Annette Aiello

Annette A. Aiello (born May 1, 1941) is an American zoologist, botanical entomologist, and professor. She develops academic activities at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
Biography.
Annette Aiello was born on May 1, 1941 in New York City, New York. She initially studied commercial photography, and became interested in botany via nature photography. In 1972, Aiello obtained a BA in biology, "magna cum laude", from Brooklyn College. In 1975 she obtained an MA in biology from Harvard University, followed in 1978 by a PhD in biology, defending her thesis: "A Reexamination of "Portlandia" (Rubiaceae) and Associated Taxa", under the supervision of her advisor, botanist Richard A. Howard. During the late 1970s Aiello studied on the Barro Colorado Island at a field station operated by the Smithsonian.
Research topics.
Aiello described her main research topics thus: "My main focus has been the transformations of moths and butterflies, especially caterpillar development, behavior and defenses, and the clues that they and their host plants can contribute to our understanding of species relationships."