Department of Entomology, Plant Sciences Building

Michael J. Skvarla

Department of Entomology, Plant Sciences Building

University of Maryland, University Park, MD 20742

Email: ● Cell: (724) 493-9524

Revised: 11 January 2017

Education

Ph.D., Entomology, 2015

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, Doctoral Academy Fellow

Major Adviser: Dr. Ashley Dowling

Dissertation: Sampling terrestrial arthropod biodiversity: A case study in Arkansas

M.S., Entomology, 2011

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR

Major Adviser: Dr. Ashley Dowling

Thesis: Ozark Highland Cunaxidae (Acari: Prostigmata): Descriptions and keys to genera found to occur in the region and a new phylogenetic hypothesis for the family.

B.S., Entomology, 2008

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Appointments

Postdoctoral scholar, 2016–present

Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, stationed at Systematic Entomology Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland.

Faculty mentor at UMD: Dr. Charles Mitter

Mentor at USDA-ARS: Dr. Gary Miller

Short Courses and Continuing Education

Entomological Collections Management Workshop, 2016

National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

Three-day workshop, training and techniques associated with collections management of entomological collections, led by Floyd Shockley and David Furth

OSU Summer Acarology Program – Soil Acarology, 2010

Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Three-week short course, identification of soil mites, led by Dr. Hans Klompen.

Employment History

Research Associate. Systematic studies on Aphididae. University of Maryland, USDA-ARS Systematic Entomology Laboratory

• Jan. 2016–present
• 40 hours/week
• Research leader: Dr. Gary Miller. Office: 301-504-6896. Email:
• Duties involve independent systematic research of the aphid genus Rhopalosiphum, including literature search, solo and team field expeditions, specimen collection and preparation, examining specimens using stereo and compound microscopes, comparing specimens and identifying them to species, describing new species, and preparing manuscripts and illustrations for peer-reviewed publication; identifying aphids intercepted at U.S. ports of entry; and curating the National Museum of Natural History aphid collection.

Ph.D. Research Assistant. Comparison of trapping techniques for insects. University of Arkansas

• Aug. 2011 – Dec. 2015
• 40 hours/week
• Advisor: Dr. Ashley Dowling. Office: 703-292-8073. Email:
• Duties involved independent research comparing different methods of collecting insects, including solo and team field work and trap maintenance, sorting trap samples, identifying insect specimens to species, databasing specimens, statistical analysis using Excel, and preparing manuscripts and illustrations for peer-reviewed publication.

M.S. Research Assistant. Systematic studies on cunaxid mites. University of Arkansas

• Aug. 2009 – Aug. 2011
• 40 hours/week
• Advisor: Dr. Ashley Dowling. Office: 703-292-8073. Email:
• Duties involved independent systematic research of the mite family Cunaxidae, which is similar to the duties described under systematic studies on Rhopalosiphum above.

Curatorial Assistant. Purdue University, Purdue Entomological Research Collection (PERC)

• Jan. 2009 – July 2009
• 30 hours/week
• Supervisor: Arwin Provonsha. Retired
• Duties involved curating the PERC, including preparing specimens for deposition, databasing, and identifying insect specimens to species.

Laboratory Assistant. Purdue University, Landscape Ecology Laboratory

• Jan. 2006 – Dec. 2008
• 10–20 hours/week
• Supervisor: Dr. Jeff Holland. Office: 765-494-7739. Email:
• Duties involved insect trap set up and maintenance, sorting trap samples, curating specimens, databasing, lab maintenance, and independent research involving solo field work.

**All advisors and supervisors may be contacted**

Refereed Publications

Skvarla, M.J., Halbert, S.E., Foottit, R.G., Jensen, A.S., Maw, S., Miller, G.L. Accepted. An update to the adventive aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) of America north of Mexico, with notes on intercepted species.

Skvarla, M.J., Dowling, A.P.G. 2017. A comparison of trapping techniques (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, and Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae. Journal of Insect Science, 17(1); 4: 1–28. doi: 10.1093/jisesa/iew098

Skvarla, M.J., Fisher, D.M., Dowling, A.P.G. 2016. Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. IV. Asilidae and other Diptera. Biodiversity Data Journal: 4(e9977): 1–16. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.4.e9977

Skvarla, M.J., Fisher, D.M., Dowling, A.P.G. 2016. Arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. III. Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera). Biodiversity Data Journal: 4(e7607): 1–13. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.4.e7607

Skvarla, M.J., Smith, D.R., Fisher, D.M., Dowling, A.P.G. 2016. Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. II. Sawflies (Insecta: Hymenoptera: “Symphyta”)Biodiversity Data Journal: 3(e8830): 1–17. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.4.e8830

Hamilton, F.B., Skvarla, M.J., Fisher, D.M., Dowling, A.P.G. 2016. Notes on Pterostichus punctiventris (Chaudoir) (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Arkansas, with a new state record. Coleopterists Bulletin, 70(2): 309–313.

