Cataloguing the Entomofauna of the METU Campus

In this research project, we prepared a preliminary checklist of species belonging to the class Insecta of the arthropod phylum. With this project, we aimed to cover the gap in the literature regarding the biodiversity of METU.  

Throughout the project, insect specimens were collected through several field trips and trap setups. Although not all the specimens were identified up to the species level, all were identified up to the family level which gave us a good preliminary checklist. In total, 210 specimens were collected, covering 39 families of 7 orders. Among the 74 specimens that were identified to the species level, we have confirmed the presence of at least 27 different species of insects on the Middle East Technical University Ankara Campus grounds.  

The project was funded by AdımODTÜ Undergraduate Research Fund and was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Biological Sciences. We would also like to thank our advisors Prof. Cemal Can Bilgin, Asst.Prof. Mert Elverici,  Res. Asst. Mert Kükrer, and the METU Society of Biology and Genetics for their contributions.

Below, you can find the paper we wrote to be submitted to the MATTER Journal of Undergraduate Studies and our poster presented at METU Undergraduate Research Day.