological Station (Costa Rica) boot camp, 50th anniversary of the
Organization for Tropical Studies, resource person, 2003
