The SDEI Coleoptera team helps you with any beetle related request you may have: loans, identifications, donations, visits…
Important to highlight, we are always looking for highly motivated students (undergrad or grad) and open to collaborations.
Please feel free to get in touch!
Field of specialization
Research Interests
2020 – Present
Researcher & Curator of Coleoptera
Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut (SDEI)
2019 – 2020
Lecturer, Researcher & Curator of Neuropteriformia
Universität Hamburg, Zoological Museum, Centrum für Naturkunde (CeNak)
2018 – 2019
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Senckenberg Research Institute and Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
2018
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Staatlisches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe, Germany
2017
Invited lecturer
Evolution and the History of Life, University of Kansas, USA
2016– 2017
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Human Anatomy, University of Kansas, USA
2007 – 2010
Research & Curatorial Assistant
Museu Nacional-UFRJ, Coleoptera Lab., Brazil
2017 – Ph.D. (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology), University of Kansas, U.S.A.
Advisors: Andrew Short & Andrew Townsend Peterson.
2012 – M.Sc. (Zoology), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Advisor: Marcela L. Monné.
2010 – B.Sc. (Biology), Universidade Veiga de Almeida, Brazil.
Advisor: Marcela L. Monné.
Leocádio, M., Simões, M. V. P., Sekerka, L., Schrago, C. G., Mermudes, J. R., & Windsor, D. M. (2020) Molecular systematics reveals the origins of subsociality in tortoise beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). Systematic Entomology.
Simões, M.V.P., Cobos, M., Romero, D., & Jimenez, L. (2020) General Theory and Good Practices in Ecological Niche Modeling: A Basic Guide. Biodiversity Informatics Training Modules.
Saeedi, H., Simões, M.V.P., & Brandt, A. (2020) Biodiversity and distribution patterns of deep-sea fauna along the temperate NW Pacific. Progress of Oceanography. 183, 102296.
Saeedi, H., Simões M.V.P., & Brandt, A. (2019) Endemicity and community composition of marine species along the NW Pacific and the adjacent Arctic Ocean. Progress in Oceanography, 178, 102199.
Biging A.L., Querejeta Coma M., Simões M.V.P., Hawlitschek O. (2019) Évolution climatique et impacts sur les reptiles et amphibiens des Comores [Climate evolution and impact in the reptiles and amphibians of the Comoros]. pp. 50-56 in: Augros S. (e.d): Atlas des reptiles et amphibiens terrestres de l’archipel des Comores [Atlas of the terrestrial reptiles and amphibians of the Comoros Archipelago].Biotope éditions, Mèze, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris (Collection Inventaires & biodiversité), 224 pp.
Bhatta, C., Gonzales, V.H., Mayes, D., Simões, M.V.P., & Smith, D. R. (2019) Nesting biology, niche modelling, and traditional uses of stingless bees in Nepal (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini). Journal of Apicultural Research. DOI: 10.1080/00218839.2019.1614729. *Award winning: Best Dissertation chapter on an International Topic Award 2018 from Phi Beta Delta, Honor Society of International Scholars, Alpha Pi Chapter, University of Kansas.
Simões, M. V.P., & Peterson, A. T. (2018) Importance of biotic predictors in estimation of potential invasive areas: the example of the tortoise beetle Eurypedus nigrosignatus, in Hispaniola (Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). Peerj, 6: e6052. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6052.
Cobos, M., Jiménez, L., Nuñes-Penichet, C., Romero-Alvarez, D & Simões, M.V.P. (2018) Sample data and training modules for cleaning biodiversity information. Biodiversity Informatics, 14, 49-50. DOI: 0000-0002-6683-9576
Simões, M. V.P., Baca, S., Toussaint, E., Windsor, D., & Short, A. (2018) Solving a thorny situation: DNA and morphology illuminate the evolution of the leaf beetle tribe Dorynotini (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zly079.
Strotz, L., Simões, M.V.P., Girard, M., Breitkreuz, L., Kimmig, J., & Lieberman, B. Getting (2018) somewhere with the Red Queen: chasing a biologically modern definition of the hypothesis. Biology Letters, 14 (5), 20170734. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2017.0734.
Simões, M. V.P., & Peterson, A. T. (2018) Utility and limitations of climate‐matching approaches in detecting different types of spatial errors in biodiversity data. Insect Conservation and Diversity. DOI: 10.1111/icad.12288.
