Insect Diagnostics
My lab provides heteropteran and thysanopteran diagnostic support for the California Department of Food & Agriculture. In addition to providing accurate identifications and evaluations of intercepted insects, the lab also strives to develop diagnostic resources for these groups. Such resources include, for example: comparative morphological studies, generating molecular sequences, developing identification keys, and publishing first detections in peer-reviewed journals.
Featured publications:
Forthman, M. 2024. First record of Pyrrhocoris apterus (Linnaeus 1758) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in California, U.S.A. Pan-Pac. Entomol., 100: 75–78.
Forthman, M., Downie, C., Miller, C.W., Kimball, R.T. 2023. Evolution of stridulatory mechanisms: vibroacoustic communication may be common in leaf-footed bugs and allies (Heteroptera: Coreoidea). R. Soc. Open Sci., 10: 221348. [PDF]
Adler, K., Schill, A.E.R., Stolberg, A.M., Miller, C.W., Forthman, M. 2022. First record of the bow-legged bug Hyalymenus subinermis (Heteroptera: Alydidae) in California, with description of the mimetic immature stages. Pan-Pac. Entomol., 98: 138–149. [Link]
Forthman, M., Lara, R., Meeds, A.W., Rider, D.A. 2022. First record of Pellaea stictica (Dallas, 1851) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in California, U.S.A. Pan-Pac. Entomol., 98: 76–80. [Link]
Matzinger, E.E., Forthman, M. 2019. Identification key to the genera of the tribe Gonocerini (Insecta: Hemiptera: Coreidae). UF Journal of Undergraduate Research, 21: 1–7. [PDF]
Featured publications:
Forthman, M. 2024. First record of Pyrrhocoris apterus (Linnaeus 1758) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in California, U.S.A. Pan-Pac. Entomol., 100: 75–78.
Forthman, M., Downie, C., Miller, C.W., Kimball, R.T. 2023. Evolution of stridulatory mechanisms: vibroacoustic communication may be common in leaf-footed bugs and allies (Heteroptera: Coreoidea). R. Soc. Open Sci., 10: 221348. [PDF]
Adler, K., Schill, A.E.R., Stolberg, A.M., Miller, C.W., Forthman, M. 2022. First record of the bow-legged bug Hyalymenus subinermis (Heteroptera: Alydidae) in California, with description of the mimetic immature stages. Pan-Pac. Entomol., 98: 138–149. [Link]
Forthman, M., Lara, R., Meeds, A.W., Rider, D.A. 2022. First record of Pellaea stictica (Dallas, 1851) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in California, U.S.A. Pan-Pac. Entomol., 98: 76–80. [Link]
Matzinger, E.E., Forthman, M. 2019. Identification key to the genera of the tribe Gonocerini (Insecta: Hemiptera: Coreidae). UF Journal of Undergraduate Research, 21: 1–7. [PDF]