My position is split between the Department of Entomology and the UGA Museum of Natural History where I serve as Curator of the UGA Collection of Arthropods Research in our lab falls under the general headings of insect systematics and morphology. Morphological studies provide the data for our taxonomic and phylogenetic research. While considerable attention has been devoted to the interactions of insects with plants and animals, relatively little is known about their associations with fungi.
Beetles are conspicuous components of the insectan fauna associated with fungi.
Erotylidae, Endomychidae and Sphindidae, the subjects of my current systematics research, all belong to the coleopteran superfamily Cucujoidea and have diverse ties to either fungi or myxomycetes. The ultimate goals of my research are to contribute toward a better understanding of cucujoid diversity and to use phylogenetics to interpret the evolution of curious aspects of coleopteran natural history, especially the diverse interactions between beetles and fungi. McHugh, J.V. and C.N. Lewis. Pitts, J.P. and J.V. McHugh. 2000. Journal of Hymenoptera Research.