David BARACCHI

Ruolo attuale:: Professore Associato
SSD:: BIOS-03/A - Zoologia
Afferenza organizzativa:: Dipartimento di Biologia

Recapiti

	0554574723
	david.baracchi(AT)unifi.it

Ulteriori Recapiti

	+39 055 457 4723
	https://davidbaracchi.wixsite.com/beelab

David BARACCHI

Orario di ricevimento (aggiornato al 06/12/2024)

Ricevimento su appuntamento. Si prega di contattarmi via email per concordare un incontro.

David BARACCHI

Biografia

Laureato nel 2005 in Scienze Biologiche e specializzato in Biologia del Comportamento nel 2007, David ha conseguito il Dottorato in Etologia e Ecologia Animale nel 2012 all'Università degli Studi di Firenze. Durante il dottorato di ricerca, ha studiato i fattori prossimi e ultimi che influenzano l'ecologia comportamentale e l'immunità delle colonie di insetti sociali. David ha successivamente lavorato come Marie Curie Research Fellow (2013-2015) presso la Queen Mary University of London, dove si é occupato di strategie di foraggiamento e abilità cognitive di insetti pronubi (Bombus terrestris). David ha poi lavorato come ricercatore post-doc (2015-2018) all'Université Toulouse III e all'Université Paris13 dove si é occupato di plasticità comportamentale e apprendimento e memoria in api (Apis mellifera) e formiche (Camponotus aethiops). In particolare si é occupato dell'effetto modulatorio dei feromoni sulla memoria e sull'apprendimento in queste specie di insetti utilizzando una combinazione di metodi comportamentali (protocolli di condizionamento appetitivo e aversivo) e neurofarmacologici. In questi anni David ha anche esteso il suo interesse alla comunicazione chimica e visiva nelle vespe sociali europee e tropicali (Polistinae e Stenogastrinae).

Attualmente David é Professore Associato e docente di Zoologia, Zoologia Forense e Etologia presso l'Università degli Studi di Firenze, dove nel 2018 ha avviato un laboratorio di cognizione animale applicato allo studio dei meccanismi e dell'evoluzione dei processi cognitivi e del comportamento adattativo degli insetti e di come essi interagiscano con fattori ambientali biotici e abiotici come patogeni e pesticidi. I taxa attualmente studiati dal suo gruppo di ricerca sono api sociali (Apis mellifera e Bombus terrestris), vespe sociali (Polistes spp, Vespa crabro e Stenogastrinae).

David BARACCHI

Curriculum

Personal information

Date of birth: 01.07.1982

Nationality: Italian

Contact:

Mail: david.baracchi@unifi.it

Website: https://davidbaracchi.wixsite.com/beelab

Research Unique Identifier: ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1308-0612

EDUCATION

2012 PhD in Ethology and Animal Ecology, University of Florence

2007 Master’s Degree in Behavioural Biology, University of Florence. Honours summa cum laude

2005 Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences, University of Florence. Honours summa cum laude

FUNDING & RESEARCH AWARDS

2018-2021 Rita Levi Montalcini Fellowship (€214,173)

2013-15 Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship IEF (€221,606)

2009-12 Doctoral Research Scholarship awarded by the MIUR (~€40,000)

2008-12 Membership to SCI Award (Italian chemical society) according to B.Sc. and M.Sc merits

2008 Six months Post-graduate Grant. Department of Pharmacology: Mass Spectrometry Centre

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

2021- Associate Professor (Bio-05) University of Florence.

2018-21Assistant Professor (RTDb) University of Florence.

2015-18 Post Doc CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier III (France) Prof Martin Giurfa’s Lab

2015-18 Post Doc Université Paris13 (France) Prof Patrizia d’Ettorre’s Lab

2013-15 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow. Queen Mary University of London (UK) Prof Lars Chittka’s Lab

2009-12 PhD in Ethology and Animal Ecology, University of Florence (Italy). Advisor: Prof Stefano Turillazzi

2009 Training on cognitive abilities of honeybees, Universität Würzburg (Germany) Prof Jürgen Tautz’s Lab

2008 Research associate at the Mass Spectrometry Center CISM, University of Florence (Italy)

2006-13 Seven field research expeditions in Malaysia. University Malaya. Prof Rosli Hashim’s Lab

2007 Master’s Degree, University of Florence (Italy). Topic: Visual communication in Polistes dominula

2005 Bachelor’s Degree, University of Florence (Italy). Topic: Social organization of Polistes dominula

PUBLICATION LIST

- Chapters

Baracchi D, Tragust S (2015) Venom as a component of external immune defense in social Hymenoptera. In: Evolution of Venomous Animals and Their Toxins. Gopalakrishnakone P, Malhotra A (eds). Springer ISBN 978-94-007-6727-0
Baracchi D, Turillazzi S, Felicioli A (2014) Le difese naturali della colonia di api contro le malattie. In: Patologia ed avversità dell’alveare. Carnapa E, Lodesani M (Eds). ISBN 978-88-470-5649-7. Springer Italia (English translation: Natural defences of honeybee colony against diseases)

