Michael J. Skvarla

Assistant Research Professor of Arthropod Identification

University Park

Areas of Expertise

Coleoptera Keyphrases
Mite Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Acari Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Hemiptera Agricultural and Biological Sciences
New Species Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Diptera Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Arthropod Agricultural and Biological Sciences
North America Keyphrases

Arthropod identification
Arthropod survey, collection, and biodiversity
Soil arthropods, with particular emphasis on forest leaf litter Acarology, with particular emphasis on Prostigmata and Cunaxidae

Education

Postdoctoral scholar, January 2016-April 2017, Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland
Ph.D., 2015, University of Arkansas, Department of Entomology, Fayetteville, AR, Doctoral Academy Fellow
M.S., 2011, University of Arkansas

Websites

Elsevier Pure Profile

: Dr. Skvarla is the insect identifier for PSU Entomology. His previous work has focused on taxonomy and biodiversity, particularly in forest and leaf litter systems. Regarding pollinators, this generally translates to survey work involving native bees and flies. For example, he is currently collaborating on a project to survey pollinators of black cherry (which seem to mostly be flies) in an effort to determine if the trees are producing fewer seeds and young trees due to a pollinator deficiency.
: 2024

Distance models reveal biases associated with passive trapping methods for measuring wild bee abundance
Codey L. Mathis, Darin J. McNeil, Melanie Kammerer, Jeffery L. Larkin, Michael J. Skvarla, 2024, In: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Entomologists Require Ethical Guidance for Compassionate Management of Delusional Parasitosis Cases
Kathleen Murphy-Hollies, Michael Skvarla, Robin Verble, 2024, In: American Entomologist

New records of Micromegistus bakeri, Trägårdh 1948 (Acari: Mesostigmata: Parantennulidae), a mite symbiotic on carabid beetles, and notes on the species’ distribution and host specificity
Nia Riggins, Monica R. Young, Tanya Renner, Frédéric Beaulieu, Michael Skvarla, 2024, In: Acarologia

Arthropod Interactions with Xyris Flowers Discovered through Community Photography
Michael Skvarla, Terry L. Torres-Cruz, Cody L. Mathis, Dec 30 2024, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

Commercial products are not effective at repelling European deer keds, Lipoptena cervi (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) but may increase mortality after exposure
Michael J. Skvarla, Karen Poh, Calvin Norman, Erika T. Machtinger, Nov 1 2024, In: Journal of medical entomology

First Modern Record of a Giant Lacewing (Neuroptera: Ithonidae: Polystoechotes punctata (Fabricius, 1793)) from Texas
Michael J. Skvarla, John D. Oswald, Mark A. Janowiecki, Jan 31 2024, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

First Records of Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae: Acanthococcus Lagerstroemiae) from New Jersey and New York
Michael J. Skvarla, Kevin D. Chase, Christopher B. Riley, Jeremy Slone, Mar 1 2024, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

New Host Records for White Peach Scale (Hemiptera: Diaspididae: Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni Tozzetti, 1886)) in North America
Michael J. Skvarla, Scott A. Schneider, Aug 22 2024, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

Water mites and their use as bioindicators of water quality conditions
Logan R. Stenger, Francesca M. Ferguson, Michael Skvarla, 2024, In: Acarologia

Diversity of Arthropods that Visit Xyris spp. (Xyridaceae)
Terry J. Torres-Cruz, Lauren A. Ré, Jack R. Johnson, David M. Geiser, Michael J. Skvarla, Jan 31 2024, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

2023

New Information about Lizard Beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Languria angustata (Beauvois, 1805) and Languria mozardi Latreille, 1807) in Pennsylvania
Michael J. Skvarla, John Tooker, Adriana Murillo-Williams, Mar 17 2023, In: Coleopterists Bulletin

Online community photo-sharing in entomology
Michael J. Skvarla, J. Ray Fisher, Sep 1 2023, In: Annals of the Entomological Society of America

