I passed quals! To celebrate, I spent 6 weeks in Paris, France working with mantodologist Roger Roy of the MNHN. My trip to Paris was generously funded by a Pancoast Memorial Fellowship (CWRU).
While there, I coded morphological characters of Iridopterygidae praying mantis specimens accessioned within the museum. It was lovely to be able to meet and work with such a renowned entomologist.
A manuscript that is currently in prep led me to O. Béthoux’s office at the MNHN to begin shoring up aspects of wing venation morphology with him. Under Béthoux’s guidance, I got more experience using a camera lucida– although I still need a lot of practice!
I was also able to do some sight-seeing, as it was my first time in Paris. I visited the Cathédrale Notre Dame, the Panthéon, the Tour Eiffel, the Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, as well as many delicious restaurants.
