Michael Skvarla

Affiliate Researcher
Titles and Affiliations
Assistant Research Professor, Entomology

Michael Skvarla's duties as the head of the Insect Identification Laboratory at Penn State include identifying insects and other arthropods submitted by the public, writing and maintaining entomology fact sheets, presenting science-based information to the public via seminars and workshops, and conducting limited original research.

In the News

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Recent Publications

Distance models reveal biases associated with passive trapping methods for measuring wild bee abundance

Mathis, C. L., McNeil, D. J., Kammerer, M., Larkin, J. L. & Skvarla, M. J., 2024, In: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 12, 1380622.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Entomologists Require Ethical Guidance for Compassionate Management of Delusional Parasitosis Cases

Murphy-Hollies, K., Skvarla, M. & Verble, R., 2024, In: American Entomologist. 70, 1, p. 44-48 5 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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

Riggins, N., Young, M. R., Renner, T., Beaulieu, F. & Skvarla, M., 2024, In: Acarologia. 64, 2, p. 575-591 17 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

First Modern Record of a Giant Lacewing (Neuroptera: Ithonidae: Polystoechotes punctata (Fabricius, 1793)) from Texas

Skvarla, M. J., Oswald, J. D. & Janowiecki, M. A., Jan 31 2024, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 125, 2, p. 285-290 6 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

First Records of Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae: Acanthococcus Lagerstroemiae) from New Jersey and New York

Skvarla, M. J., Chase, K. D., Riley, C. B. & Slone, J., Mar 1 2024, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 125, 3, p. 428-432 5 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

Water mites and their use as bioindicators of water quality conditions: a Pennsylvania case study

Stenger, L. R., Ferguson, F. M. & Skvarla, M., 2024, In: Acarologia. 64, 1, p. 146-163 18 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Diversity of Arthropods that Visit Xyris spp. (Xyridaceae): New Observations from Guyana

Torres-Cruz, T. J., Ré, L. A., Johnson, J. R., Geiser, D. M. & Skvarla, M. J., Jan 31 2024, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 125, 2, p. 246-255 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Limited detection of shared zoonotic pathogens in deer keds and blacklegged ticks co-parasitizing white-tailed deer in the eastern United States

Olafson, P. U., Poh, K. C., Evans, J. R., Skvarla, M. J. & Machtinger, E. T., Jun 2023, In: Medical and Veterinary Entomology. 37, 2, p. 179-188 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

New Information about Lizard Beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Languria angustata (Beauvois, 1805) and Languria mozardi Latreille, 1807) in Pennsylvania

Skvarla, M. J., Tooker, J. & Murillo-Williams, A., Mar 17 2023, In: Coleopterists Bulletin. 77, 1, p. 28-31 4 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Online community photo-sharing in entomology: a large-scale review with suggestions on best practices

Skvarla, M. J. & Fisher, J. R., Sep 1 2023, In: Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 116, 5, p. 276-304 29 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Report of Two Rove Beetle Species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Oxybleptes kiteleyi Smetana, 1982 and Omalium rivulare (Paykull, 1789), Collected in Colored Water Traps

Skvarla, M. J., Ferro, M. L. & Thayer, M. K., Dec 21 2023, In: Coleopterists Bulletin. 77, 4, p. 542-548 7 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Identification and Management of Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in North America

Coyle, D. R., Adams, J., Bullas-Appleton, E., Llewellyn, J., Rimmer, A., Skvarla, M. J., Smith, S. M. & Chong, J. H., 2022, In: Journal of Integrated Pest Management. 13, 1, 24.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

All for One Health and One Health for All: Considerations for Successful Citizen Science Projects Conducting Vector Surveillance from Animal Hosts

Poh, K. C., Evans, J. R., Skvarla, M. J. & Machtinger, E. T., Jun 2022, In: Insects. 13, 6, 492.

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Patterns of deer ked (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) and tick (Ixodida: Ixodidae) infestation on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the eastern United States

Poh, K. C., Evans, J. R., Skvarla, M. J., Kent, C. M., Olafson, P. U., Hickling, G. J., Mullinax, J. M. & Machtinger, E. T., Dec 2022, In: Parasites and Vectors. 15, 1, 31.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Tissue-damaging marking methods do not affect tick burdens on field captured Peromyscus spp.

Roberts, C. E., Burgess, E. R., Miller, T. M., Wise, A. M., Dickerson, C. J., Skvarla, M. J., Li, A. Y. & Machtinger, E. T., Dec 2022, In: Wildlife Society Bulletin. 46, 5, e1385.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review