- Research Papers

Carlesso D, Smargiassi S, Pasquini E, Bertelli G, Baracchi D (2021) Nectar non-protein amino acids (NPAAs) do not change nectar palatability but enhance learning and menory in honey bees. Scientific Reports. 11 (1) 1-14.
Carlesso D, Smargiassi S, Sassoli L, Cappa F, Cervo R, Baracchi D (2020) Exposure to a biopesticide interferes with sucrose responsiveness and learning in honey bees. Scientific Reports. 10 (1) 1-12.
Baracchi D, Cabirol A, Devaud JM, Haase A, d'Ettorre P, Giurfa M (2020) Pheromone components affect motivation and induce persistent modulation of associative learning and memory in honey bees. Communications Biology. 3(1): 1-9.
Baracchi D, Baciadonna L (2019) Insect sentience and the rise of a new inclusive ethics. Animal Sentience5 (29), 18
Baracchi D (2019) Editorial: Cognitive ecology of pollinators and the main determinants of foraging plasticity. Current Zoology 65 (4), 421-424.
Rossi N^†, Baracchi D^†, Giurfa M, d’Ettorre P (2018) Pheromone-induced Accuracy of nestmate recognition in Carpenter ants: simultaneous decrease in Type I and Type II errors. The American Naturalists. xxx. † Equal contribution
Avargues-Weber A, d’Amaro D, Metzler M, Finke V, Baracchi D, Dyer AG (2018) Does holistic processing require a large brain? Insights from honeybees and wasps in fine visual recognition tasks. Frontiers in Psychology. 9:1313.
Baracchi D, Rigosi E, de Brito Sanchez GM, Giurfa M (2018) Lateralization of sucrose responsiveness and non-associative learning in honeybees. Frontiers in Psychology 9:425.
Branconi R^†, Baracchi D^†, Turillazzi S, Cervo R. (2018) Testing the signal value of clypeal black patterning in the paper wasp Polistes dominula. Insectes Sociaux. 65 (1):161-196. † Equal contribution
Baracchi D, Vasas V, Jamshed Iqbal S, Alem S. (2017) Task difficulty and uncertainty affect social information use in foraging bumblebees. Behavioural Ecology. 29: 1-7.
Desmedt L, Baracchi D, Devaud JM, Giurfa M, d’Ettorre P. (2017) Aversive learning of odour-heat associations in ants. Journal of Experimental Biology. 220: 4661-4668.
Baracchi D, Devaud JM, d'Ettorre P, Giurfa M (2017) Pheromones modulate reward responsiveness and non-associative learning in honey bees. Scientific Reports. 7: 9875
Baracchi D, Lihoreau M, Giurfa M (2017) Do insects have emotions? Some insights from bumblebees. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 11: 157
Baracchi D, Marples A, Jenkins AJ, Leitch AR, Chittka L (2017) Nicotine in floral nectar pharmacologically influences bumblebee learning of floral features. Scientific Reports 7: 1951
Baracchi D (2017) The reproductive division of labour but not worker age affects spatial sorting within the nest in a paper wasp. Insect Sociaux 1-7.
Baracchi D, Turillazzi S, Chittka L (2016) Facial patterns in a tropical social wasp correlate with colony membership. The Science of Nature 103: 80
Baracchi D, Brown MJF, Chittka L (2015) Behavioural evidence for self-medication in bumblebees? F1000Research 4: 73
Baracchi D, Petrocelli I, Chittka L, Ricciardi G, Turillazzi S (2015) Speed and accuracy in nestmate recognition: a hover wasp prioritises face recognition over colony odour cues to minimise intrusion by outsiders. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences 282: 20142750 Science Shot: Wasps employ facial recognition to defend nests, February 3rd 2015
Abu Bakar, Baracchi D, Turillazzi (2015) Reuse of old nests by the european paper wasp Polistes dominula. Redia
Turillazzi S, Matthews RW, Pradella D, Meucci F, Baracchi D (2014) Nest architecture and colony composition of communally nesting Spilomena socialis sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae, Pemphredoninae) from peninsular Malaysia. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 41: 113-129
Baracchi D, Cini A (2014) A socio-spatial combined approach confirms a highly compartmentalized structure in honeybees. Ethology 120: 1167-1176
Baracchi D, Mazza G, Michelucci E, Pieraccini G, Turillazzi S, Moneti G (2013) Top-down sequencing of Apis dorsata apamin by MALDI-TOF MS and evidence of its inactivity against microorganisms. Toxicon 71: 105-112
Baracchi D, Petrocelli I, Cusseau G, Pizzocaro L, Teseo S, Turillazzi S (2013) Facial markings in the hover wasps: quality signals and familiar recognition cues in two species of Stenogastrinae. Animal Behaviour 85: 203-212
Baracchi D, Mazza G, Cini A, Petrocelli I, Hashim RB, Turillazzi S (2013) Social biology of Parischnogaster striatula (Hymenoptera, Stenogastrinae). Tropical Zoology 26: 105-119
Gramigni E, Calusi S, Gelli N, Giuntini L, Massi M, Delfino G, Chelazzi G, Baracchi D, Frizzi F, Santini G (2013) Ants as bioaccumulators of metals from soils: body content and tissue-specific distribution of metals in the ant Crematogaster scutellaris. European Journal of Soil Biology 58: 24-31.
Dapporto L, Baracchi D, Benassai D, Capretti P, Roversi PF, Turillazzi S (2013) Major changes in the sex differences in cuticular chemical profiles of the western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) after laboratory rearing. Journal of Insect Physiology 59: 738-744
Mancini V, Dapporto L, Baracchi D, Luchi N, Turillazzi S, Capretti P (2013) Phenotypic characterization of cryptic Diplodia species by MALDI‐TOF MS and the bias of mycelium age. Forest Pathology 43: 455-461
Baracchi D, Fadda A, Turillazzi S (2012) Evidence for antiseptic behaviour towards sick adult bees in honey bee colonies. Journal of Insect Physiology 58: 1589-1596
Baracchi D, Mazza G, Turillazzi S (2012) From individual to collective immunity: the role of the venom as antimicrobial agent in the Stenogastrinae wasp societies. Journal of Insect Physiology 58: 188-193
Baracchi D, Francese S, Turillazzi S (2011) Beyond the anti-predatory defence: honey bee venom function as a component of social immunity. Toxicon 58: 219-229
Baracchi D, Dapporto L, Turillazzi S (2011) Relevance of wing morphology in distinguishing and classifying genera and species of Stenogastrinae wasps. Contribution to Zoology 80: 191-199
Mazza G, Arizza V, Baracchi D, et al. (2011) Antimicrobial activity of the Red Palm Weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. Bullettin of Insectology 64: 33-41
Baracchi D, Turillazzi S (2010) Differences in venom and cuticular peptides in individuals of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) determined by MALDI-TOF MS. Journal of Insect Physiology 56: 366-375
Baracchi D, Zaccaroni M, Cervo R, Turillazzi S (2010) Home range analysis in the study of spatial organization on the comb in the paper wasp Polistes dominulus. Ethology 116: 579-587
Baracchi D, Cusseau G, Pradella D, Turillazzi S (2010) Defense reaction of Apis mellifera ligustica against the attacks of the European Hornet Vespa crabro. Ethology Ecology & Evolution 22: 281-294
Baracchi D, Dapporto L, Teseo S, Hashim R, Turillazzi S (2010) Medium molecular weight polar substances of the cuticle as tools in the study of the taxonomy, systematics and chemical ecology of tropical hover wasps (Hymenoptera: Stenogastrinae). Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 48: 109-114
Baracchi D, Hashim R, Teseo S, Turillazzi S (2009) Basic social biology and nest architecture of Liostenogaster topographica (Hymenoptera Stenogastrinae). Tropical Zoology 22: 15-23
Dapporto L, Bruschini C, Baracchi D, Cini A, Gayubo S, González JA, Dennis RLH (2009) Phylogeography and counter-intuitive inferences in island biogeography: evidence from morphometric markers in the mobile butterfly Maniola jurtina (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 98: 677-692
Turillazzi S, Fanelli D, Theodora P, Lambardi D, Ortolani I, Hashim R, Baracchi D (2008) Determinants of immature brood and nest recognition in a stenogastrine wasp. Ethology Ecology & Evolution 20: 17-33
Baracchi D, Turillazzi S, Cervo R (2007) Preliminary investigation on Polistes dominulus worker' spatial distribution on the nest in relation to immature brood position Redia XC: 139-142

