Home | Wiegmann Lab

The Wiegmann lab studies insect phylogeny and evolution through comparisons of gene sequences and other forms of molecular and morphological evidence.

A major focus of our research involves the biology and biodiversity of the insect order Diptera – the true flies.

We use the evolutionary relationships inferred in phylogenetic analyses to test hypotheses and investigate historical patterns and evolutionary processes associated with major events in the diversification of flies and their relatives.

We are funded by NSF, USDA, and NC State University.

Recent News in the Wiegmann Lab

Congratulations to our recent Wiegmann Lab graduates!!!

Sylas Akulin, MS, 4/2026.

Thesis: Phylogeny of the Limoniinae (Diptera: Tipuloidea: Limoniidae) with a revision to the Nearctic Antocha (Limoniinae: Antochini)

Ezra Bailey, PhD, 10/2025. Dissertation: Phylogenomics, Comparative Genomics, and Parasitism in the Calyptrate
Flies

Ezra is now conducting postdoctoral research in the lab of Jeffery Tomberlin, Texas A&M University.

Escher Cattle, MS, 4/2025.

Thesis: Integrated phylogenetic placement and diagnosis of pestiferous Anastrepha fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Charlie Sither, PhD, 4/2024.

Dissertation: The phylogenomics and ecoinformatics of mosquito taxa.

Newly Published:

Bailey, E.M., Michelsen, V., Cassel, B.K., Szpila, K., Bayless, K.M., Grzywacz, A., Powell, G.S., Pape, T. and Wiegmann, B.M., 2026. Phylogenomics of Anthomyiidae and a revised classification of Scathophagidae (Diptera: Calyptratae). Systematic Entomology, 51(1), p.e70037.

Beza‐Beza, C. F., Soghigian, J., Bailey, E., Johnston, N. P., Cassel, B. K., Bayless, K. M., Wells, J.D., Yeates, D.K., Wallman, J.F., Yan, L., Thomas-Cabianca, A., Hickner, P.V., Grzywacz, A.,
Meiklejohn, K.A, Torres, T.T., Scott, M.J., Mikaelyan, A., Zhang, D., Cerretti, P., Szpila, K., Pape, T., and Wiegmann, B. M. 2025. Phylogenomics and the evolution of larval feeding
habits in the blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Systematic Entomology, e70018.

Xuan, J.L., Scheffer, S.J., Soghigian, J., Cassel, B., Lewis, M.L., Li, S.P., Guo, J.Y., Liu, W.X. and Wiegmann, B.M. 2025. Population Phylogenomics and Genetic Structure of the Polyphagous
Leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess)(Diptera: Agromyzidae). Evolutionary Applications, 18(7), p.e70132.

Explore