Dr. Alexander L. Wild Curator of Entomology Department of Integrative Biology The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas 78701 (512)232-1896 [email protected]

Alex Wild (b. 1973) is an evolutionary biologist and science photographer. His research as Curator of The University of Texas collection concerns the evolutionary genesis of insect diversity, especially , while his visual explorations of natural history appear in numerous magazines, textbooks, websites, and museum exhibits. Alex also runs photography workshops, and teaches upper-division entomology courses at The University of Texas at Austin.

Academic and Professional Appointments 2015- Curator of Entomology, The University of Texas at Austin. Currently manage a 2-million present specimen research collection. Responsibilities include setting the collection’s research and organization agenda, handling specimen curation and loans, writing grants, conducting research on the Texan fauna, leading an outreach program, and overseeing about 20 student workers, volunteers, and community volunteers.

2005- Owner, Alex Wild Photography. Operating a small business organizing science photography present workshops, undertaking commissioned imaging projects, and providing natural history image prints and licenses.

2011- Contracted writer, Scientific American Blog Network. Wrote about science photography on 2015 the Compound Eye blog: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/compound-eye/

2011- Research Scholar, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 2012 Conducted diverse independent projects on the systematics of , especially ants and parasitoid wasps.

2008 – Research Associate, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 2011 Conducted postdoctoral research on the braconid wasp Heterospilus in the laboratory of Dr. James Whitfield. Responsibilities include generation of molecular matrices for phylogenetic inference, data analysis, specimen imaging, and development of an online interactive key.

2006 – Research Associate, Department of Entomology, University of Arizona. Held a postdoctoral 2008 position on an Assembling the Tree of Life (NSF - ATOL) grant to reconstruct the phylogeny of the Coleoptera. Responsibilities included assisting in the development of a bioinformatics workflow system, the development of new protein-coding nuclear genes for phylogenetic analysis, and specimen curation and imaging.

1999 – Doctoral Student, Department of Entomology, U. C. Davis. Conducted externally funded 2005 phylogenetic and revisionary research in several genera, carried out molecular work for an NSF project to reconstruct the phylogeny of the ant family, and worked in the curation of entomology collections at the Bohart Museum of Entomology and the California Academy of Sciences.

1998 – Agriculture Sector Coordinator, U. S. Peace Corps/Paraguay. Activities included redesigning 1999 the Peace Corps agriculture plan to boost emphasis on no-till agriculture and to increase Peace Corps’ coordination with local organizations, interacting with Paraguayan communities to determine placement of incoming volunteers, organizing several week-long workshops in sustainable agriculture for Paraguayan subsistence farmers and Peace Corps volunteers, providing logistical support to volunteers, and editing a monthly newsletter.

1995 – Apiculture Extensionist, U. S. Peace Corps/Paraguay. Responsibilities included teaching 1998 beekeeping with Africanized honeybees in several subsistence farming communities and performing extension in agroforestry and sustainable agriculture.

1995 – Associate Curator, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural del Paraguay. Curated the ants in 1999 the Paraguayan National Museum on a part-time basis

1995 Invertebrate Laboratory Intern, Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid, Florida. Assisted in the curation of the Archbold insect collection.

Professional Preparation 2005 University of California at Davis. Ph.D. in Entomology.

1995 Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME. A.B. summa cum laude in Biology and Environmental Studies.

