Anna Magnusson

My interest in biology spans widely within the field, but lie mainly in insect biology and chemical communication. I am especially drawn to the multidisciplinary nature of chemical ecology, where biology, ecology and chemistry intersect.

I have a background in horticulture and plant biology, earning my Master’s degree at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp. During my studies, I became intrigued by plant behavior, particularly the intricate relationship between plants and insects and how these interactions shape their biology. For my thesis project, I investigated how plants respond to physical touch at the metabolic and transcriptomic levels, and how these responses influence the interaction with pest insects. This work immersed me in insect biology and behavior, shifting my interest perspective to the dynamic relationship between insects and their surroundings.

In my PhD research, under the guidance of Martin N Andersson and Olivier van Aken, I will investigate chemosensation — the senses of smell and taste — in the larvae of the Eurasian spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus). The larval stage of holometabolous insects is an important and fascinating, yet understudied part of their life cycle. Insect larvae often differ significantly from adults in both appearance and behavior. In Ips typographus, adult beetles rely on chemosensation to locate suitable spruce trees and coordinate mass attacks to overcome host defenses. In contrast, the larvae, together with symbiotic fungi, damage the vascular tissue of the tree, ultimately contributing to tree death. Despite their essential role in the beetle’s life cycle, the chemosensory biology of larvae remains largely unexplored.

To gain a better understanding of the chemical world of bark beetle larvae, and how they perceive and interact with their environment, my research will focus mainly on identifying and characterizing olfactory and gustatory receptors in the larval stage. To achieve this, I will use a combination of molecular techniques (such as RNA sequencing and heterologous expression systems), alongside electrophysiological recordings and behavioral assays. My research aims to provide insights into the sensory biology of beetle larvae and their role in the life cycle and ecological success of bark beetles.