Ingenloff, K., Hensz, C., Anamza, T., Barve, V., Campbell, L., Cooper, J.C., Komp, E., Jimenez, L., Olson, K.V., Osorio-Olvera, L., Owens, H.L., Peterson, A.T., Sammy, A.M., Simões, M.V.P. & Soberón, J. (2017 ) Predictable invasion dynamics in North American populations of the Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaoto. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 284 (1862), 20171157. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1157.
Simões, M.V.P., Lieberman, B., Soberón, J., & Peterson, A.T. (2017) Testing environmental correlates of clines in clades: An example from Cassidinae beetles. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 10, 472–482. DOI: 10.1111/icad.12250.
Gonzalez, V.H., Griswold, T.L., & Simões, M.V.P. (2017) On the identity of the adventive species of Eufriesea Cockerell in the USA: systematics and potential distribution of the coerulescens species group (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 55, 55–102. DOI: 10.3897/jhr.55.12209.
Simões, M.V.P., Breitkreuz, L., Alvarado, M., Baca, S., Cooper, J.C., Heins, L., Herzog K., & Lieberman, B.S. (2016) The evolving theory of evolutionary radiations. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 31, 27–34. DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2015.10.007
Simões, M.V.P. (2017) Revision of the Greater Antilles genus Paratrikona Spaeth, 1923 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Dorynotini). Zootaxa, 4238, 417–425. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.3.8.
Simões, M.V.P., & Sekerka, L. (2015) Review of the Neotropical leaf beetle subgenus Dorynota sensu stricto Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Dorynotini). The Coleopterists Bulletin, 69, 231–254. DOI: 10.1649/0010-065X-69.2.231.
Simões, M.V.P., & Monné, M.L. (2014) Taxonomic revision of the genus Mesomphalia Hope, 1839 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). Zootaxa, 3835, 151–197. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3835.2.1.
Simões, M.V.P. (2014) Taxonomic revision of the genus Paranota Monrós & Viana, 1949 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin, 68, 631–655. DOI: 10.1649/0010-065X-68.4.631.
Simões, M.V.P. & Monné, M.L. (2014) Description of immatures of Mesomphalia gibbosa (Fabricius, 1781) and Mesomphalia turrita (Illiger, 1801) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). Zootaxa, 3861, 466–478. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3861.5.4.
Simões, M.V.P. & Sekerka, L. (2014) Redescription of Heteronychocassis acuticollis Spaeth, 1915 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin, 68, 407–410. DOI: 10.1649/072.068.0312.
Monné, M.L., Monné, M.A., Quintino, H.Y., Botero, J.P., Machado, V.S., Carelli, A., Simões, M.V.P. & Cupello, M. (2012) Inventário das espécies de Lamiinae (Insecta, Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) do Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, RJ, Brasil. Biota Neotropica, 12, 39–76. DOI: /10.1590/S1676-06032012000100004.
Machado, V. S., Botero, J. P., Carelli, A., Cupello, M., Quintino, H. Y. & Simões, M.V.P. (2012) Host plants of Cerambycidae and Vesperidae (Coleptera, Chrysomeloidea) from South America. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 56, 186–198. DOI: 10.1590/S0085-56262012005000029.
Simões, M.V.P. (2012) Male and female reproductive systems of Stolas conspersa (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 56, 19–22. DOI: 10.1590/S0085-56262012005000007.
Simões, M.V.P. & Monné, M.L. (2012) Inventario das especies de Cassidinae (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) do Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro. Biota Neopropica, 11, 216-228. DOI: 10.1590/S1676-06032011000400019.
Monné, M.L., Monné, M.A., Martins, R.S., Simões, M.V.P. & Machado, V.S. (2010) Espécies de Cerambycidae (Insecta, Coleoptera) ocorrentes no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Arquivos do Museu Nacional, 67, 235–251. DOI: 10.1590/S1676-06032009000300027.
Simões, M.V.P. Quintino, H.Y.S. & Monné, M.L. (2009) Larva and pupa of Nilio (Linio) lanatus Germar, 1824 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae). Zootaxa, 2175, 51–56. ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)/ ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition).
Simões, M.V.P. & Monné, M.L. (2008) New records of South American Cassidinae. Genus, 19, 709–715.
Publications, non-peer reviewed
Warren, D.L., N. Matzke, M. Cardillo, J. Baumgartner, L. Beaumont, N. Huron, M. Simões, and R. Dinnage (2019) ENMTools (Software Package). doi:10.5281/zenodo.3268814.
Saeedi, H., Simões M.V.P. & Brandt, A. (2019) Endemicity and community composition of marine species along the NW Pacific and the adjacent Arctic Ocean. Biodiversity Next. (Extended abstract).
