This project, funded by the Center of Undergraduate Research at the University of Florida, aims to understand and quantify the diversity of weapon morphology and biomechanics in the superfamily Coreidae, made up of leaf-footed bugs.

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Weapons, or structures used in male-male competition are still poorly understood despite their clear importance in driving sexual selection and evolution. Though the enlarged, spiny hindlegs of leaf-footed bugs are considered weapons, spines themselves are not always a result of sexual selection. 

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In this project, we will photograph and test legs of many genera within Coreidae. We want to understand the difference in morphology, sharpness and hardiness of weapon spines as compared with Coreids with spines but no fighting behavior. We will highlight the natural diversity of forms within the family, in hopes to inspire further research into how weapon morphology and biomechanical properties may interplay with fighting behaviors.