Research in the Sipes lab focuses on various aspects of pollination ecology, including plant reproduction, pollinator behavior, ecology and evolution of emphorine bees, and patterns of pollinator biodiversity.
We currently maintain a collection of ~35,000 insects, collected by net or via pan traps. We have collected intensively through the Southern Illinois region since 2017, with plans to continue collection over the next several years. To date our collection includes ~200 bee species and 160 lepidopteran species.