Dr Erica McAlister

I am the Principal Curator for Diptera and Siphonaptera. I manage the Lower Brachycera, Mycetophilidae and Culicidae collections in Diptera, and the Siphonaptera collection.

My specific interests lie within Diptera especially Culicidae, Asilidae, and Mycetophilidae. I have carried out many research projects with mosquitoes including contract work for the MoD in Tajikistan alongside Dr Ralph Harbach where we were involved in the training of mosquito identification and malaria incrimination over a three year project. I am also involved in UK Mosquito projects which have included incriminating for viruses and are currently undertaking historic DNA recovery projects with various national and internation collaborators from The Wellcome Sanger Institute, University of Cambridge and Princeton University. I am involved in an ongoing Asilidae taxonomy research project and am currently working on a large revision of Australian species with an external Collaborator.

I have been working with Operation Wallacea since 2015 out in Dominica, Romania, Honduras and the Knepp Estate, teaching entomology and studying the invertebrate community with special interest on the Dipteran fauna. I am involved with the teaching on the University of Reading Entomology masters https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/2026/biological-sciences-pg/msc-by-research-entomology

As well as my profession commitments I am very much involved in Public engagement both within the museum and externally. Within the Museum, I have participated in Nature Lives, Nigh Safaris, and both childrens and Adult dinosnores. Externally I have also appeared on TV, Radio (including presenting the series ‘Who’s the Pest’ on Radio 4 and 2 series of Metamorphosis - How Insects are Changing Our World), numerous podcasts, as well giving talks at Science Festivals, International Nature Fairs and Wildlife Organisations, promoting flies and the research undertaken at the Museum. I am the President of the Amateur Entomology Society (UK), and sit on the committee for the Dipterists Forum (UK) and the International Congress of Dipterology.

I published 5 popular science books including the award winning popular science book titled ‘The Secret life of Flies’ in 2017