Reviewed Publications Nondillo, A., Arioli, C. J., Wild, A. L., Bueno, O.C., Botton, M. 2017. Myrmecofauna (: Formicidae) present in vineyards infested with Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) in southern Brazil. Florida Entomologist 100 (3), 551-557. McKenna, D. M., A. L. Wild, K. Kanda, C. L. Bellamy, R. G. Beutel, M. S. Caterino, C. W. Farnum, D. C. Hawks, M. A. Ivie, M. L. Jameson, R. A. B. Leschen, A. E. Marvaldi, J. V. McHugh, A. F. Newton, J. A. Robertson, M. K. Thayer, M. F. Whiting, J. F. Lawrence, S. A. Ślipiński, D. R. Maddison & B. D. Farrell. 2015. The beetle Tree of Life reveals Coleoptera survived End Permian mass extinction to diversify during the Cretaceous terrestrial revolution. Systematic Entomology 46 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/syen.12132 Porter, S. D., Valles, S. M., Wild, A. L., Dieckmann, R., Plowes, N. J. R. 2015. Solenopsis invicta virus 3: Further host-specificity tests with native Solenopsis ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Florida Entomologist 98 (1), 122-125. Short, A. E. Z., Joly, L. J., Garcia, M., Wild, A. L., Bloom, D. D., Maddison, D.R. 2015. Molecular phylogeny of the Hydroscaphidae (Coleoptera: Myxophaga) with description of a remarkable new lineage from the Guiana Shield. Systematic Entomology 40 (1), 214-229. Marsh, P. M., Wild, A. L., and J. B. Whitfield. 2013. The () of Costa Rica: genera and species of the tribe Heterospilini. ZooKeys, 347: 1-474. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.347.6002 Wild, A. L., Marsh, P. M., and J. B. Whitfield. 2013. Fast-evolving homoplastic traits are best for species identification in a group of Neotropical wasps. PLoS ONE 8(9): e74837. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0074837 Delsinne, T., W. Mackay, A. Wild, A. Y. Roisin, and M. Leponce. 2012. Distribution and Diversity of the Cryptic Ant Genus Oxyepoecus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: ) in Paraguay with Descriptions of Two New Species. Psyche doi:10.1155/2012/594302 Smith, C. D. et al. 2011. The draft genome of the globally widespread and invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 108: 5667–5672. Wild, A. L., and I. Brake. 2009. Field observations on Milichia patrizii ant-mugging flies (Diptera: Milichiidae: Milichiinae) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. African Invertebrates 50: 205–212. Wetterer, J. K., A. L. Wild, A. V. Suarez, N. Roura-Pascual, and X. Espadaler. 2009. Worldwide spread of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 12: 187–194. Wild, A. L. 2009. Evolution of the Neotropical Ant Genus Linepithema. Systematic Entomology 34: 49–62. Wild, A. L., and D. R. Maddison. 2008. Evaluating nuclear protein-coding genes for phylogenetic utility in the Coleoptera. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48: 877–891. Wild, A. L. 2007. A Catalogue of the Ants of Paraguay (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 1622: 1–55. Wild, A. L. 2007. Taxonomic revision of the ant genus Linepithema (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). University of California Publications in Entomology 126: 1–159. Roura-Pascual, N., A. V. Suarez , K. McNyset, C. Gómez, P. Pons, Y. Touyama, A. L. Wild, F. Gascón, and A. T. Peterson. 2006. Niche differentiation and fine-scale projections for Argentine ants based on remotely sensed data. Ecological Applications 16(5): 1832– 1841. Donoso, D. A., J. M. Vieira, and A. L. Wild. 2006. Three new species of Leptanilloides Mann from Andean Ecuador (Formicidae: Leptanilloidinae). Zootaxa 1201: 47–62. Wild, A. L., and F. Cuezzo. 2006. Rediscovery of a fossil dolichoderine ant lineage (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) and a description of a new genus from South America. Zootaxa 1142: 57–68. Wild, A. L. 2005. Taxonomic revision of the Pachycondyla apicalis species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 834: 1–25. Roura-Pascual, N, A. V. Suarez , C. Gómez, P. Pons, Y. Touyama, A. L. Wild, and A. T. Peterson. 2004. Geographic potential of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile Mayr) in the face of global climate change. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B 271:2527–2534. Wild, A. L. 2004. and distribution of the Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 97(6): 1204–1215. Orians, C. M., C. H. Huang, A. Wild, K. A. Dorfman, P. Zee, M. T. T. Dao, and R. S. Fritz. 1997. Willow hybridization differentially affects preference and performance of herbivorous beetles. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 83: 285–294.