Hernandes, F.A., Skvarla, M.J., Fisher, J.R., Dowling, A.P.G., Ochoa, R., Ueckermann, E.A., Bauchan, G.R. 2016. Catalogue of snout mites (Acariformes: Bdellidae) of the world. Zootaxa, 4152(1): 1–83. doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4152.1.1

O’Neill, J.C., Fisher, J.R., Nelson, W.A., Fisher, D.M., Radwell, A.J., Skvarla, M.J.,Dowling, A.P.G. 2016. Systematics of testudacarine torrent mites (Parasitengona, Hydrachnidiae, Torrenticolidae). Systematics of testudacarine torrent mites (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Torrenticolidae) with descriptions of 13 new species from North America. ZooKeys, 582: 13–110.

Paktinat-Saeij, S., de Castro, T.M.M.G., Bagheri, M., Skvarla, M.J., de Moraes, G.J. 2016. Two new species and eight new combinations of Pulaeini Berlese (Acari: Cunaxidae) from Iran, with key to species of Lupaeus and Pulaeus in the world. Systematic & Applied Acarology, 21(6): 778–790.

Skvarla, M.J., Bertone, M.A., Fisher, J.R., Dowling, A.P.G. 2015. New information about the cypress weevil, Eudociminus mannerheimii (Boheman, 1836) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae): redescription, range expansion, new host records, and a report as a possible causative agent of tree mortality. Coleopterists Bulletin, 69(4):751–757.

Skvarla, M.J., Fisher, D.M., Schnepp, K., Dowling, A.P.G. 2015. Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. I. Select beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae). Biodiversity Data Journal, 3(e6832): 1–42. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e6832

Skvarla, M.J., Tripodi, A., Szalanski, A., Dowling, A.P.G. 2015. New records of Orussus minutus Middlekauff, 1983 (Hymenoptera: Orussidae) represent a significant western range expansion. Biodiversity Data Journal, 3(e35793): 1–22. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e5793

Skvarla, M.J., Evans, G.E., Dowling, A.P.G. 2015. Clinical report of Otobius megnini (Acari: Parasitiformes: Argasidae) from a domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) and first record from Northwest Arkansas.Midsouth Entomologist, 8: 64–72.

Fisher, J.R., Fisher, D.M., Nelson, W.A., O’Neill, J.C., Skvarla, M.J., Ochoa, R., Bauchan, G.R., Radwell, A.J., Dowling, A.P.G. 2015. Torrenticola trimaculata sp. nov. (Parasitengona: Torrenticolidae), a three-spotted water mite from eastern North America: taxonomic history, species delimitation, and survey of external morphology. Acarologia, 55(1): 71–116.

Skvarla, M.J., Fisher, J.R., Dowling, A.P.G. 2014. A review of Cunaxidae (Acariformes, Trombidiformes): Histories and diagnoses of subfamilies and genera, keys to world species, and some new locality records. ZooKeys, 418: 1–103.

Skvarla, M.J., Larson, J.L., Dowling, A.P.G. 2014. Pitfalls and preservatives: A review. Journal of the Entomological Society of Ontario, 145: 15–43.

Skvarla, M.J., Fisher, J.R., Dowling, A.P.G. 2014. Redescription of Paracaropsis travisi (Baker, 1949) (Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae), with range expansion, additional host records, and reevaluation of cheyletid chaetotaxy based on the sejugal furrow. Acarologia, 54(3): 335–345.

Skvarla, M.J., Hartshorn, J.A., Dowling, A.P.G. 2014. Report on a large collection of Merope tuber Newman, 1838 (Mecoptera: Meropeidae) from Arkansas with notes on collection technique, sex ratio, and male clasper size. Psyche, vol. 2014, Article ID 530757, 6 pages, doi:10.1155/2014/530757

Skvarla, M.J., Dowling, A.P.G. 2014. First report of gynandromorphism in Temnothorax curvispinosus (Mayr, 1886) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 116(3): 349–353.

Fisher, J.R., Fisher, D.M., Skvarla, M.J., Dowling, A.P.G. 2014. Pre-ballooning in Ummidia Thorell 1875 (Araneae: Ctenizidae) from the Interior Highlands, USA: second account from the region and review of mygalomorph ballooning. The Journal of Arachnology, 42: 318–321.

Rocha, M.D.S., Skvarla, M.J., Ferla, N.J. 2013. A new species of Scutopalus (Acari: Cunaxidae: Cunaxoidinae) from Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil with a key to world species. Zootaxa, 3734: 38–44.

