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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
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Department of Entomology

Research

Research in the Department of Entomology is primarily collection-based and focuses on systematics in the broadest sense, including basic taxonomy, comparative morphology, and life history of insects, as well as evolutionary and population biology, phylogenetics, biogeography, biodiversity, ecology, behavior, and molecular and genomic studies.

Field studies are conducted, also, in many parts of the United States and around the world. Smithsonian entomologists have conducted field work or participated in long-term biodiversity survey projects in Costa Rica (Arthropods of La Selva), Guyana, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Kenya, among others. A series of canopy-fogging projects in Central and South America, initiated in 1974, has produced more than 9 million specimens.

The Department of Entomology at the National Museum of Natural History includes research scientists and museum specialists from the Smithsonian Institution, and from three affiliated agencies: the U.S. Department of Agriculture Systematic Entomology Lab, the USDA National Identification Service and the  U.S. Department of Defense Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit. In addition, there are also a number of emeritus researchers, post-doctoral fellows and other entomologists in residence conducting independent research or working in collaboration with those on staff.

The Smithsonian Institution's current Research Entomologists are listed below with a brief description of their research specialties. More information can be found by visiting their staff pages and perusing their publications which can be found in the DSpace searchable repository at this link: https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/2752 

Seán G. Brady, Curator of Hymenoptera (and Department Chair). (BradyS@si.edu)

Research specialties: Phylogenetics, systematics, biogeography, and molecular evolution of ants and bees; social insect evolution; theory and methods of phylogenetic analysis.

Jonathan A. Coddington, Director of the Global Genome Initiative​, and Senior Curator of Arachnida and Myriapoda. (CoddingtonJ@si.edu)

Research specialties: Systematics and behavior of spiders; species richness estimation; theory and design of biological inventories.

Torsten Dikow, Curator of Diptera (DikowT@si.edu)

Research specialties: Phylogeny and revisionary taxonomy of asiloid flies (Apioceridae, Asilidae, Mydidae); cybertaxonomic tools; application of specimen occurrence data to biodiversity studies; theory and methods of phylogenetic analysis. Asiloid Flies research web-site: asiloidflies.si.edu.

Robert K. Robbins, Curator of Lepidoptera. (RobbinsR@si.edu)

Research specialties: Systematics of Lycaenidae, evolutionary biology of butterflies, patterns of butterfly diversity.

Ted R. Schultz, Curator of Hymenoptera. (SchultzT@si.edu)

Research specialties: Evolution and systematics of ants, especially the fungus-growing ants (tribe Attini, subfamily Myrmicinae); historical ecology and evolution of the fungus-growing behavior; theory and method of phylogenetic analysis.

Hannah M. Wood, Curator of Arachnida & Myriapoda (WoodH@si.edu)

Research Specialities: evolution, functional morphology, biogeography, diversification, and predatory behaviors of Palpimanoid spiders.

As part of the Agricultural Research Servce (ARS), the Systematic Entomology Lab, conducts systematic or taxonomic research on economically important insects and mites, to provide identifications to U.S. ports in support of the resolution of quarantine issues, and to fully enrich and enhance the USNM / Smithsonian Insect Collection. 



Contact information, research interests and bibliographies for USDA Research Entomologists and others working at the Systematic Entomology Laboratory can be found on the USDA/SEL web site.

As part of the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the National Identification Services (NIS), coordinates the identification of plant pests in support of USDA's regulatory programs. Accurate and timely identifications provide the foundation for quarantine action decisions and are essential in the effort to safeguard the nation's agricultural and natural resources. 

More information can be found on the USDA/APHIS web site.

As part of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, the Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (WRBU), conducts systematic research on medically important arthropods (primarily Diptera) and maintains the USNM / Smithsonian Mosquito Collection.

More information can be found on the WRBU website.