When the Department of Entomology at the University of California, Davis, launches its winter noonhour seminar series on Wednesday, Jan. 6, crickets will be first in line.

UC Riverside postdoctoral researcher Nathan Bailey will speak on "The Role of Behavioral Plasticity in the Evolution of Silent Crickets" from 12:10 to 1 p.m. Wednesday in 122 Briggs Hall.

Bailey focuses his research on sexual selection, behavioral ecology, phylogeography and insect immunity "with an emphasis on how behavioral plasticity shapes selection and influences reproductive isolation."

His study systems include Mormon crickets (Anabrus simplex) and the Pacific field cricket (Teleogryllus oceanicus).

He maintains an informative Web site that includes information on his work and a photo gallery of brilliant images. He links to the Tree of Life and BugGuide.Net, among other sites.

Bailey will be introduced by postdoctoral researcher Andrew Forbes of the Jay Rosenheim lab.

Organizing the winter seminar series are graduate student Ian Pearse of the Rick Karban lab and faculty member Neal Williams, a native pollinator specialist.

The seminars are open to all interested persons.