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Field Guide

CONTACT:
Michael Wall, Ph.D.
619.255.0266
fax: 619.232.0248
mwall@sdnhm.org

Michael A. Wall, Ph.D.

Michael's interest in entomology started with plants. While working on both a B.S. and M.S. in botany at Auburn University, he became interested in the ecological relationships between plants and insects. This ultimately resulted in the discovery of an insect species that was new to science and Michael's induction into the world of insect taxonomy and systematics. After completing his Ph.D. in entomology at University of Connecticut in 2004, Michael received a postdoctoral fellowship to join a global biodiversity inventory organized by the American Museum of Natural History and the Australian Museum. He joined SDNHM as Curator of Entomology in January 2006.

Michael's research focuses on two main areas; 1) the taxonomy and systematics of Heteroptera (e.g., stink bugs, plant bugs, assassin bugs, etc.), and 2) the natural history and ecology of insect-plant interactions (e.g., pollination, seed dispersal). Currently, Michael is taking part in a National Science Foundation Planetary Biodiversity Inventory for Plant Bugs and is planning inventory field trips throughout Peninsular California.

He is an award-winning teacher and presenter with teaching experience in field entomology, medical entomology, applied entomology, plant systematics, and environmental biology. In the upcoming years, Michael plans to introduce new entomologically oriented public programs courses to the Museum. When not in the Museum, you can find Michael hiking, beachcombing, and catching bugs with his wife, Allison, and two young children, Sydney and Connor.

Selected Publications

Cassis, G., M.A. Wall, and R.T. Schuh. (in press). Insect biodiversity and industrializing the taxonomic process: A case study with the Miridae (Heteroptera). In: Towards the Tree of Life: taxonomy and systematics of large and species rich clades. (Trevor Hodkinson, John Parnell, and Steve Waldren, eds), pp. xxx-xxx. CRC Press, Boca Raton.

Wall, M.A., M. Timerman-Erskine, and R.S. Boyd. 2003. Assessing the conservation impact of climatic variability on the pollination of a federally endangered plant, Clematis socialis (Ranunculaceae). Southeastern Naturalist 2: 11-24.

Wall, M.A. and G. Cassis. 2002. Diabolicoris a new genus in the tribe Ploiariolini (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 48:481-483

Wall, M.A. and G. Cassis. 2002. Evidence for a pronotal exocrine gland in the Heteroptera. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 110: 263-269.

Wall, M.A. and R.S. Boyd. 2002. Nickel accumulation in serpentine arthropods from the Red Hills, California. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 78: 168-176.

Wall, M.A., A.P. Teem, and R.S. Boyd. 2002. Floral manipulation by Lasioglossum zephyrum (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) ensures first access to floral rewards by initiating premature anthesis of Xyris tennesseensis (Xyridaceae) flowers. Florida Entomologist 85: 290-291