Report of Two Rove Beetle Species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Oxybleptes kiteleyi Smetana, 1982 and Omalium rivulare (Paykull, 1789), Collected in Colored Water Traps
Michael J. Skvarla, Michael L. Ferro, Margaret K. Thayer, Dec 21 2023, In: Coleopterists Bulletin

2022

Limited detection of shared zoonotic pathogens in deer keds and blacklegged ticks co-parasitizing white-tailed deer in the eastern United States
Pia Untalan Olafson, Karen C. Poh, Jesse R. Evans, Michael J. Skvarla, Erika T. Machtinger, 2022, In: Medical and Veterinary Entomology

Identification and Management of Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in North America
David R. Coyle, Jamielee Adams, Erin Bullas-Appleton, Jennifer Llewellyn, Alexander Rimmer, Michael J. Skvarla, Sandy M. Smith, Juang Horng Chong, 2022, In: Journal of Integrated Pest Management

All for One Health and One Health for All
Karen C. Poh, Jesse R. Evans, Michael J. Skvarla, Erika T. Machtinger, Jun 2022, In: Insects

Patterns of deer ked (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) and tick (Ixodida: Ixodidae) infestation on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the eastern United States
Karen C. Poh, Jesse R. Evans, Michael J. Skvarla, Cody M. Kent, Pia U. Olafson, Graham J. Hickling, Jennifer M. Mullinax, Erika T. Machtinger, Dec 2022, In: Parasites and Vectors

Tissue-damaging marking methods do not affect tick burdens on field captured Peromyscus spp.
Chloe E. Roberts, Edwin R. Burgess, Taylor M. Miller, Anna Marie Wise, Cera J. Dickerson, Michael J. Skvarla, Andrew Y. Li, Erika T. Machtinger, Dec 2022, In: Wildlife Society Bulletin

First Record of Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae: Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) from Pennsylvania
Michael J. Skvarla, Scott A. Schneider, Apr 2022, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

Murder Hornet Mayhem
Michael J. Skvarla, Matthew A. Bertone, Patrick J. Liesch, 2022, In: American Entomologist

Rediscovery of Polystoechotes punctata (Fabricius, 1793) (Neuroptera: Ithonidae) in Eastern North America
Michael J. Skvarla, J. Ray Fisher, Nov 30 2022, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

A quantitative method for collecting water mites in lotic, riffle-run habitats for water quality biomonitoring
Logan R. Stenger, Michael J. Skvarla, 2022, In: Acarologia

2021

The Keds Are Alright
Jesse Ray Evans, Karen C. Poh, Michael Skvarla, Erika T. Machtinger, Nov 1 2021, In: Annals of the Entomological Society of America

A Review of Terrestrial and Canopy Malaise Traps
Michael J. Skvarla, Jonathan L. Larson, J. Ray Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, Jan 1 2021, In: Annals of the Entomological Society of America

The eriophyid mite aculops Ailanthi Lin, Jin, & Kuang, 1997 (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) from treeofheaven in the United States-new state records and morphological observations
Michael J. Skvarla, Ron Ochoa, Andrew Ulsamer, James Amrine, 2021, In: Acarologia

Tick abundance and life-stage segregation on the American black bear (Ursus americanus)
Hannah S. Tiffin, Michael J. Skvarla, Erika T. Machtinger, Dec 2021, In: International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

2020

First Documented Report of Phytocoris buenoi Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae) Biting a Human
Michael J. Skvarla, Jul 1 2020, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

First Report of Scale Insects (Hemiptera
Michael J. Skvarla, Oct 1 2020, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

Reexamination of Rhopalosiphum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) using linear discriminant analysis to determine the validity of synonymized species, with some new synonymies and distribution data
Michael Skvarla, Matthew Kramer, Christopher L. Owen, Gary L. Miller, Jan 1 2020, In: Biodiversity Data Journal