Additional Publications Wild, A. L. 2018. Why We Miss the Wasps. NBC News; NBC Think. Online: https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/why-we-miss-wasps-ncna944751 Wild, A. L. 2010. Book Review of Moffett, M. W. 2010 Adventures among ants: a global safari with a cast of trillions. Myrmecological News 14: 20. Wild, A. L. 2008. Book Review of Snelling et al 2007 Festschrift to E. O. Wilson. Myrmecological News, online early. Wild, A. L. 2008. A Feast for the Initiated. Bioscience 58: 80–81. Wild, A. L. 2008. The Argentine Ant. Encyclopedia entry in Capinera, J., ed. 2008, Encyclopedia of Entomology, 2nd edition. Springer, 4768pp. Wild, A. L. 2005. Observations on larval cannibalism and other behaviors in a captive colony of Amblyopone oregonensis. Notes from Underground 11: 9. Online article available at: http://www.notesfromunderground.org/archive/issue11-1/features/amblyopone.html Suarez, A.V., M. Benard, N. D. Tsutsui, T. A. Blackledge, K. Copren, E. M. Sarnat, A. L. Wild, W. M. Getz, P. T. Starks, K. Will, P. J. Palsbøll, M. E. Hauber, C. Moritz, and A. D. Richman. 2002. Correspondence: Conflicts around a study of Mexican crops. Nature 417: 897. Wild, A. L. 2003 (“2002”). The genus Pachycondyla (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Paraguay. Boletín del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural del Paraguay 14: 1–18.

Invited Presentations Wild, A. L. 2019. How to Take Better Insect Photographs. Student Choice Speaker, Entomology Department, Washington State University. Wild, A. L. 2019. How to Take Better Insect Photographs. Hagedorn Speaker, Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona. Wild, A. L. 2019. Ants! The Dionysium, Alamo Drafthouse, Austin, Texas. Wild, A. L. 2017. How to Take Better Science Photographs. Invited speaker, Biology Department, Rutgers University. Wild, A.L. 2017. Why Ants Rule the World. Invited Speaker, Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives Annual meeting, Austin, Texas. Wild, A. L. 2016. The Digital Future of Natural History Photography. Charles Arnold Lecture Series Speaker, Rochester Institute of Technology. Wild, A. L. 2016. How to Take Better Insect Photographs. Invited Speaker, Biology Department, University of Texas/Tyler. Wild, A. L. 2015. How to Take Better Insect Photographs. Invited Speaker, Biology Department, University of Texas/Arlington. Wild, A. L. 2013. How to Take Better Insect Photographs. Banquet Speaker, Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Societies of Canada and Ontario, Guelph, Ontario. Wild, A. L. 2013. How to Take Better Insect Photographs. Popenoe Invited Speaker, Kansas State University, Department of Entomology. Wild, A. L. 2013. Science and the Digital Photography Revolution. Public lecture, Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida. Wild, A. L. 2012. How to Take Better Science Photographs. Invited talk, University of Georgia, Department of Entomology seminar series. Wild. A. L., Marsh P. M., and J. B. Whitfield. 2012. Traveling Across the Taxonomic Impediment: Tales from Tropical Wasps. Invited talk, University of Minnesota, Department of Entomology seminar series. Wild, A. L. 2011. How to Take Better Insect Photographs. Invited talk, University of California at Davis, Department of Entomology seminar series. Wild, A. L. 2008. An Evolutionary Context for the Argentine Ant. Invited Talk, Section 13, International Congress of Entomology, Durban, South Africa. Wild, A. L. 2007. Can 18th and 21st century science get along? The fate of taxonomy in the genomic era. Invited talk, University of Texas Population Biology seminar series, Austin,Texas. Wild, A. L. 2006. Multi-locus molecular phylogeny and the “Species Problem”: insights from Linepithema ants. Invited talk, Symposium 12, International Union for the Study of Social Insects conference, Washington D.C. Wild, A. L. 2005. Panelist, “Monographs in the 21st Century”, Bay Area Biosystematists November meeting. Wild, A. L. 2004. An Overview of Latin American Regulations. Invited Talk, Section A, Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.