Skvarla, M.J., Fisher, J.R., Dowling, A.P.G. 2013. On some mites (Acari: Prostigmata) from the Interior Highlands: descriptions of the male, immature stages, and female reproductive systems of Pseudocheylus americanus (Ewing, 1909) and some new state records for Arkansas. Zootaxa, 3641: 401–419.

Skvarla, M.J., Dowling, A.P.G. 2012. Some new armascirine cunaxids (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae) from the eastern United States. Zootaxa, 3149: 1–34.

Skvarla, M.J., Fisher, J.R., Dowling, A.P.G. 2011. A new species of Neoscirula (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae) from the Ozark Highlands. Acarologia, 51: 283–293.

Skvarla, M.J., Holland, J.D. 2011. Non-target insects caught on emerald ash borer purple monitoring traps in western Pennsylvania. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry, 28: 209–211.

Fisher, J.R., Skvarla, M.J., Bauchan, G.R., Ochoa, R., Dowling, A.P.G. 2011. Trachymolgus purpureus sp. n., an armored snout mite (Acari, Bdellidae) from the Ozark Highlands: morphology, development, and key to Trachymolgus Berlese. ZooKeys, 125: 1–34.

MacGown, J.A., Hill, J.G., Skvarla, M.J. 2011. New records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) for Arkansas with a synopsis of previous records. Midsouth Entomologist, 4: 29–38.

Published Datasets

Skvarla, M.J., Barnes, J., Fisher, D., Dowling, A.P.G. 2016. Data from: Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. IV. Asilidae and other Diptera. Biodiversity Data Journal.

Skvarla, M.J.,Fisher, D.M., Dowling, A.P.G. 2016. Data from: Arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. III. Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera). Dryad Digital Repository. Biodiversity Data Journal.

Skvarla, M.J., Smith, D.R., Fisher, D.M. Dowling, A.P.G. 2016. Data from: Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. II. Sawflies (Insecta: Hymenoptera: "Symphyta"). Dryad Digital Repository. Biodiversity Data Journal.

Skvarla, M.J., Fisher, D.M., Schnepp, K.E., Dowling, A.P.G.2015. Data from: Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. I. Select beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae). Dryad Digital Repository. Biodiversity Data Journal.doi:10.5061/dryad.4h40n

Invited Presentations

Skvarla, M.J., Dowling, A.P.G. 2016. Catching them all: A case study in sampling arthropod diversity. XXV International Congress of Entomology/Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Orlando, FL.

Skvarla, M.J., Dowling, A.P.G. 2016. Catching them all: A case study in sampling arthropod diversity. 1182ndmeeting of the Washington Entomological Society, Washington, D.C.

Skvarla, M.J., Dowling, A.P.G. 2016. Catching them all: A case study in sampling arthropod diversity.Southeast Branch of the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NC.

Skvarla, M.J., Dowling, A.P.G. 2014. Leaf litter, the poor man’s tropics: dealing with the microarthropod diversity in temperate forests. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland, OR.

Skvarla, M.J. 2013.Collecting leaf litter arthropods in the Ozark Highlands using pitfalls and Berlese extraction. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Austin, TX.

Presentations

Skvarla, M.J., Dowling, A.P.G. 2015. Catching them all: A case study in sampling arthropod diversity.Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN.

Skvarla, M.J., Fisher, J.R., Dowling, A.P.G. 2014. Look before you toss: The importance of by-catch, broadly training students, and other lessons from a project in mass sampling. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland, OR.

Skvarla, M.J. 2014. Earwigflies (Merope tuber) in Arkansas. Joint Annual Meetings of the Kansas Academy of Science and the Kansas Entomological Society, Emporia, KA.

Skvarla, M.J. 2013. Earwigflies (Merope tuber) in Northwest Arkansas. Arkansas Entomological Society Annual Meeting, Magnolia, AR.

Skvarla, M.J. 2012. A preliminary phylogenetic hypothesis of Prostigmata (Acari: Trombidiformes). Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Knoxville, TN.

Skvarla, M.J. 2012. A preliminary phylogenetic hypothesis of Trombidiformes (Acari). Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Knoxville, TN.

Skvarla, M.J. 2011.A preliminary cunaxid (Bdelloidea: Cunaxidae) phylogeny. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Reno, NV.

Skvarla, M. J. 2010. Some interesting biogeography in the Ozarks. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.

Skvarla, M. J. 2009.Non-target Coleoptera caught by EAB purple traps. North Central Branch of the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO.

Posters

Skvarla, M.J., Dowling, A.P.G. 2016. Catching them all: A case study in sampling arthropod diversity. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Collections Network, Orlando, FL.

Skvarla, M.J., Dowling, A.P.G. 2015. Sampling diverse taxa: A case-study with ground beetles and weevils (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Curculionidae). Joint Meeting of the Kansas Entomological Society and Arkansas Entomological Society, Fayetteville, AR.

