Michael Skvarla
Extension Educator; Director, Insect Identification Lab
Huck Affiliations
Publication Tags
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Mites Canada Coleoptera History Steel Mite Deer Traps Arthropods Biodiversity Methodology Hippoboscidae World Carabidae Mexico Trombidiformes Buprestidae Scolytidae Buffaloes Diptera Acariformes Lipoptena Cerambycidae Canopy SoilMost Recent Publications
First Records of Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae: Acanthococcus Lagerstroemiae) from New Jersey and New York
Michael J. Skvarla, Kevin D. Chase, Christopher B. Riley, Jeremy Slone, 2024, Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington on p. 428-432
First Modern Record of a Giant Lacewing (Neuroptera: Ithonidae: Polystoechotes punctata (Fabricius, 1793)) from Texas
Michael J. Skvarla, John D. Oswald, Mark A. Janowiecki, 2024, Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington on p. 285-290
Diversity of Arthropods that Visit Xyris spp. (Xyridaceae): New Observations from Guyana
Terry J. Torres-Cruz, Lauren A. Ré, Jack R. Johnson, David M. Geiser, Michael J. Skvarla, 2024, Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington on p. 246-255
Water mites and their use as bioindicators of water quality conditions: a Pennsylvania case study
Logan R. Stenger, Francesca M. Ferguson, Michael Skvarla, 2024, Acarologia on p. 146-163
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
Nia Riggins, Monica R. Young, Tanya Renner, Frédéric Beaulieu, Michael Skvarla, 2024, Acarologia on p. 575-591
Entomologists Require Ethical Guidance for Compassionate Management of Delusional Parasitosis Cases
Kathleen Murphy-Hollies, Michael Skvarla, Robin Verble, 2024, American Entomologist on p. 44-48
Distance models reveal biases associated with passive trapping methods for measuring wild bee abundance
Codey L. Mathis, Darin J. McNeil, Melanie Kammerer, Jeffery L. Larkin, Michael J. Skvarla, 2024, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
External parasites of Pennsylvania deer
Michael Skvarla, 2024,
Report of Two Rove Beetle Species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Oxybleptes kiteleyi Smetana, 1982 and Omalium rivulare (Paykull, 1789), Collected in Colored Water Traps
Michael J. Skvarla, Michael L. Ferro, Margaret K. Thayer, 2023, Coleopterists Bulletin on p. 542-548
Online community photo-sharing in entomology: a large-scale review with suggestions on best practices
Michael J. Skvarla, J. Ray Fisher, 2023, Annals of the Entomological Society of America on p. 276-304
Most-Cited Papers
A review of Cunaxidae (Acariformes, Trombidiformes): Histories and diagnoses of subfamilies and genera, keys to world species, and some new locality records
Michael J. Skvarla, J. Ray Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2014, ZooKeys on p. 1-103
A Review of Terrestrial and Canopy Malaise Traps
Michael J. Skvarla, Jonathan L. Larson, J. Ray Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2021, Annals of the Entomological Society of America on p. 27-47
Catalogue of snout mites (Acariformes: Bdellidae) of the world
Fabio A. Hernandes, Michael J. Skvarla, J. Ray Fisher, Ashley P.G. Dowling, Ronald Ochoa, Edward A. Ueckermann, Gary R. Bauchan, 2016, Zootaxa on p. 1-83
A comparison of trapping techniques (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, and Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae)
Michael J. Skvarla, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2017, Journal of Insect Science
Deer keds (Diptera: Hippoboscidae: Lipoptena and Neolipoptena) in the United States and Canada: New state and county records, pathogen records, and an illustrated key to species
Michael J. Skvarla, Erika T. Machtinger, 2019, Journal of Medical Entomology on p. 744-760
Revision of torrent mites (Parasitengona, Torrenticolidae, Torrenticola) of the United States and Canada: 90 descriptions, molecular phylogenetics, and a key to species
J. Ray Fisher, Danielle M. Fisher, Michael J. Skvarla, Whitney A. Nelson, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2017, ZooKeys on p. 1-496
An Update to the Adventive Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) of America North of Mexico, with Notes on Intercepted Species
Michael J. Skvarla, Susan E. Halbert, Robert G. Foottit, Andrew S. Jensen, Eric Maw, Gary L. Miller, 2017, Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington on p. 90-111
Terrestrial arthropods of Steel Creek, Buffalo National River, Arkansas. I. Select beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionoidea excluding Scolytinae)
Michael Joseph Skvarla, Danielle M. Fisher, Kyle E. Schnepp, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2015, Biodiversity Data Journal
Torrenticola trimaculata n. sp. (Parasitengona: Torrenticolidae), a three-spotted water mite from Eastern North America: Taxonomic history, species delimitation, and survey of external morphology
J. Ray Fisher, Danielle M. Fisher, Whitney A. Nelson, Joseph C. O’Neill, Michael J. Skvarla, Ron Ochoa, Gary R. Bauchan, Andrea J. Radwell, Ashley P.G. Dowling, 2015, Acarologia on p. 71-116
Collecting deer keds (diptera: Hippoboscidae: Lipoptena nitzsch, 1818 and neolipoptena bequaert, 1942) and ticks (acari: Ixodidae) from hunter-harvested deer and other cervids
Karen C. Poh, Michael Skvarla, Jesse R. Evans, Erika T. Machtinger, 2020, Journal of Insect Science
News Articles Featuring Michael Skvarla
Jun 07, 2024
Could the giant, flying Joro spiders make their way to Pennsylvania?
