Andrew Johnson

Assistant Research Scientist, Forest Entomology

Andrew Johnson is focused on improving the global capacity to deal with invasive bark and ambrosia beetles (Scolytinae). He coordinate forest health projects and resolve taxonomic issues so that names of beetles are are meaningful and useful. He is resolving the higher classification, as well as collaborating with international researchers to resolve taxonomic issues among potential pest species. He also use phylogenetics and genomics to understand evolutionary questions about the bark beetles.

• Research Interests

  Andrew is the principal identifier for the UF Forest Entomology Lab’s identification service. This work involves identification of bark and ambrosia beetles for stakeholders in Florida, UF extension agents, State monitoring schemes, and identification of potential emerging threats around the world. From this work, he discovered several local species new to science, and three new introduced species in the US.

  Andrew is also the manager and curator of the world’s largest cryo-preserved collection of Scolytinae, with over 20,000 vials containing 150,000 beetles represented from nearly every continent. In order to make this collection more easily available to other researchers and extension agents, he is currently spearheading a data management project which will comprehensively catalogue the collection, and assists in projects understanding the symbiosis of ambrosia beetles and fungi. Lastly, Andrew develops best practices for research involving bark and ambrosia beetles, promoting the correct use of taxonomy and vouchers as part of the Bark Beetle Mycobiome Research Coordination Network.

• Education

  • PhD. Resolving the Pygmy Borers (Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Cryphalini). School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, 2017
  • Masters by Research in Entomology, Imperial College London, 2012
  • BSc(Hons) Zoology. The University of Manchester, United Kingdom, 2010

• Publications

  • Zheng, S., Johnson, A. J., Li, Y., Chu, C., Hulcr, J., (2019) Cryphalus eriobotryae sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), a new insect pest of loquat Eriobotrya japonica in China. Insects, in press.
  • Huang, Y.-T., Skelton, J., Johnson, A. J., Kolarik, M., Hulcr, J. (2019) Geosmithia species in southeastern USA and their affinity to beetle vectors and tree hosts. Fungal Ecology 39, 168-183.
  • Skelton, J., Johnson, A. J., Jusino, M. A., Bateman, C. C., Li, Y., and Hulcr, J. (2019). A selective fungal transport organ (mycangium) maintains coarse phylogenetic congruence between fungus-farming ambrosia beetles and their symbionts. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 286(1894), 20182127.
  • Huang, Y. T., Skelton, J., Johnson, A. J., Kolařík, M., and Hulcr, J. (2019). Geosmithia species in southeastern USA and their affinity to beetle vectors and tree hosts. Fungal Ecology, 39, 168-183.
  • Johnson, A. J., M. Knížek, T. H. Atkinson, B. H. Jordal, R. C. Ploetz, and J. Hulcr. 2017. Resolution of a Global Mango and Fig Pest Identity Crisis. Insect Systematics and Diversity 1:ixx010.
  • Johnson, A. J., T. H. Atkinson, and J. Hulcr. 2016b. Two remarkable new species of Hypothenemus Westwood (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from Southeastern USA. Zootaxa 4200: 417-425.
  • Johnson, A. J., P. E. Kendra, J. Skelton, and J. Hulcr. 2016c. Species diversity, phenology, and temporal flight patterns of Hypothenemus pygmy borers (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in South Florida. Environmental entomology: nvw039.
  • Huang, Y.-T., A. Lucky, Johnson, A. J., and J. Hulcr. 2016. Featured creatures: Hypothenemus eruditusWestwood, 1836 (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
  • Vega, F. E., F. Infante, and A. J. Johnson 2015. The genus Hypothenemus, with emphasis on H. hampei, the coffee berry borer. In Bark beetles: Biology and ecology of native and invasive species. Academic Press, San Diego, CA: 427-494.