The SYFO team was represented at Kostelecké inspirování 2025 by Pia Rabischong, Amir Murat, Alesiia Soifer, and Liliana P. Sandoval, who presented their research in systematic and forensic entomology. The conference gave them a great opportunity to share their results, discuss their work, and gain new ideas for future research.
Pia Rabischong presented her research on the development of Calliphora vicina, an important species in post-mortem interval estimation. Her preliminary results suggest that developmental rate is influenced by both temperature and the geographic origin of the populations studied. Her presentation was awarded second place for Best Poster, a great achievement for our team.
Amir Murat presented new data on necrophagous beetles from southeastern Kazakhstan, including rare taxa such as Nicrophorus reichardti and the first record of Saprinus austerus in Kazakhstan. His work highlights the need for further faunistic research in Central Asia.
Alesiia Soifer introduced her work on the molecular phylogeny of the genus Thanatophilus. Based on preliminary analyses of COI sequence data, her study provides an initial view of evolutionary relationships within this group of carrion beetles.
Liliana P. Sandoval presented her research on the myrmecophilous beetle Attumbra lucida, focusing on larval traits and phylogenetic position. Her study combines morphology and molecular data to better understand adaptations to life in ant nests.
Our students returned from the conference with new ideas, valuable feedback, and a very positive experience. They appreciated the friendly atmosphere, the lively discussions, and the questions from the audience, which encouraged them to look at their research from new perspectives. We would also like to thank the organizers for preparing such an inspiring event, and we are already looking forward to the next edition.