Skvarla, M.J.2013.Dowling lab projects. Outreach presented to the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 2 April.

Publications in Progress

Fisher, J.R., Fisher, D.M., Skvarla, M.J., Nelson, W.A., Dowling, A.P.G. Revision of long-nosed torrent mites (Parasitengona, Torrenticolidae, Torrenticola) of the United States and Canada: new species, re-descriptions, phylogenetics, and a key to species. Submitted.

Metz, M.A., Miller, D.R., Dickey, A.M., Bauchan, G.R., Ochoa, R., Skvarla, M.J., Miller, G.L. Submitted. Rediscovering digitules in Aphidomorpha and the question of homology among Sternorrhyncha (Insecta: Hemiptera)

Skvarla, M.J., Dowling, A.P.G. In prep.Sampling terrestrial arthropod diversity: A case study.

Skvarla, M.J.,Fisher, J.R., Larson, J.L., Dowling, A.P.G. In prep. A review of terrestrial and canopy Malaise traps.

Hamilton, F.B., Wiedenmann, R.N., Skvarla, M.J., Sathyamurthy, R., Fisher, D.M., Fisher, R., Dowling, A.P.G. In prep.Phenology and Diversity of Arthropod Communities in Leaf Litter of Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains

Awards & Achievements

2015Dwight Isely Entomology Scholarship (Department of Entomology Outstanding Ph.D. Graduate Student Award)

2015First place, student presentation, Joint Meeting of the Kansas Entomological Society and Arkansas Entomological Society

2013, 2014Lloyd and Ruby Warren Scholarship

2015

2013Third place, student presentation, Arkansas Entomological Society Annual Meeting

2011Outstanding Student Presentation Award, Annual Meeting of the Acarological Society of America

2011–2015Doctoral Academy Fellowship, University of Arkansas

Funding Record

Year Source & Project TitleFunding

2016
2015 / 2017 Smithsonian Institution Fellowship ProgramC
NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2015C (NSF 15-501) / Not yet awarded
Not funded
2015 / NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement GrantC (NSF 13-568) / Not funded
2015 / Councils of the Linnean Society/Systematics Association - Systematics Research FundC / Not funded
2011–15 / University of Arkansas – Doctoral student travel grantNC / $1000
2009–10 / University of Arkansas – Masters student travel grantNC / $600
2008 / Purdue University – College of Agriculture Undergraduate Research FundsI / $500
2008 / Purdue University – Department of Entomology Matching Research FundsNC / $500

(C = External competitive funds; I=Internal competitive funds; NC = Non-competitive funds)

Professional Service

2013–present
2015–present
2015–present
2013–2015 / Social media coordinator, Acarological Society of America
Webmaster, Acarological Society of America
Subject editor (Acari), Biodiversity Data Journal
Governing Board member, Acarological Society of America

Manuscripts Reviewed

Zootaxa (4); Journal of Insect Science (1); Acarologia (1); Coleopterists Bulletin (1); Northeastern Naturalist (1);Acta Arachnologica (1); North-Western Journal of Zoology (1); Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana (1)

Funding Proposals Reviewed

National Science Centre, Poland (1)

Public Outreach

4H Pinning Workshop. Co-teacher. 12 July 2014; 6 Nov. 2010. Fayetteville, AR.

“How to Collect and Identify Soil Mites” short course. Co-teacher.12–17 May 2012. Washington D.C.

BioBlitz. Collector/identifier.

Kessler Mountain Reserve, Fayetteville, AR, 2014

Brown County State Park, Nashville, IN, 2009

Indiana Dunes National Lake Shore, Porter, IN, 2009

Insect Festival. Volunteer. 2014, 2012, 2010. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.

Bug Bowl. Volunteer. 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Scientific Outreach (Published or broadcast interviews)

Sawfly Species Found in Arkansas Show Range Expansions of Hundreds of Miles. By Entomology Today, 18 May 2016. Available online at

Scientist collects 30 sawfly species not previously reported from Arkansas. By Pensoft Publishers, 16 May 2016. Available online at

Social media uncovers parasitic wasp range. By Dana Kobilinsky, The Wildlife Society, 16 September 2015. Available online at

Flickr and a citizen science website help in recording a sawfly species range expansion. By Pensoft Publishers, 8 September 2015. Available online at

Arthro-Pod Podcast, episode 5. Produced by Jonathan Larson, 10 November 2014. Available online at

Breaking Bio Podcast, episode 44. Produced by Morgan Jackson, 4 September 2013. Available online at

Professional Organizations

Entomological Society of America, 2006–present

Acarological Society of America, 2009–present

Entomological Society of Arkansas, 2010–present

Coleopterists Society, 2013–present

Entomological Society of Washington, 2014-present

Entomological Society of Ontario, 2014-present

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