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Ritabrata Chowdhury

@ritabrata1907

PhD student at the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge; studying biomechanics and evolution of insect-plant interactions

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16.11.2024
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Latest posts by Ritabrata Chowdhury @ritabrata1907

Last day to submit abstracts for the Cambridge University Entomological Society symposium is tomorrow! Please send your abstracts to entosoc@cambridgesu.co.uk!!

@royentsoc.bsky.social @frankendodo.bsky.social @britentsoc.bsky.social @camzoology.bsky.social @zoologymuseum.bsky.social

19.10.2025 17:25 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Yes, it will be!

08.10.2025 13:36 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

@royentsoc.bsky.social @britentsoc.bsky.social @camzoology.bsky.social @zoologymuseum.bsky.social @frankendodo.bsky.social

25.09.2025 14:40 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

We invite proposals for short papers (15 minutes) and flash forum presentations (3-5 minutes). More details on speakers will follow soon!

If you have any questions or If you want to get involved but aren’t quite sure what/ how, feel free to reach out to us at entosoc@cambridgesu.co.uk

25.09.2025 14:40 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

This symposium is open to all and we strongly encourage the participation of undergraduate and postgraduate students across various disciplines. Moreover, it will be a hybrid event with opportunities for people to attend and present online if necessary!

25.09.2025 14:40 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

This interdisciplinary symposium aims to interrogate, critique, and debunk the myths that underlie the current misconceptions about insects and open new, productive lines of enquiry in insect science.

25.09.2025 14:40 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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The Cambridge University Entomological Society is hosting a symposium on ”The good, the bad, and the monstrous: insects in mythology, literature and media”, at the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, on 20th November 2025.

Huge thanks to @royentsoc.bsky.social for supporting us!

25.09.2025 14:40 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 8 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 2
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Had an amazing time at @behaviour2025.bsky.social in Kolkata! Got to see soo much diverse and cool research in the fields behavioural and integrative ecology and meet so many brilliant researchers.
Thanks to all the organisers!
Lastly, thanks to @biologists.bsky.social for funding my travel!

31.08.2025 16:28 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Watch #BiologyLetters author Ritabrata Chowdhury talk about his recent article that reports a previously unknown interaction from the mutualism between ants and Macaranga trees: cassyni.com/events/6Pu6E... #ecology #evolution

30.06.2025 10:19 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Arms race of physical defences: hooked trichomes of Macaranga ant-plants kill lycaenid caterpillars, but one specialist has a counter-defence | Biology Letters The coevolution of insects and chemical plant defences has been described as an arms race, but it is unclear whether physical plant defences can produce similar outcomes. Here, we report a previously ...

Incase anyone has missed the paper, the link is below:

royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...

30.06.2025 10:17 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Bribing caterpillar sparks evolutionary arms race Greasing some palms...

Happy to share the Naked Scientists' article on my recent paper. Huge thanks to Chris Smith for interviewing me! Also, massive thanks to @camzoology.bsky.social, @biology.ox.ac.uk and @britentsoc.bsky.social for supporting this work!

The link: www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/int...

30.06.2025 10:17 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Arms race of physical defences: hooked trichomes of Macaranga ant-plants kill lycaenid caterpillars, but one specialist has a counter-defence: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... #BiologyLetters #ecology #evolution

12.06.2025 13:11 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Our study shows that an arms-race can also exist between plant physical defences and insect counter-adaptations!
@camzoology.bsky.social @royalsocietypublishing.org @biology.ox.ac.uk @royentsoc.bsky.social @britentsoc.bsky.social

09.06.2025 10:20 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Arms race of physical defences: hooked trichomes of Macaranga ant-plants kill lycaenid caterpillars, but one specialist has a counter-defence | Biology Letters The coevolution of insects and chemical plant defences has been described as an arms race, but it is unclear whether physical plant defences can produce similar outcomes. Here, we report a previously unknown interaction from the mutualism between ants and ...

Happy to share the first paper from my PhD! We report the discovery of a new insect-plant interaction from Borneo, where one ant-plant has evolved sharp hooked trichomes to pierce and kill lycaenid caterpillars. However, one specialist can survive and has a counter-defence!

doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...

09.06.2025 10:20 πŸ‘ 18 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you!!

29.03.2025 12:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Huge thanks to everybody involved, especially @chrisjiggins.bsky.social , Erika de Castro, Simon Chen, Glennis Julian and Walter Federle! @camzoology.bsky.social @zikan.bsky.social

29.03.2025 11:52 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Happy to share my first major PhD work, where we show that Heliconiini caterpillars have developed more puncture resistant cuticle as a counter-adaptation against sharp Passiflora trichomes. However, we also show that the trichomes affect post ingestion, suggesting that the arms-race continues!

29.03.2025 11:52 πŸ‘ 22 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1

Thank you so much!!

27.03.2025 12:17 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you so much Clare! It was great to see you again and to catch up!

23.03.2025 16:32 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Had an amazing time presenting at the @britentsoc.bsky.social Annual Member's Day yesterday at the @morethanadodo.bsky.social . Very inspiring talks, amazing people and lots of interesting conversations. Huge thanks to @pselaphacus.bsky.social and the @britentsoc.bsky.social for the opportunity!

23.03.2025 16:10 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0