- F1000 Recommendations (commentary with DOI)

Chittka L, Baracchi D: F1000Prime Recommendation of [Gibson WT et al., Curr Biol 2015, (25):1401-15]. In F1000Prime, 23Jul 2015; DOI: 10.3410/f.725503669.793508177.

Chittka L, Baracchi D: F1000Prime Recommendation of [Szyszka P et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA2014, (47):16925-30]. In F1000Prime, 04 Mar 2015; DOI: 10.3410/f.725231800. 793504461.

Chittka L, Baracchi D: F1000Prime Recommendation of [Otti O et al., Trends Ecol Evol (Amst) 2014, 29(11):625-34]. In F1000Prime, 19 Dec 2014; DOI: 10.3410/f.719130149.793502500.

Chittka L, Baracchi D: F1000Prime Recommendation of [Sheehan MJ and Nachman MW, Nat Commun 2014, 5(4800)]. In F1000Prime, 31 Oct 2014; DOI: 10.3410/f.718877905.793501089.

Chittka L, Baracchi D: F1000Prime Recommendation of [Van Oystaeyen A et al., Science 2014, 343(6168):287-90]. In F1000Prime, 25 Apr 2014; DOI: 10.3410/f.718241916.793493967.

Chittka L, Baracchi D: F1000Prime Recommendation of [Fürst MA et al., Nature 2014, 506(7488):364 6]. In F1000Prime, 24 Feb 2014; DOI: 10.3410/f.718282911.793491217.

Chittka L, Baracchi D: F1000Prime Recommendation of [de Brito Sanchez M et al., Front Behav Neurosci 2014, 8:1-16]. In F1000Prime, 11 Feb 2014; DOI: 10.3410/f.718270012.793490643.

Chittka L, Baracchi D: F1000Prime Recommendation of [Johnson BR et al., Curr Biol 2013]. In F1000Prime, 25 Oct 2013; DOI: 10.3410/f.718133764.793485646.

Chittka L, Baracchi D: F1000Prime Recommendation of [Greggers U et al., Proc Biol Sci 2013, 280(1759):20130528]. In F1000Prime, 22 Jun 2013; DOI: 10.3410/f.717992980.793478441

- Outreach Papers

Baracchi D, Tufano L (2018) Ape, patogeni e nattari floreali: un sistema complesso APINSIEME n°1

Tufano, Baracchi D (2016) Apicoltura nomadismo: conseguenze per la salute dell’ape APINSIEME n°8

Tufano L, Baracchi D (2016) I probiotici e prebiotici agiscono sul Nosema ceranae? APINSIEME n°1

Tufano L, Baracchi D (2015) Vitellogenina e senilità nell'ape e nell'alveare II APITALIA n°11

Tufano L, Baracchi D (2015) Vitellogenina e senilità nell'ape e nell'alveare I APITALIA n°10

Baracchi D (2015) Nettari floreali e automedicazione negli impollinatori APITALIA n°9

Tufano L, Baracchi D (2015) Il sistema immunitario dell’ape e dell’alveare II APITALIA n°6

Tufano L, Baracchi D (2015) Il sistema immunitario dell’ape e dell’alveare I APITALIA n°5