Saeedi, H., Simões, M.V.P. & Brandt, A. (2018) Deep-sea fauna in the NW Pacific: biodiversity patterns and future invasions into the Arctic Ocean (Beneficial Project). Deep-Sea Life, 12.
2011 Simões, M.V.P. Padre Moure and young scientists. Chrysomela, 53: 10.
2009 Machado, V.S., Monné, M.A., & Simões, M.V.P. Composição e riqueza de espécies de Cerambycidae em duas localidades da região Amazônica, Brasil (Insecta, Coleoptera, Cerambycidae). Extended abstract. Anais do IX Congresso de Ecologia do Brasil.
2009 Simões, M.V.P., Monné, M.L., & Machado, V. Inventário de Cassidinae do Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, RJ, Brasil (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). Extended abstract. Anais do IX Congresso de Ecologia do Brasil.
Warren, D.L., N. Matzke, M. Cardillo, J. Baumgartner, L. Beaumont, N. Huron, M. Simões, and R. Dinnage (2019) ENMTools (Software Package). doi:10.5281/zenodo.3268814
Oral Presentations
Simões, M.V.P. (2020) Primary data and Entomological collections: utility, best practices and challenges. FAIR Heritage: Digital Methods, Scholarly Editing and Tools for Cultural and Natural Heritage (Invited speaker) (Tours, France).
Simões, M.V.P. (2020) Ecologia especial e a Entomologia: onde estamos e pra onde vamos? (Invited speaker) (Universidade Fedearl do Parana, Brazil).
Simões, M.V.P. (2019) Systematics Leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomleidae): morphology, behavior and environment. Universität Hamburg, Zoological Museum, Centrum für Naturkunde (CeNak) (Invited speaker) (Hamburg, Germany).
Simões, M.V.P. (2019) Vulnerability of NW Pacific and Arctic Ocean Crustacean fauna under climate change scenarios. The Crustacean Society Mid-Year Meeting 2019. (Hong Kong).
Simões, M.V.P. (2018) Ecological Niche Modeling: Shall we finally reach a common ground between Elton and Grinnell? Evolution Meeting in August 2018 (Montpellier, France).
Simões, M.V.P. (2017) Total evidence phylogeny and biogeography of the tortoise beetle tribe Dorynotini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae). The Entomological Society of America 65th Annual Meeting. (Denver, CO, USA).
Simões, M.V.P. (2017) Testing environmental correlates of clines in clades: an example of Cassidinae beetles. University of Kansas, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Graduate Student Organization Retreat. (Lawrence, KS, USA).
Simões, M.V.P. (2016) Niche and morphological evolution of tortoise beetle tribe Dorynotini, within the context of geographical radiation (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). XXV International Congress of Entomology. (Orlando, FL, USA).
Simões, M.V.P. (2016) Using hypervolumes to explain morphological latitudinal gradient in tortoise beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Evolution Meeting. (Austin, TX, USA).
Simões, M.V.P. (2015) Phylogeny of the Neotropical leaf beetle tribe Dorynotini Monrós and Viana, 1949 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). The Entomological Society of America 63th Meeting. (Minneapolis, MN, USA).
Simões, M.V.P. (2015) Phylogeny of the Neotropical leaf beetle tribe Dorynotini Monrós and Viana, 1949 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). Bug Lunch. University of Kansas. (Lawrence, KS, USA).
Simões, M.V.P. (2014) Where can I find my beetles? Kansas Entomological Meeting. (Pittsburg, KS, USA).
Simões, M.V.P. (2014) The need for the R function: self-cleaning(data). The Entomological Collections Network. (Minneapolis, MN, USA). (Invited talk).
Simões, M.V.P. (2014) Predicting distributions of tortoise-beetles (Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera) using niche modeling and cost surfaces with remote sensing images. The Entomological Society of America 62nd Meeting (Portland, OR, USA).
Poster Presentations
Leocádio, M, Simões, M.V.P. & Windsor, D. Sekerka, L. (2020)Evolution of parental care in the tribe Mesomphaliini (Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). 21st Annual Meeting of the Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik (Society for Biological Systematics, GfBS) (Hamburg, Germany).
