Idris Adams

Position: PhD Student

Project: Evolution of dietary and life history traits across aculeate Hymenoptera

Research Interests: I’m interested in the ecology and evolution of dietary and life-history traits in both solitary and social aculeate wasps, and the factors influencing the evolution of certain behaviours. I’m currently focusing on the Crabronidae, a species-rich family of over 10,000 species showing significant variation in prey types and life histories, including provisioning strategies, nest construction behaviours, and habitat choice. Methods I use include network analysis, phylogenetic comparative analyses, and experimental fieldwork.

Background

2023–present: PhD Candidate, University College London, NERC DTP Cohort 10
2019–2023: MSci Zoology, University of Sussex

Contact: idris.adams.23@ucl.ac.uk

Publications

Mitchell, R., Adams, I., Broad, G.R. (2026) The genome sequence of the solitary wasp, Lestiphorus bicinctus (Rossi, 1794) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae). Wellcome Open Research, 11, 197.
Sumner, S. and Adams, I. (2025) The Wonderful World of Wasps. Frontiers for Young Minds, 13. doi: 10.3389/frym.2025.1632173
Visick, O.D., Adams, I., Marzano, F.S., Ratnieks, F.L.W. (2025) Effect of bark harvest intensity on the formation of cavities and other microhabitats in cork oaks (Quercus suber). European Journal of Forest Research.
Visick, O.D., Adams, I., Ney, P., Marzano, F.S., Ratnieks, F.L.W. (2024) Do nest sites limit wild honey bee colonies? Decoding swarm waggle dances to assess nest site availability. Ecological Entomology, 49(6), pp. 869-880.