Tufano L, Baracchi D (2015) L’organizzazione socio-spaziale dell’alveare APITALIA n° 3

Savorelli G, Tufano L, Baracchi D (2014) Il capitale proteico dell’alveare APITALIA n°V7

Tufano L, Savorelli G, Baracchi D (2014) Disponibilità di polline nell’alveare APITALIA n°6

Baracchi D, Savorellli G (2014) Gli effetti di carenza di polline sull’alveare APITALIA n°4

Savorelli G, Tufano L, Baracchi D (2014) Immunità d’ape, patogeni e pascolo APITALIA n°1

Baracchi D (2013) La lotta tra api igieniste e la coppia varroa-virus delle ali deformi. L’APIS

Baracchi D (2013) Il veleno me lo metto addosso e sul favo! L’APIS

Savorelli G, Baracchi D (2013) Speciale: Peste americana e Nosema ceranae Apitalia On-line

Baracchi D, Savorelli G (2013) La situazione sanitaria delle api. APITALIA n° 6

Savorelli G, Baracchi D (2013) Il destino dell’ape ai giorni nostri. APITALIA n° 11

Baracchi D, Savorelli G (2013) Coevoluzione ospite-parassita ape-nosema. APITALIA n° 6

Baracchi D (2013) Anche le colonie di api hanno personalità. Apitalia On-line

Baracchi D (2013) L'immunità dell'alveare APITALIA n° 1

Baracchi D (2012) quando il mondo delle api incontra quello dei calaboroni APITALIA n° 12

INVITED SPEAKER

2021 Plant-pollinator interactions: how flowering plants affect pollinator cognition. Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.

2018 Aminergic underpinnings of pheromonal modulation of olfactory learning and memory formation in honeybees. XI European Congress of Entomology, Naples, Italy

2016 Pheromones as modulators of cognitive phenomena and experience-dependent behaviours in insects. IST, Austria

2015 Appetitive and aversive pheromones modulate sucrose response threshold in honey bees. IFE-GDR Meeting, Paris, France

2015 Nestmate recognition in a social wasp: vision and olfaction. SFECA Strasburg, France

2014 Infected bumblebees self-medicate by increasing the ingestion of nectar toxins. EURBEE Murcia, Spain

FORMATIVE ACTIVITIES

2014: Analytical Software Workshop at the University of Greenwich (Introduction to social network analysis with UCINET).

2009: International PhD course "From Solitary to Superorganism: The Evolution of Insect Societies (organizers: Prof Stefano Turillazzi, Prof. Patrizia d’Ettorre, Dr Daniel Kronauer)

2009: Beekeeping Course. Apiary management and honeybees' diseases (organized by ARPAT Firenze)

2008: XIII Mass Spectrometry Course for PhD students (organized by the Italian Chemical Society)

OTHER ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

2012-2015 Associate Faculty member of F1000Prime (Faculty of 1000)

Guest Editor for a Special Column in Current Zoology: Behavioural and Cognitive Plasticity in Foraging Pollinators (2018-2019). https://academic.oup.com/cz/pages/foraging_pollinators

Topic Editor for Insects (MDPI) since 2019 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/insects/topic_editors

Editorial Board Member of Diversity (MDPI) since 2019 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/diversity

Associate Editor for Cognition (Frontiers in Psychology) since 2021 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/sections/cognition

Editorial Board Member (Review Editor) of Insect Neurobiology (Frontiers in Insect Science) since 2020 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/insect-science

Editorial Board Member (Review Editor) of Chemical Ecology (Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution) since 2021 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/sections/chemical-ecology

Member of REPRISE (register of the scientific experts at MIUR)

Member of “Collegio del Dottorato di Ricerca in Biologia Evoluzionistica ed Ecologia” at University of Florence

Member of “Commissione didattica” at University of Florence

Ad-hoc referee for:

Animal Behaviour, Animal Cognition, Apidologie, Arthropod-Plant Interactions, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, BioMed Research International, Biologia, BMC Ecology, Behavioural Processes, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Contribution to Zoology, Current Zoology, Ethology, Ethology Ecology & Evolution, FEMS Microbiology Letters, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, F1000Research, Insects, Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal of Chemical Ecology, Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal of Insect Behaviour, Journal of Insect Physiology, Journal of Neuroscience Research, Molecular Ecology, Nature Chemical Biology, Naturwissenschaften, Neotropical Entomology, PLOSONE, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences, Royal Society Open Science, Scientific Reports, Toxicon, Tropical Zoology, ZooKeys.

Organizing Committee

Member of the Organizing Committee for the National Congress of IUSSI (AISASP 2019) Florence

Member of the Organizing Committee for the National Congress of Ethology (SIE 2019) Florence

Professional affiliations:

IUSSI: International Union for the Study of Social Insects

ISN: International Society for Neuroethology

SIE: Società Italiana di Etologia

Webmaster of the IUSSI Italian Section website. https://socialinsectitaly2.wixsite.com/aisasp

David BARACCHI

Interessi

I miei interessi di ricerca si concentrano sulle capacità cognitive e sul comportamento adattativo degli insetti sociali. Nel mio laboratorio (https://davidbaracchi.wixsite.com/beelab), le attività di ricerca si sviluppano su tre principali linee tematiche:

Abilità cognitive, apprendimento, memoria e neurobiologia degli insetti impollinatori
Ecologia comportamentale degli insetti sociali
Impatto dei fattori di stress naturali e antropici sugli insetti impollinatori

Insieme al mio gruppo di ricerca, lavoro principalmente con api da miele (Apis mellifera) e bombi (Bombus terrestris). L'obiettivo è comprendere i meccanismi neuroetologici e le regole comportamentali che questi insetti utilizzano per adattarsi con successo all'ambiente e prendere decisioni ottimali per la sopravvivenza.