2019

Range extension of false meyer scale, dynaspidiotus pseudomeyeri (kuwana) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) in the United States, and newly recorded associations with a parasitoid and mite
Scott A. Schneider, Michael J. Skvarla, Ron Ochoa, Stefan Schmidt, Andrew Polaszek, Michael W. Gates, Apr 1 2019, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

First record of ambrosiophilus atratus (Eichhoff 1875) Feeding on Oak (Quercus L.) in North America
Michael Skvarla, Marc Digirolomo, Jul 2019, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

New Information about Anthocomus equestris (Fabricius, 1781) (Coleoptera: Melyridae), a Soft-Winged Flower Beetle Commonly Found in Homes
Michael J. Skvarla, 2019, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

2018

Litter-dwelling ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) of the ozark highlands, USA
Fredericka B. Hamilton, Robert N. Wiedenmann, Michael J. Skvarla, Raghu Sathyamurthy, Danielle M. Fisher, Jon Ray Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2018, In: Southeastern Naturalist

A Review of Sclerodermus Latreille, 1809 (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) Infestations and Report of the First Case in North America North of Mexico
Michael J. Skvarla, May 1 2018, In: Journal of medical entomology

First Report of the Yellowmargined Leaf Beetle, Microtheca ochroloma Stål, 1860 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), in Pennsylvania
Michael J. Skvarla, Shelby Jay Fleischer, Dec 2018, In: Coleopterists Bulletin

Taxonomy and Natural History of Cattail Aphids, Rhopalosiphum enigmae (Hemiptera: Aphidomorpha: Aphididae), including a New Synonymy and Notes on Ant and Parasitoid Associates of Rhopalosiphum
Michael J. Skvarla, Gary L. Miller, Gary Bauchan, Matthew Lewis, Robert Foottit, Eric Maw, Mar 1 2018, In: Insect Systematics and Diversity

2017

Rediscovering digitules in aphidomorpha and the question of homology among sternorrhyncha (Insecta, Hemiptera)
Mark A. Metz, Douglass R. Miller, Aaron M. Dickey, Gary R. Bauchan, Ronald Ochoa, Michael J. Skvarla, Gary L. Miller, 2017, In: ZooKeys

First record of the genus Bak yunker (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Cheyletidae) from Iran with description of a new species
Saeid Paktinat-Saeij, Mohammad Bagheri, Michael Skvarla, 2017, In: Acarologia

Revision of torrent mites (Parasitengona, Torrenticolidae, Torrenticola) of the United States and Canada
J. Ray Fisher, Danielle M. Fisher, Michael J. Skvarla, Whitney A. Nelson, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2017, In: ZooKeys

A comparison of trapping techniques (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, and Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae)
Michael J. Skvarla, Ashley P.G. Dowling, Jan 2017, In: Journal of Insect Science

An Update to the Adventive Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) of America North of Mexico, with Notes on Intercepted Species
Michael J. Skvarla, Susan E. Halbert, Robert G. Foottit, Andrew S. Jensen, Eric Maw, Gary L. Miller, Feb 2017, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

2016

Notes on Pterostichus punctiventris (Chaudoir) (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Arkansas, with a New State Record
Fredericka B. Hamilton, Michael J. Skvarla, Danielle M. Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, Jun 1 2016, In: Coleopterists Bulletin

Catalogue of snout mites (Acariformes: Bdellidae) of the world
Fabio A. Hernandes, Michael J. Skvarla, J. Ray Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, Ronald Ochoa, Edward A. Ueckermann, Gary R. Bauchan, Aug 17 2016, In: Zootaxa

Systematics of testudacarine torrent mites (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Torrenticolidae) with descriptions of 13 new species from North America
Joseph C. O’Neill, J. Ray Fisher, Whitney A. Nelson, Micheal J. Skvarla, Danielle M. Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2016, In: ZooKeys

