Entomology
The Hunterian’s principal entomological research interests are in the systematics of various families of fly (Diptera, Nematocera: Tipuloidea and Anisopodoidea). Studies have developed in the saproxylic (dead or decaying wood) faunas of these groups both in Scotland, the wider Palaearctic region and into the tropics. Collaboration with others (for example, The Malloch Society) has resulted in publications on their ecology and the discovery of several species new to science. External funding has been obtained for the work. It has expanded the museum collections by recording the types of these species’ names as well as larger samples of saproxylic species. A recent paper describes no less than 24 new species - ‘Revision of the New World genus Quichuana Knab, 1913 (Diptera: Syrphidae) including description of 24 new species’ Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 166 (2012), 72-131.
Image 1. A hoverfly (Sphiximorpha hiemalis) discovered new to science from Lesvos, 2011