Negli ultimi anni, mi sono concentrato sull’impatto di (bio)pesticidi, patogeni, microplastiche, e altri fattori di stress ambientale sia sulle singole api sia sulle loro colonie. Questo lavoro mira a migliorare la salute e il benessere delle api e a sostenere al meglio gli impollinatori selvatici, come i bombi.

David BARACCHI

Pubblicazioni

Legenda

Contributo su rivista |

Articolo su libro |

Libro |

Contributo in atti di convegno (proceeding) |

Brevetto |

Curatela | Altro

Altro |

Tesi di Dottorato

Beydizada, Narmin Ilgar; Cannone, Francesco; Pekár, Stano; Baracchi, David; De Agrò, Massimo (2024). Habituation to visual stimuli is independent of boldness in a jumping spider. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, vol. 213, pp. 61-70, ISSN:0003-3472 DOI

Di Noi, Agata; Caliani, Ilaria; D'Agostino, Antonella; Cai, Giampiero; Romi, Marco; Campani, Tommaso; Ferrante, Federico; Baracchi, David; Casini, Silvia (2024). Assessing the effects of a commercial fungicide and an herbicide, alone and in combination, on Apis mellifera: Insights from biomarkers and cognitive analysis. CHEMOSPHERE, vol. 359, pp. 0-0, ISSN:0045-6535 DOI

Ferrante, Federico; Pasquini, Elisa; Cappa, Federico; Bellocchio, Lorenzo; Baracchi, David (2024). Unravelling the microplastic menace: Different polymers additively increase bee vulnerability. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, vol. 352, pp. 0-0, ISSN:0269-7491 DOI

Szymański, Szymon; Baracchi, David; Dingle, Lauren; Bowman, Alan S.; Manfredini, Fabio (2024). Learning performance and GABAergic pathway link to deformed wing virus in the mushroom bodies of naturally infected honey bees. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, vol. 227, pp. 0-0, ISSN:0022-0949 DOI

Cappa, Federico; Baracchi, David (2024). Bioinsecticides on honey bees: Exposure, sublethal effects, and risk assessment paradigms. CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH, vol. 41, pp. 0-0, ISSN:2468-5844 DOI

Lucon-Xiccato, Tyrone; Carere, Claudio; Baracchi, David (2024). Intraspecific variation in invertebrate cognition: a review. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY, vol. 78, pp. 0-0, ISSN:0340-5443 DOI

Pasquini, Elisa; Ferrante, Federico; Passaponti, Leonardo; Pavone, Francesco Saverio; Costantini, Irene; Baracchi, David (2024). Microplastics reach the brain and interfere with honey bee cognition. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, vol. 912, pp. 0-0, ISSN:0048-9697 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Cappa, Federico; De Fazi, Livia; Baracchi, David; Cervo, Rita (2024). Adverse effects of the fungal biopesticide Beauveria bassiana on a predatory social wasp. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, vol. 908, pp. 0-0, ISSN:0048-9697 DOI

Di Paola, Monica; Gori, Agnese; Stefanini, Irene; Meriggi, Niccolò; Renzi, Sonia; Nenciarini, Stefano; Cerasuolo, Benedetta; Moriondo, Marco; Romoli, Riccardo; Pieraccini, Giuseppe; Baracchi, David; Turillazzi, Francesco; Turillazzi, Stefano; Cavalieri, Duccio (2023). Using wasps as a tool to restore a functioning vine grape mycobiota and preserve the mycobial “terroir”. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, vol. 13, pp. 0-0, ISSN:2045-2322 DOI

Calderai, Giulia; Baggiani, Beatrice; Bianchi, Samuele; Pierucci, Valentina; Foti, Mariagrazia; Scibetta, Filippo; Baracchi, David (2023). Nectar-borne GABA promotes flower fidelity in bumble bees. ENTOMOLOGIA GENERALIS, vol. 43, pp. 789-798, ISSN:0171-8177 DOI

Federico Cappa, David Baracchi, Rita Cervo (2022). Biopesticides and insect pollinators: Detrimental effects, outdated guidelines, and future directions.. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, vol. 834, pp. 1-14, ISSN:0048-9697 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Balzani P.; Galeotti G.; Scheggi S.; Masoni A.; Santini G.; Baracchi D. (2022). Acute and chronic ingestion of polyethylene (PE) microplastics has mild effects on honey bee health and cognition. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, vol. 305 artcile number 19318, pp. 0-0, ISSN:0269-7491 DOI

Baciadonna, Luigi; Solvi, Cwyn; Del Vecchio, Flavia; Pilenga, Cristina; Baracchi, David; Bandoli, Francesca; Isaja, Valentina; Gamba, Marco; Favaro, Livio (2022). Vocal accommodation in penguins (Spheniscus demersus) as a result of social environment. PROCEEDINGS - ROYAL SOCIETY. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, vol. 289, pp. 0-0, ISSN:0962-8452 DOI

Finke V.; Baracchi D.; Giurfa M.; Scheiner R.; Avargues-Weber A. (2021). Evidence of cognitive specialization in an insect: proficiency is maintained across elemental and higher-order visual learning but not between sensory modalities in honey bees. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, vol. 224, pp. 1-12, ISSN:0022-0949 DOI