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
Saeid Paktinat-Saeij, Tatiane M.M.G. De Castro, Mohammad Bagheri, Michael Skvarla, Gilberto J. De Moraes, Jun 1 2016, In: Systematic and Applied Acarology

Arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. III. Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera)
Michael Joseph Skvarla, Danielle M. Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, May 16 2016, In: Biodiversity Data Journal

Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. II. Sawflies (Insecta: Hymenoptera: "Symphyta")
Michael Joseph Skvarla, David R. Smith, Danielle M. Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, May 9 2016, In: Biodiversity Data Journal

Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. IV. Asilidae and other Diptera
Michael Joseph Skvarla, Jeffrey K. Barnes, Danielle M. Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2016, In: Biodiversity Data Journal

2015

Torrenticola trimaculata n. sp. (Parasitengona: Torrenticolidae), a three-spotted water mite from Eastern North America
J. Ray Fisher, Danielle M. Fisher, Whitney A. Nelson, Joseph C. O’Neill, Michael J. Skvarla, Ron Ochoa, Gary R. Bauchan, Andrea J. Radwell, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2015, In: Acarologia

New information about the cypress weevil, eudociminus mannerheimii (Boheman, 1836) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae)
Michael J. Skvarla, Matthew A. Bertone, J. Ray Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, Dec 1 2015, In: Coleopterists Bulletin

New records of Orussus minutus Middlekauff, 1983 (Hymenoptera: Orussidae) represent a significant western range expansion
Michael Joseph Skvarla, Amber Tripodi, Allen Szalanski, Ashley Dowling, Aug 31 2015, In: Biodiversity Data Journal

Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. I. Select beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae)
Michael Joseph Skvarla, Danielle M. Fisher, Kyle E. Schnepp, Ashley P.G. Dowling, Dec 10 2015, In: Biodiversity Data Journal

2014

A review of Cunaxidae (Acariformes, Trombidiformes)
Michael J. Skvarla, J. Ray Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2014, In: ZooKeys

First report of gynandromorphism in temnothorax curvispinosus (Mayr, 1866) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Michael J. Skvarla, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2014, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington

Redescription of paracaropsis travisi (Baker, 1949) (Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae), With range expansion, Additional host records, And reevaluation of Cheyletid chaetotaxy based on the sejugal furrow
Michael Skvarla, Ray J. Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, Oct 6 2014, In: Acarologia

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
Michael J. Skvarla, Jessica A. Hartshorn, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2014, In: Psyche (London)

2013

A new species of Scutopalus (Acari: Cunaxidae: Cunaxoidinae) from Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil with a key to world species
Matheus Santos Dos Rocha, Michael Joseph Skvarla, Noeli Juarez Ferla, Nov 4 2013, In: Zootaxa

On some mites (Acari: Prostigmata) from the Interior Highlands
Michael J. Skvarla, J. Ray Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, Apr 26 2013, In: Zootaxa

2012

Erratum
Michael J. Skvarla, Ashley P.G. Dowling, Jun 27 2012, In: Zootaxa

Some new armascirine cunaxids (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae) from the Eastern United States
Michael J. Skvarla, Ashley P.G. Dowling, Feb 15 2012, In: Zootaxa

2011

Trachymolgus purpureus sp. n., an armored snout mite (Acari, Bdellidae) from the Ozark highlands
J. Ray Fisher, Michael J. Skvarla, Gary R. Bauchan, Ronald Ochoa, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2011, In: ZooKeys

A new species of neoscirula (acari: Cunaxidae: Coleoscirinae) from the ozark highlands (USA), with a note on biogeography
Michael J. Skvarla, J. Ray Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, Oct 1 2011, In: Acarologia

Nontarget insects caught on emerald ash borer purple monitoring traps in Western Pennsylvania
Michael J. Skvarla, Jeffrey D. Holland, Dec 1 2011, In: Northern Journal of Applied Forestry

Michael J. Skvarla

Areas of Expertise

Education

Websites

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

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