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Weston Opitz, USA

Posted by Blaps Aug 29, 2011

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Weston on the left (optimistically tropical for our British summertime climate!)
Visiting from: Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, USA
Working with: Beulah Garner, Curator Cleroidea, Max Barclay, Collections Manager, Justin Bartlett, Cleridae of Australia expert
Arrived at the Museum:  8th August 2011
Leaving date: 10th August 2011 onwards to Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris
Research interests: Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae
About: Weston is Professor of Biology at Kansas Wesleyan University. His research focuses on the classification, natural history and evolution of the world Cleridae and related families within the superfamily Cleroidea.
Goal of research at the Museum: View the world Cleridae collection. Gifted the Museum 53 specimens of Cleridae including 11 species new to our collection! Thanks Weston!
Relevant publications:
Classification, natural history and evolution of the Epiphloeinae (Coleoptera, Cleridae). Part 2, The genera Chaetophloeus Opitz and Plocamocera, Spinola.
Opitz W. (2010) Classification, natural history, phylogeny, and subfamily composition of the Cleridae and generic content of the subfamilies. Entomologica Basiliensia et Collections Frey 32: 31–128.

 

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Justin Bartlett, Australia

Posted by Blaps Aug 19, 2011
Weston Opitz (left) Justin Bartlett (right)
justin bartlett 2011.JPG
Visiting from:
Biosecurity Queensland (DEEDI) Australia
Working with: Beulah Garner, Curator Cleroidea, Max Barclay, Collections Manager, Weston Opitz, World Clerid expert
Arrived at the Museum:  8th August 2011
Leaving date: 11th August 2011
Research interests: Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Cleridae
Goal of research at the Museum: View the Australian Cleridae collection
Relevant publications:
My current projects:
Taxonomy of Australian and New Caledonian clerids including revisions of Australian Opilo and Australasian Orthrius
Excellent Scratchpad: Cleridae of Australia

 

Flickr photo stream of Cleridae
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Milosz Mazur, Poland

Posted by Blaps Aug 3, 2011

Mazur.JPG

 

 

 

Visiting from: Department of Biosystematics, Opole University, Poland
Working with: Max Barcley - Collections Manager; Chris Lyal - weevil researcher
Arrived at the Museum: 28th June 2011
Leaving date: 5th July 2011
Research interests: Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Eugnomini

 

 

Goal of research at the Museum: view the Eugnomini collection; revised type specimens of Eugnomini, especially genus Pactola; research specimens from the genus Pactola in undeterminated specimens.

 

Something about me:

I’m working at Opole University in Poland (Department of Biosystematics) since 2006. At University I’m lecturer, weevil researcher and coordinator of the Center of Biodiversity Studies. I created the first beetle collections at Opole University (more then 15 000 specimens, mainly weevils from West Europe, till now). My main research interests are: taxonomy and systematics of weevils (Eugnomini); zoogeography, biodiversity, faunistics and nature conservation.

 

My current projects:

1) Taxonomy and morphology of Eugnomini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) – my own project
2) Barcoding for Crioceris asparagus beetles from central-east Europe – together with the Polish Academy of Science; as grant executor; grant funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education
3) Influence of xerothemic turfs isolation on genetic structure of Centricnemus leucogrammus populations: conservation implications – together with the Polish Academy of Science; as grant executor; grant funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education
4) Genetic structure of central-European populations of xerothermic beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae, Chrysomelidae): colonization history, level of isolation and taxonomic status - together with the Polish Academy of Science; as grant executor; grant funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education