Carlesso, Daniele; Smargiassi, Stefania; Pasquini, Elisa; Bertelli, Giacomo; Baracchi, David (2021). Nectar non-protein amino acids (NPAAs) do not change nectar palatability but enhance learning and memory in honey bees. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, vol. 11, pp. 1-14, ISSN:2045-2322 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Kristine M. Gandia; Federico Cappa; David Baracchi; Mark E. Hauber; Laura Beani; Floria M.K. Uy (2021). Caste, sex, and parasitism influence brain plasticity in a social wasp. FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, vol. 10, pp. 1-12, ISSN:2296-701X DOI

David Baracchi; Martin Giurfa; Patrizia d{ extquotesingle}Ettorre (2021). Formic acid modulates latency and accuracy of nestmate recognition in carpenter ants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, vol. 224, pp. 1-14, ISSN:0022-0949 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Baracchi, David; Cabirol, Amélie; Devaud, Jean-Marc; Haase, Albrecht; d’Ettorre, Patrizia; Giurfa, Martin (2020). Pheromone components affect motivation and induce persistent modulation of associative learning and memory in honey bees. COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY, vol. 3, pp. 1-9, ISSN:2399-3642 DOI

Carlesso, Daniele; Smargiassi, Stefania; Sassoli, Lara; Cappa, Federico; Cervo, Rita; Baracchi, David (2020). Exposure to a biopesticide interferes with sucrose responsiveness and learning in honey bees. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, vol. 10, pp. 1-12, ISSN:2045-2322 DOI

Baracchi, David (2019). Cognitive ecology of pollinators and the main determinants of foraging plasticity. CURRENT ZOOLOGY, vol. 65, pp. 421-424-424, ISSN:1674-5507 DOI

Rossi N.; Baracchi D.; Giurfa M.; D'ettorre P. (2019). Pheromone-induced accuracy of nestmate recognition in carpenter ants: Simultaneous decrease in type I and type II errors. THE AMERICAN NATURALIST, vol. 193, pp. 267-278, ISSN:0003-0147 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Branconi R., Baracchi D., Turillazzi S., Cervo R. (2018). Testing the signal value of clypeal black patterning in an Italian population of the paper wasp Polistes dominula.. INSECTES SOCIAUX, vol. 65, pp. 161-169, ISSN:0020-1812 DOI

Baracchi, David; Vasas, Vera; Jamshed Iqbal, Soha; Alem, Sylvain (2018). Foraging bumblebees use social cues more when the task is difficult. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY, vol. 29, pp. 186-192, ISSN:1045-2249 DOI

Baracchi D.; Rigosi E.; de Brito Sanchez G.; Giurfa M. (2018). Lateralization of sucrose responsiveness and non-associative learning in honeybees. FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY, vol. 9, pp. 425-425, ISSN:1664-1078 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Avarguès-Weber, Aurore; d’Amaro, Daniele; Metzler, Marita; Finke, Valerie; Baracchi, David; Dyer, Adrian G. (2018). Does Holistic Processing Require a Large Brain? Insights From Honeybees and Wasps in Fine Visual Recognition Tasks. FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY, vol. 9, pp. 1-9, ISSN:1664-1078 DOI

Desmedt, Lucie; Baracchi, David; Devaud, Jean-Marc; Giurfa, Martin; d'Ettorre, Patrizia (2017). Aversive learning of odor-heat associations in ants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, vol. 220, pp. 4661-4668-4668, ISSN:0022-0949 DOI

Baracchi David, Marples Alice, Jenkins A J, Leitch AR, Chittka Lars (2017). Nicotine in floral nectar pharmacologically influences bumblebee learning of floral features. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, vol. 7, pp. 1951-1951, ISSN:2045-2322 DOI

Baracchi, David; Devaud, Jean-Marc; d'Ettorre, Patrizia; Giurfa, Martin (2017). Pheromones modulate reward responsiveness and non-associative learning in honey bees. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, vol. 7, pp. 9875-9884, ISSN:2045-2322 DOI

Baracchi, David; Tragust, Simon (2017). Venom as a Component of External Immune Defense in Hymenoptera. In: P. Gopalakrishnakone (Editor-in-Chief)Anita Malhotra. Evolution of Venomous Animals and Their Toxins, pp. 213-233 Springer, Dordrecht, ISBN:978-94-007-6457-6. DOI

Baracchi D. (2017). The reproductive division of labour but not worker age affects spatial sorting within the nest in a paper wasp. INSECTES SOCIAUX, vol. 64, pp. 379-385, ISSN:0020-1812 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Baracchi, David; Lihoreau, Mathieu; Giurfa, Martin (2017). Do Insects Have Emotions? Some Insights from Bumble Bees. FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE, vol. 11, pp. 157-160, ISSN:1662-5153 DOI

Baracchi, David; Turillazzi, Stefano; Chittka, Lars (2016). Facial patterns in a tropical social wasp correlate with colony membership. NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN, vol. 103, pp. 80-86, ISSN:0028-1042 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Baracchi, David; Brown, Mark J F; Chittka, Lars (2015). Behavioural evidence for self-medication in bumblebees?. F1000RESEARCH, vol. 4, pp. 73-73, ISSN:2046-1402 DOI