They’re giant, they fly, and they very well could invade the northeast this summer. Experts say they expect the Joro spiders to head to New Jersey and New York this summer. The good news is probably not Pennsylvania.
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Jun 06, 2024
Should Pennsylvanians be worried about Joro spiders?
A spider from Asia has been spotted on the east coast and the striped species is moving north with help from humans.
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Jun 05, 2024
Giant venomous flying spiders will not parachute into New Jersey this summer
Even if jorō spiders reach the Northeast, humans and pets don’t need to be concerned.
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May 22, 2024
How To Get Rid of Sugar Ants Inside Your Home
There’s nothing sweet about these pesky creatures that can invade your kitchen and pantry.
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May 10, 2024
A cicada apocalypse is coming this summer: Will Pennsylvania be spared the noisy invasion?
For the first time in more than two centuries, two different broods of cicadas are emerging – one comes out every 17 years and the other every 13 years.
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Apr 15, 2024
The Cicadapocalypse is nigh. 7 cicada facts to know before it hits.
Periodical cicadas are getting ready to emerge from underground in a rare double emergence event
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Apr 11, 2024
Yellow-eyed grasses may have more insect visitors than previously thought
Scientists previously believed that a family of flowering plants called yellow-eyed grasses didn’t attract many insect visitors, but the recent discovery of a fungus that hijacks the plant and forms fungal “pseudoflowers” has researchers rethinking this assumption.
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Mar 18, 2024
9-year-old Arkansas girl catches rare pink grasshopper, names it Millie
A pink grasshopper, a rare find, was found in Benton, Arkansas
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Feb 10, 2024
Too warm: Plants, insects, people likely to pay the price for warm winters
A harmless to humans bug was found that slowly kills evergreens in Pennsylvania
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Jan 23, 2024
These 6 U.S. Cities Are Crawling With Bedbugs — Again
These metro areas had the most bedbug problems last year — and the year before — judging by pest control data
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Dec 08, 2023
Should I Be Concerned about Christmas Tree Bugs (And How Do I Get Rid of Them?)
What to do about bugs on your Christmas tree
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Nov 21, 2023
College of Ag Sciences recognizes faculty, staff for research achievements
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences lauded outstanding accomplishments in research during the 2023 Research Awards Ceremony, held Nov. 1 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the University Park campus.
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Oct 31, 2023
Could Paris bedbugs come to Philly? Sure, but that’s assuming we don’t already have them.
Philly’s in the top three of most bedbug-infested cities in the U.S.
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Oct 25, 2023
Which Pennsylvania spiders are dangerous to humans? How to identify and avoid them Read more at: https://www.centredaily.com/news/state/pennsylvania/article280597534.html#storylink=cpy
Very few spider species pose a direct threat to humans -- Spider bites are rare, and medically significant incidents are even less common
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Sep 11, 2023
Does the Viral Paper Bag Wasp Deterrent Trick Really Work?
Michael Skvarla talks about the viral TikTok trend about getting wasps to leave
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Sep 05, 2023
Penn State’s Great Insect Fair returns to Snider Ag Arena on Sept. 30
Penn State’s 2023 Great Insect Fair will highlight the theme, “Bugs in the System,” focusing on the technology used in entomology. All are invited to attend the Great Insect Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Snider Agricultural Arena on the University Park campus.
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Sep 01, 2023
Lancaster County beekeepers on alert as yellow-legged hornets appear in Georgia
The Georgia Department of Agriculture has confirmed the sighting of yellow-legged hornet, a threat to honeybee hives
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Jul 27, 2023
Spider bites sleeping man's throat: 'I woke up choking and couldn't breathe'
Chris Cowsley woke up and found he was unable to breathe in the early hours of Sunday, 23 July. Later, he would learn that a spider had crawled down his throat while he was sleeping.
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Jul 04, 2023
Stunning, Pink Grasshopper Spotted in a Welsh Garden: 'Vivid Color'
An expert says pink grasshoppers aren't quite as rare as they seem — and the genetic mutation can be spotted around the world
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Jun 14, 2023
The Gypsy Moth Has a New Name, Could Do More Damage This Year
Here's what to do about those caterpillars devouring your trees.
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May 02, 2023
The bite stops here: Fighting Lyme disease with prevention
As spring temperatures rise, many people will spend more time on outdoor activities, increasing their risk of encountering pathogen-carrying ticks.
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Apr 26, 2023
How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats in Your Houseplants
Got houseplants? Chances are you’ve got fungus gnats too. These teeny bugs are only about 1/16th of an inch long and often are seen flitting around near houseplants or in rooms where you have lots of greenery. Are they harming your plants? And how can you get rid of fungus gnats, anyway?
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Mar 22, 2023
Fact check: Video shows flower clusters, not 'rain of worms'
A March 10 Instagram post displays a video of fuzzy, worm-like shapes covering cars and scattered along a street as people walk with umbrellas. "It literally rained worms in China," reads the overlaid text on the first image of the post.
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Mar 13, 2023
What does Pittsburgh's mild winter mean for spring bugs?
On the calendar, it might technically be winter. In real life, Penn State assistant research professor Michael Skvarla just pulled a black-legged tick off his daughter about a week ago. That’s typically a spring and summer problem.
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Mar 06, 2023
Penn State University researcher discovers bug dating back to Jurassic Period
Michael Skvarla is an assistant research professor who operates the Insect Identification Laboratory at Penn State University. Skvarla recently made national news for his discovery of a bug that hasn't been seen in Eastern North America for more than 50 years. He discovered a Giant Lacewing outside a Walmart in Arkansas in 2012.
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