Bogdanović, N. & Simões M.V.P.. (2019) Distribution of white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala)and ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaiquencis)under future climate scenarios: potential application for conservation. Deutsche Ornithologen-Gesellschaft e.V.Annual meeting
Simões, M.V.P. & Breitkreuz, L. (2019) Assessing the future of German insect diversity by applying species and community distribution modeling through time and space. 20th Annual Meeting of the Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik (Society for Biological Systematics, GfBS) (Munich, Germany). *Award wining
Simões, M.V.P., Saeedi, H & Brandt, A. (2019) Bottom-up: Exploring climate change effects on habitat suitability for the deep sea fauna of Isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda). International Biogeography Society Meeting. (Malaga, Spain).
Cobos, M, Jiménez, L., Nuñes-Penichet, C., Romero-Alvarez, D & Simões, M.V.P. (2018) Sample data and training modules for cleaning biodiversity information. GIS day. (Lawrence, KS , USA).
Simões, M.V.P. (2013) Taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of Paranota Monros & Viana, 1949 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). The Entomological Society of America 61st Meeting. (Austin, TX, USA).
Simões, M.V.P., & Sekerka, L. (2013) Contribución al conocimiento del género Dorynota Chevrolet (Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae, Dorynotini): Dorynota s. stricto. LV Convención Nacional de Entomología. (La Molina, Peru).
Simões, M.V.P., Baruch, V.A., & Alvarado, M. (2013) Assessing the environmental differences within Mesomphalia turrita Illiger, 1801 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae) distribution. Kansas Entomological Meeting. (Pittsburg, KS, USA).
Simões, M.V.P., & Monné, M.L. (2013) Taxonomic revision of the genus Mesomphalia Hope, 1839 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). Kansas Entomological Meeting. (Pittsburg, KS, USA).
Simões, M.V.P., & Monné, M.L. (2012) Morfologia dos estágios imaturos de Mesomphalia turrita (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). XXIX Congresso Brasileiro de Zoologia. (Salvador, BA, Brazil).
Simões, M.V.P., & Monné, M.L. (2011) Nuevos registros de distribuición para especies de Mesomphalia Hope, 1839 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae). XXXIII Congreso Nacional de Entomologia / I Congreso Sudamericano de Entomología. (La Serena, Chile).
Machado, V.S., Botero, J.P., Aragão, A., Cupello, M., Quintino, H., & Simões, M.V.P. (2011) Contribuição ao conhecimento de plantas-hospedeiras de Cerambycidae e Vesperidae (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chrysomeloidea) da América do Sul. X Brazilian Congress of Ecology, Sociedade Ecologia do Brasil. (São Lourenço, MG, Brazil).
Simões, M.V.P., & Monné, M.L. (2011) Mesomphalia Hope, 1839: nova espécie e chave para identificação das espécies (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae”. I Entomology Symposium of Rio de Janeiro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil).
Simões, M.V.P., & Monné, M.L. (2010) Description of the final instar larva of Mesomphalia gibbosa (Fabricius, 1781) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae, Stolaini). The 58th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. (San Diego, CA, U.S.A.).
Simões, M.V.P., & Monné, M.L. (2009) Caracterização da fauna de Cassidinae (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) do Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, RJ, Brasil. XXXI Giulio Massarani Scientific, Artistic and Cultural Iniciation Journey of the UFRJ, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil).
Machado, V.S., Monné, M.L., & Simões, M.V.P. (2009) Composição e riqueza de espécies de Cerambycidae em duas localidades da região Amazônica, Brasil (Insecta, Coleoptera, Cerambycidae). IX Brazilian Congress of Ecology, Sociedade Ecologia do Brasil. (São Lourenço, MG, Brazil).
Simões, M.V.P., Machado, V.S., & Monné, M.L. (2009) Inventario de Cassidinae do Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, RJ, Brasil (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chyrsomelidae). IX Brazilian Congress of Ecology, Sociedade Ecologia do Brasil. (São Lourenço, MG, Brazil).
Simões, M.V.P., Quintino, H.Y., & Monné, M.L. (2008) Descrição da larva e pupa de Nilio lanatus (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Nilioninae). XXII Brazilian Congress of Entomology, Universidade Federal de Viçosa. (Uberlândia, MG, Brazil).
Monné, M.L., Monné, M.A., Martins, R., & Simões, M.V.P. (2008) Fauna de Cerambycidae (Insecta, Coleoptera) ocorrente no estado do Rio de Janeiro (Brasil). XXVII Brazilian Congress of Zoology, Universidade Federal do Paraná. (Curitiba, PR, Brazil).
Simões, M.V.P., & Monné, M.L. (2008) Novos registros para espécies de Cassidinae na América do Sul (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). XXVII Brazilian Congress of Zoology, Universidade Federal do Paraná. (Curitiba, PR, Brazil).
Publikationsliste PDF