Turillazzi Stefano; Matthews Robert W; Pradella Duccio; Meucci Fabio; Baracchi David (2015). Nest architecture and colony composition of communally nesting Spilomena socialis s p. n. (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae, Pemphredoninae) from peninsular Malaysia. JOURNAL OF HYMENOPTERA RESEARCH, vol. 41, pp. 113-129, ISSN:1070-9428 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Abu Bakar, Nurul Atikah; Baracchi, David; Turillazzi, Stefano (2015). Reuse of old nests by the European paper wasp Polistes dominula (Hymenoptera Vespidae). REDIA, vol. 98, pp. 21-24, ISSN:0370-4327 Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Baracchi, David*; Brown, Mark J. F.; Chittka, Lars (2015). Weak and contradictory effects of self-medication with nectar nicotine by parasitized bumblebees. F1000RESEARCH, vol. 4, pp. 73-73, ISSN:2046-1402 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Baracchi, D.; Petrocelli, I.; Chittka, L.; Ricciardi, G.; Turillazzi, S. (2015). Speed and accuracy in nest-mate recognition: A hover wasp prioritizes face recognition over colony odour cues to minimize intrusion by outsiders. PROCEEDINGS - ROYAL SOCIETY. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, vol. 282, pp. 20142750-20142750, ISSN:0962-8452 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

Baracchi David; Cini Alessandro (2014). A Socio-Spatial Combined Approach Confirms a Highly Compartmentalised Structure in Honeybees. ETHOLOGY, vol. 120, pp. 1167-1176, ISSN:0179-1613 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

David Baracchi (2014). Patologia e avversità dell'alveare. In: David Baracchi, Stefano Turillazzi, Antonio Felicioli. Patologia e avversità dell’alveare, pp. 1-400 Springer-Verlag Italia srl, ISBN:9788847056503. DOI

E. GRAMIGNI; S. CALUSI; N. GELLI; L. GIUNTINI; M. MASSI; G. DELFINO; G. CHELAZZI; D. BARACCHI; F. FRIZZI; G. SANTINI (2013). Ants as bioaccumulators of metals from soils: Body content and tissue-specific distribution of metals in the ant Crematogaster scutellaris. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL BIOLOGY, vol. 58, pp. 24-31, ISSN:1164-5563 DOI

D. Baracchi;I. Petrocelli;G. Cusseau;L. Pizzocaro;S. Teseo;S. Turillazzi (2013). Facial markings in the hover wasps: quality signals and familiar recognition cues in two species of Stenogastrinae. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, vol. 85, pp. 203-212, ISSN:0003-3472 DOI

D Baracchi; G Mazza; E Michelucci; G Pieraccini; S Turillazzi; G Moneti (2013). Top-down sequencing of Apis dorsata apamin by MALDI-TOF MS and evidence of its inactivity against microorganisms. TOXICON, vol. 71, pp. 105-112, ISSN:0041-0101 DOI

Mancini, V.; Dapporto, L.; Baracchi, D.; Luchi, N.; Turillazzi, S.; Capretti, P. (2013). Phenotypic characterization of cryptic Diplodia species by MALDI-TOF MS and the bias of mycelium age. FOREST PATHOLOGY, vol. 43, pp. 455-461, ISSN:1437-4781 DOI

Baracchi David; Mazza Giuseppe; Cini Alessandro; Petrocelli Iacopo; Bin Hashim Rosli; Turillazzi Stefano (2013). Social biology of Parischnogaster striatula (Hymenoptera: Stenogastrinae).. TROPICAL ZOOLOGY, vol. 26, pp. 105-119, ISSN:1970-9528 DOI

L. Dapporto; D. Baracchi; D. Benassai; P. Capretti; P.F. Roversi; S. Turillazzi (2013). Major changes in the sex differences in cuticular chemical profiles of the western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) after laboratory rearing. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY, pp. 738-744, ISSN:0022-1910 DOI Accesso ONLINE all'editore

D. Baracchi (2012). Social immunity in insect societies. (Tutor: Stefano Turillazzi)

David Baracchi;Giuseppe Mazza;Stefano Turillazzi (2012). From individual to collective immunity: The role of the venom as antimicrobial agent in the Stenogastrinae wasp societies. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY, vol. 58, pp. 188-193, ISSN:0022-1910 DOI

David Baracchi;Antonio Fadda;Stefano Turillazzi (2012). Evidence for antiseptic behaviour towards sick adult bees in honey bee colonies. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY, vol. 58, pp. 1589-1596, ISSN:0022-1910 DOI

Inghilesi A.F.; Baldacci C.; Baracchi D.; Cini A.; Mattioli S.; Mazza G.; Pepicello I.; Cervo R. (2012). Comportamento sessuale nel punteruolo rosso delle palme , Rhynchophorus ferrugineus.. In: XXV Convegno Nazionale della Società Italiana di Etologia (SIE), Viterbo (italy), Settembre, pp. 0-0.

G. Mazza; V. Arizza; D. Baracchi; G.P. Barzanti; C. Benvenuti; V. Francardi; A. Frandi; F. Gherardi; S. Longo; B. Manachini; B. Perito; P. Rumine; D. Schillaci; S. Turillazzi; R. Cervo (2011). Antimicrobial activity of the Red Palm Weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. BULLETIN OF INSECTOLOGY, vol. 64 (1), pp. 33-41, ISSN:1721-8861

D. Baracchi; S. Francese; S. Turillazzi (2011). Beyond the antipredatory defence: Honey bee venom function as a component of social immunity. TOXICON, vol. 58, pp. 550-557, ISSN:0041-0101

D. Baracchi; L. Dapporto; S. Turillazzi (2011). Relevance of wing morphology in distinguishing and classifying genera and species of Stenogastrinae wasps. CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY, vol. 80, pp. 191-199, ISSN:1383-4517

Baracchi D.; Zaccaroni M.; Cervo R.; Turillazzi S. (2010). Home range analysis in the study of spatial organization on the comb in the paper wasp polistes dominulus.. ETHOLOGY, vol. 116, pp. 579-587, ISSN:0179-1613 DOI

Mazza G.; Baracchi D; Francardi V.; Frandi A.; Gherardi F.; Longo S.; Manachini B.; Perito P.; Turillazzi S.; Cervo R (2010). Antimicrobial activity of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus.. In: 6th NEOBIOTA Biological Invasions in a Changing World - from Science to Management, Copenhagen, Denmark,, Settembre, pp. ..-...

