A department of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University

Overlooking Pelekunu Valley, Molokai

James Kenneth Liebherr Professor & Curator Department of Entomology Comstock Hall Cornell University Ithaca, New York 14853-0901 phone (607) 255-4507 email JKL5@cornell.edu

Training:

• Ph.D. - University of California, Berkeley, 1983.
• M.S. - Cornell University, 1974.
• B.A. - University of Wisconsin, 1972.

Research:

My research focuses on revisionary systematics of Hawaiian carabid beetles. Recently I completed the taxonomic revision the radiation of 130 native species in the genus Blackburnia (Liebherr and Zimmerman 2000). Currently I am revising a second monophyletic radiation; the more than 190 native species of Mecyclothorax, including two sister species below from East Maui.

Each carabid group exhibits extensive specialization, both geographically and ecologically. Ultimately, levels of congruence among biogeographic patterns within islands for the two groups will be used to test the vicariance biogeographic paradigm. Mecyclothorax spp. also exhibit substantial differentiation of the male genitalia, consistent with speciation facilitated by sexual selection.

Male aedeagus for each of two Mecyclothorax sister species shown above.

I also support taxonomic research on Hawaiian insects through serving as scientific editor of a rejuvenated Insects of Hawaii series, published by University of Hawaii Press.

In May 2005, field work was undertaken on Kauai, in order to sample the insect fauna of Waialeale summit and the Alakai Swamp. This visit formed part of Bugstrafe 2005, a collaborative rapid assessment program for insect biodiversity supported by the Drake Endowment of Smithsonian Institution, and a National Science Foundation award to Cornell University. Among the various target taxa, we investigated endemic hydrophilid water scavenger beetles in support the Ph.D. dissertation project of Andrew Short.

Hydrophilid worker in typical collecting pose. Andrew with Limnoxenus n. sp. on Waialeale summit.

Andrew, Dan Polhemus, and Curtis Ewing collecting brachypterous Nysius seed bugs on Waialeale summit.

Professional Associations:

• 1999-present, Scientific Editor, Insects of Hawaii series, University of Hawaii Press.
• 1999-present, Research Associate, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh.
• 1991-present Research Associate, Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu.
• 1988-present Research Associate, American Museum of Natural History, New York.

Recent Publications:

• Liebherr, J.K. 2006. Recognition and description of Blackburnia kavanaughi, new species (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from Kauai, Hawaii. J. New York Entomol. Soc. 114:17-27 (nynt_114_1-2_17-27_2_l.pdf)
• Liebherr, J.K. & A.E.Z. Short. 2006. Blackburnia riparia, new species (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Platynini): a novel element in the Hawaiian riparian insect fauna. J. New York Entomol. Soc. 114:1-16 (nynt_114_1-2_1-16_1_l.pdf). [Download Winclada data matrix including B. riparia and B. kavanaughi here.)
• Liebherr, J.K. & P.D. Krushelnycky. 2006. Unfortunate encounters? Novel interactions of native Mecyclothorax, alien Trechus obtusus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and Agentine ant (Linepithema humile, Hymenoptera: Formicidae) across a Hawaiian landscape. J. Ins. Cons. (http://www.springerlink.com/content/1q08137662105310/?p=0fdaab21a2ba4ba7b3b09fa3238f0ddb&pi=7)
• Liebherr, J.K. 2005. Vanuatu Platynini (Coleoptera: Carabidae): Miocene diversification on the Melanesian Arc. Invert. Syst. 19:263-295 (IS04032.pdf).
• Krushelnycky, P.D., R.G. Gillespie, L.L. Loope & J.K. Liebherr. 2005. Rediscovery and uncertain future of high-elevation Haleakalā carabid beetles (Coleoptera). Pac. Sci. 59: 399-410. http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/pacific_science/toc/psc59.3.html
• Will, K.W., J.K. Liebherr, D.R. Maddison & J. Galian. 2005. Absence asymmetry: the evolution of monorchid ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). J. Morphol. 264: 75-93. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jissue/110429330
• Liebherr, J.K. 2004. Patterns of endangerment or pathways to enlightenment? Reconstructing the Fauna Hawaiiensis. Syst. & Biodiv. 2: 175-189. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=SYS&volumeId=2&issueId=02
• Liebherr, J.K. & J. Schmidt. 2004. Phylogeny and biogeography of the Laurasian genus Agonum Bonelli (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Platynini). Deutsche Entomol. Z. 51:151-206. (DEZ51(2)pp151-206.pdf)
• Liebherr, J.K. 2003. Blackburnia lata sp. n. (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from Kauai: morphological transformation in the arboreal microhabitat. Insect Syst. Evol. 34:41-52 (ISE34(1)pp41-52.pdf)
• Liebherr, J.K. & R. Takumi. 2002. Introduction and distributional expansion of Trechus obtusus Erichson (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Maui, Hawaii. Pac. Sci. 56:365-375. (http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/pacific_science/v056/56.4liebherr.pdf)
• Liebherr, J.K. 2001. Blackburnia gastrellariformis, sp. n. (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from Molokai: successful prediction of a new taxon by reconciled tree analysis. Insect Syst. Evol.32:133-141. (ISE32(2):133-141.pdf)
• Liebherr, J.K., & E.C. Zimmerman. 2000. Hawaiian Carabidae (Coleoptera), Part 1: Introduction and Tribe Platynini. Insects of Hawaii 16: v + 494 pp. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu. (http://www.uhpress.hawaii.edu)
• Liebherr, J.K. 2000. The unity of characters: ecological and morphological specialization in larvae of Hawaiian platynine Carabidae (Coleoptera). Invert. Taxon. 14:931-940. (IT00018.pdf)
• Liebherr, J.K. & E.C. Zimmerman. 1998. Cladistic analysis, phylogeny, and biogeography of Hawaiian Platynini (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Syst. Entomol. 23: 137-172. (SE23(2):137-172.pdf)

Graduate Students:

• Torsten Dikow, Ph.D. candidate, molecular and morphological phylogenetics of Asilidae (AMNH-CU Joint Program in Insect Systematics) -- http://www.tdvia.de
• Dimitri Forero, Ph.D. student, systematics of Miridae (AMNH-CU Joint Program in Insect Systematics) -- http://research.amnh.org/pbi/description/dimitri_forero.html
• Curtis Ewing, PhD January 2006, molecular and morphological phylogenetics of Hawaiian nitidulid sap beetles
• James Hayden, PhD student, systematics of Crambidae -- http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/jeh63/
• Andrew Short, PhD candidate, molecular and morphological systematics of Hydrophilidae -- http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/as384/