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

Research Keywords

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Recent Publications

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

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

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

First Record of Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae: Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) from Pennsylvania

Skvarla, M. J. & Schneider, S. A., Apr 2022, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 123, 4, p. 862-868 7 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Murder Hornet Mayhem: The Impact of the 2020 Giant Hornet Panic and COVID-19 Pandemic on Arthropod Identification Laboratories

Skvarla, M. J., Bertone, M. A. & Liesch, P. J., 2022, In: American Entomologist. 68, 2, p. 38-43 6 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Rediscovery of Polystoechotes punctata (Fabricius, 1793) (Neuroptera: Ithonidae) in Eastern North America

Skvarla, M. J. & Ray Fisher, J., Nov 30 2022, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 124, 2, p. 332-345 14 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

A quantitative method for collecting water mites in lotic, riffle-run habitats for water quality biomonitoring

Stenger, L. R. & Skvarla, M. J., 2022, In: Acarologia. 62, 3, p. 621-636 16 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

The Keds Are Alright: Community Collection of Ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and Keds (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) from Hunter-Harvested Deer

Evans, J. R., Poh, K. C., Skvarla, M. & Machtinger, E. T., Nov 1 2021, In: Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 114, 6, p. 686-693 8 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

A Review of Terrestrial and Canopy Malaise Traps

Skvarla, M. J., Larson, J. L., Fisher, J. R. & Dowling, A. P. G., Jan 1 2021, In: Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 114, 1, p. 27-47 21 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

The eriophyid mite aculops Ailanthi Lin, Jin, & Kuang, 1997 (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) from tree­of­heaven in the United States-new state records and morphological observations

Skvarla, M. J., Ochoa, R., Ulsamer, A. & Amrine, J., 2021, In: Acarologia. 61, 1, p. 121-127 7 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Tick abundance and life-stage segregation on the American black bear (Ursus americanus)

Tiffin, H. S., Skvarla, M. J. & Machtinger, E. T., Dec 2021, In: International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife. 16, p. 208-216 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

First Documented Report of Phytocoris buenoi Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae) Biting a Human

Skvarla, M. J., Jul 1 2020, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 122, 3, p. 762-764 3 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

First Report of Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae: Lepidosaphes pallida (Maskell) on Russian Arborvitae (Pinales: Cupressaceae: Microbiota Decussata Kom.)

Skvarla, M. J., Oct 1 2020, In: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 122, 4, p. 1035-1037 3 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review