Baracchi, David*; Turillazzi, Stefano (2010). Differences in venom and cuticular peptides in individuals of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) determined by MALDI-TOF MS. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY, vol. 56, pp. 366-375, ISSN:0022-1910 DOI

D. Baracchi; G. Cusseau; D. Pradella; S. Turillazzi (2010). Defence reactions of Apis mellifera ligustica against attacks from the European hornet Vespa crabro. ETHOLOGY ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION, vol. 22, pp. 281-294, ISSN:1828-7131

Cappa F.; Baracchi D.; Cusseau G.; Turillazzi S.; Cervo R. (2010). Studio preliminare sulle preferenze di Varroa destructor nella scelta del suo ospite, Apis mellifera, in condizioni sperimentali di alto parassitismo.. In: XIII Convegno A.I.S.A.S.P., Reggio Calabria, Maggio, pp. ..-...

D.Baracchi; L.Dapporto; S.Teseo; R.Hashim; S.Turillazzi (2010). Medium molecular weight polar substances of the cuticle as tools in the study of the taxonomy, systematics and chemical ecology of tropical hover wasps (Hymenoptera:Stenogastrinae). JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH, vol. 48, pp. 109-114, ISSN:0947-5745

D.Baracchi; S.Turillazzi (2010). Differences in venom and cuticular peptides in individuals of Apis mellifera(Hymenoptera: Apidae) determined by MALDI-TOF MS. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY, vol. 56, pp. 366-375, ISSN:0022-1910

L. DAPPORTO; C. BRUSCHINI; D. BARACCHI; A. CINI; S.F. GAYUBO; J.A. GONZÁLEZ; R.L.H. DENNIS. (2009). Phylogeography and counter-intuitive inferences in island biogeography: evidence from morphometric markers in the mobile butterfly Maniola jurtina (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae). BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, vol. 98, pp. 677-692, ISSN:0024-4066 DOI

D.Baracchi; R.Hashim; S.Teseo; S.Turillazzi (2009). Basic social biology and nest architectureof Liostenogaster topographica Turillazzi 1999(Hymenoptera Stenogastrinae). TROPICAL ZOOLOGY, vol. 22, pp. 15-25, ISSN:1970-9528

Cervo R.; Baracchi D.; Ortolani I.; Zechini L.; Dapporto L.; Beani L.; Turillazzi S. (2008). Cervo R., Baracchi D., Ortolani I., Zechini L., Dapporto L., Beani L., Turillazzi S.Comunicazione visiva nella vespa cartonaia Polistes dominulus.. In: XXIII Convegno S.I.E., Arcavacata di Rende (CS), settembre, pp. ..-...

BARACCHI D; TURILLAZZI S; R. CERVO (2007). Preliminary investigation on Polistes dominulus workers’spatial distribution on the nest in relation to immature brood position. REDIA, vol. XV, pp. 139-142, ISSN:0370-4327

Baracchi D.; Cervo R.; Turillazzi S. (2007). Analisi preliminare delle posizioni sul nido di operaie di colonie di Polistes dominulus.. In: XII Convegno A.I.S.A.S.P.,, Erice, maggio, pp. ..-...

Baracchi D.; Turillazzi S.; Cervo R. (2006). Il riconoscimento individuale nelle colonie di Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae).. In: XXII Convegno S.I.E., Erice, Settembre, pp. ..-...

S. Turillazzi; D. Fanelli; P. Theodora; D. Lambardi; I. Ortolani; R. Hashim; D. Baracchi (2006). Determinants of immature brood and nest recognition in a stenogastrine wasp(Hymenoptera Vespidae).. ETHOLOGY ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION, vol. 20, pp. 17-33, ISSN:1828-7131

David BARACCHI

Biography

Baracchi graduated in Biological Sciences in 2005 and specialized in Behavioral Biology in 2007. He completed his PhD in Ecology and Animal Behaviour in 2012 under the supervision of Prof. Stefano Turillazzi. His doctoral research focused on the proximate and ultimate factors influencing the behavioural ecology and immunity of insect societies. From 2013 to 2015, Baracchi worked as a Marie Curie Research Fellow at Queen Mary University of London (UK). There, he investigated how secondary metabolites in nectars affect bumble bee foraging behaviour by enhancing memory for floral traits and explored whether these compounds pharmacologically manipulate pollinators’ behaviour. During this time, he also expanded his research to include the cognitive capacities of bumble bees and the chemical and visual communication of social wasps (Polistinae and Stenogastrinae). Between 2015 and 2018, Baracchi served as a postdoctoral researcher at Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier and Université Paris13. His research focused on how pheromones modulate experience-dependent behaviour in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) and the ant (Camponotus aethiops). He employed a combination of behavioural conditioning protocols and pharmacological methods to address these questions. Currently, Baracchi is an Associate Professor at the University of Florence, where he teaches Zoology, Forensic Zoology, and Ethology. He established and leads the Insect Cognition Laboratory (CBE Lab), dedicated to studying the mechanisms and evolution of cognitive processes and adaptive behaviours in insects. His research also examines how insects interact with biotic and abiotic factors such as pathogens, pesticides, and food source quality. The taxa studied in his lab include social bees (honey bees and bumble bees), ants, and social wasps (paper wasps, hornets, and hover wasps).