Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Torsten Dikow

Research Entomologist and Curator of Diptera & Aquatic Insects
Department / Division
Education
  • M.S., Universitaet Rostock, Germany
  • Ph.D., Cornell University
Research Interests

Deciphering the diversity and evolutionary history of Asiloidea flies.

Phylogenetic relationships of asiloid flies (Apioceridae - apiocerid flies, Asilidae - assassin flies, robber flies, Mydidae - mydas flies) and Diptera in general using morphological and genomic evidence. Revisionary taxonomy applying cybertaxonomic tools for open-access distribution of primary biodiversity data. Application of specimen occurrence data to biodiversity studies.

Asiloid Flies research web-site - asiloidflies.si.edu .

Publications
Journal Article
Dataset
Presentation/Lecture
Book Chapter
  • Dikow, Torsten. 2017. "46. Apioceridae (apiocerid flies)." In Manual of Afrotropical Diptera (Vol. 2). Nematocerous Diptera and Lower Brachycera. Kirk-Spriggs, A. H. and Sinclair, B. J., editors. 1057–1061. SANBI, Pretoria: Suricata 5.
  • Dikow, Torsten. 2017. "47. Mydidae (mydas flies)." In Manual of Afrotropical Diptera (Vol. 2). Nematocerous Diptera and Lower Brachycera. Kirk-Spriggs, A. H. and Sinclair, B. J., editors. 1063–1095. SANBI, Pretoria: Suricata 5.
  • Londt, J. G. H. and Dikow, Torsten. 2017. "48. Asilidae (assassin flies, robber flies)." In Manual of Afrotropical Diptera (Vol. 2). Nematocerous Diptera and Lower Brachycera. Kirk-Spriggs, A. H. and Sinclair, B. J., editors. 1097–1182. SANBI, Pretoria: Suricata 5.
  • Dikow, Torsten, Meier, Rudolf, Vaidya, Gaurav G., and Londt, Jason G. H. 2009. "Biodiversity research Based on taxonomic revisions - a tale of Unrealized opportunities." In Diptera diversity : status, challenges and tools. Pape, Thomas, Bickel, Daniel, and Meier, Rudolf, editors. 323–345. Leiden;Boston: Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004148970.I-459.55.
  • Dikow, Torsten. 2008. "Order Diptera , family Mydidae." In Arthropod fauna of the United Arab Emirates. van Harten, Antonius, editor. 608–615. Abu Dhabi: Dar Al Ummah.