Selected Photography Credits Print BBC Wildlife, New York Times, Science Magazine, National Geographic, Washington Post, USA Today, Ranger Rick Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Discover Magazine, Natural History Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, Popular Science, New Scientist, Cell, Scientific American, Science News

Exhibits Chicago Field Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Audubon Insectarium, Cleveland Zoo, California Science Center, Bohart Museum of Entomology

Publishers HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin, Time, W. W. Norton, Oxford University Press, McGraw-Hill, Dorling Kindersley

Television History Channel, Discovery Canada, Talkback Thames, ABC Australia

Relevant Skills  Over 20 years experience in the design and implementation of scientific research in entomology, collections management, and systematics.  Imaging skills includes a variety of SLR camera systems, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and optical microscopy.  Strong online media presence. In addition to writing for Scientific American, Alex's independent insect blog Myrmecos receives over 50,000 monthly visitors.  Laboratory skills include DNA extraction, amplification, purification, primer design, and sequence analysis, as well as research collection curation and bioinformatics.  Software experience includes Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Zerene Stacker  International research experience in over 15 countries with an emphasis on Latin America.  Public outreach experience includes agriculture extension, classroom and science center visits, photography workshops, campus outreach events, and a variety of public speaking engagements on entomology and photography.  Fluency in English, Spanish and Guaraní, with additional communications skills in Portuguese and French.

Teaching Experience 2015- Instructor, BIO 453L, Entomology, at The University of Texas at Austin, an upper division present laboratory class taught every fall semester covering basic topics in insect biology, diversity, and interaction with human history.

2011- Organizer and instructor for BugShot, an insect photography workshop series held twice per present year at various domestic and international venues, including Texas, California, Florida, Belize, Peru, and Ecuador.

2012 Instructor for Ant Course, an annual intensive course on ant diversity operated by the California Academy of Sciences. Lectured on the taxonomy & identification of formicine ants and handled the course's online outreach. Kibale Forest, Uganda.

2012 Instructor, Integrative Biology 109: Insects & People, a general education lecture/laboratory class about the relevance of insects to human culture.

2010- Created and instructed a new course, Introduction to Beekeeping (Integrative Biology 496) 2011 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

2005 Teaching assistant for the Ant Course at the Southwestern Research Station in Portal, Arizona, an annual intensive course on ant diversity.

2000 – Teaching assistant and lecturer for the following classes at U. C. Davis: 2005 Molecular and Cellular Biology 10: Human Genetics Entomology 109: Insect Diversity in the California Sierra Nevada Entomology 107: California Insect Diversity

1995 – U. S. Peace Corps/Paraguay. Taught classes in apiculture, soil conservation, crop 1999 diversification, and agroforestry to various groups of Peace Corps volunteers, Paraguayan farmers, and Aché and Guaraní indigenous communities.

Grants/Awards 2019 National Science Foundation OPUS-CRS 1911443, Co-PI, ($198,031) 2019 Texas Ecolab ($5,025) 2003 National Science Foundation Dissertation Enhancement Award ($21,205) 2000-2002 U.C. Davis Jastro Shields Research Awards ($6,800) 2001-2002 U.C. Davis Center for Population Biology, Graduate Research Award ($2,124) 2000-2001 U.C. Davis Center for Biosystematics, Graduate Research Award ($2000) 2000 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship ($22,000/year for three years) 1995 Macomber Prize, awarded by Bowdoin College to the outstanding graduate in Biology.

Professional Affiliations Member, Entomological Society of America Member, International Union for the Study of Social Insects Member, Society of Systematic Biologists