Zack Falin

Zack Falin

Collection Manager
785.864.3034
Public Safety Building
Publications: 

Lohrmann, V., Z.H. Falin, D.J. Bennett & M.S. Engel. [in press].  Recent findings of Olixon banksii in the Nearctic with notes on its biology (Hymenoptera: Rhopalosomatidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society.

Chatzimanolis, S., M.E. Cashion, M.S. Engel & Z.H. Falin.  2012.  A new genus of Ptylodactylidae (Coleoptera: Byrrhoidea) in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar.  Geodiversitas, 34(3): 569-574.

Batelka, J., M.S. Engel, Z.H.Falin & J. Prokop.  2011.  Two new ripidiine species in Dominican amber with evidence of aggregative behavior of males “frozen” in the fossil record (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae).  European Journal of Entomology, 108: 275-286.

Falin, Z.H. & M.S. Engel.  2010. Notes on Cretaceous Ripidiini and revised diagnoses of the Ripidiinae, Ripidiini, and Eorhipidiini (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae).  Alavesia, 3: 35-42.

Lawrence, J.F., Z.H. Falin & S.A. Slipinski.  2010. Ripiphoridae [pp. 538-548]. In: Handbook of Zoology, Vol. 4 Arthropoda, Insecta, Part 38 Coleoptera, Beetles 2, W. de Gruyter.

Falin, Z.H.  2009. Recent Collections of Lordithon niger (Gravenhorst) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in Kansas.  Coleopterists Bulletin, 63(1): 84-85.

Engel, M.S. & Z.H. Falin.  2008. The Zorapteran Zorotypus huxleyi in Guyana (Zoraptera: Zorotypidae).  Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 81(4): 394-395.

Lingafelter, S., R. Anderson, R. Timm, Z.H. Falin, M.L. Jameson, A. Newton, G. Ball, K.J. Ahn, & R. Leschen.  2006. In Memorium, James Stephen “Steve” Ashe (1947-2005).  Coleopterists Bulletin, 60(1): 1-12.

Falin, Z.H.  2004. On a misidentification of the mud dauber parasite Macrosiagon ferruginea (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae) in India.  Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 101(2): 329.

Falin, Z.H.  2004. Revision of three New World Macrosiagon Hentz species (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae) with a discussion of phylogenetic relationships within the Macrosiagonini.  Coleopterists Bulletin, 58(1): 1-19.

Falin, Z.H.  2002. Notes on the South American ripiphorid Macrosiagon vittula (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae).  Entomological News, 113(3): 192-196.

Falin, Z.H.  2002. Ripiphoridae. In: American Beetles, vol. 2. R. Arnett Jr., M.C. Thomas, H. Frank and P.E. Skelley (eds.) CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL., 861 pp.

Kaupp, A., Z.H. Falin & P. Nagel.  2001. An annotated catalogue of fossil Ripiphoridae, taxonomic notes, and the description of a new genus and species from Baltic amber (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae: Ripidiinae).  Mitteilungen des Geologisch- Paläontologischen instituits der Universität Hamburg, 85: 165-195.

Falin, Z.H.  2001. Notes on the occurrence of Ripidius pectinicornis Thunberg (Coleoptera: Rhipiphoridae) in the continental United States and Hawaii.  Coleopterists Bulletin, 55(2): 194-197.

Falin, Z.H., L. Arneson, & W.T. Wcislo. 2001. Night-flying Sweat Bees Megalopta genalis and Me. ecuadoria (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) as Hosts of the Parasitoid Beetle Macrosiagon gracilis (Coleoptera: Rhipiphoridae).  Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 73(3): 183-185.

Education: 

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, LAWRENCE, KS
Ph.D.  2003, Entomology (J.S. Ashe†, advisor)

CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, NY
B.S.  1992, Entomology, with honors (J.K. Liebherr, advisor)

Previous Academic Appointments: 

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, LAWRENCE, KS
    2006 – 2007  Interim Acting Curator, Division of Entomology, Biodiversity Institute
    2003 – 2010  Associate Collection Manager, Division of Entomology, Biodiversity Institute
    1998 – 2003  Curatorial Assistant, Division of Entomology, Biodiversity Institute
    1998  Graduate Research Assistant, Division of Entomology, Biodiversity Institute
    1997 – 1998  Curatorial Assistant, Division of Entomology, Biodiversity Institute
    1995 – 1997  Graduate Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, NY
    1995  Museum Technician, Cornell University Insect Collection
    1994  Curatorial Technician, Cornell University Insect Collection
    1990 – 1991  Research Assistant, Dept. of Entomology
    1990  Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Entomology
    1989 – 1992  Museum Technician, Cornell University Insect Collection

Grants: 

2011 – 2014  National Science Foundation, DBI-1057366.  A specimen-level database of the world’s bees (Apoidea) at the University of Kansas ($495,426).  M.S. Engel, C.S. Chaboo, Z.H. Falin & A.E.Z. Short.

Awards: 

2013   KU Biodiversity Institute, Special Funding Request ($4,000).
2012   KU Biodiversity Institute, Special Funding Request ($4,000).
2011  KU Biodiversity Institute, G.W. Byers Endowment Fund ($982).
2010  KU Biodiversity Institute, Special Funding Request ($1,600).
2007  KU Biodiversity Institute, Special Funding Request ($579).
2006  KU Biodiversity Institute, Special Funding Request ($450).
2005  KU Biodiversity Institute, Special Funding Request ($940).
2001  KU Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Graduate Teaching Fund ($110; not disbursed due to symposium cancellation).
2001  KU Biodiversity Institute, Special Funding Request ($110; not disbursed due to symposium cancellation).
2000  KU Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, H.B. Hungerford Award in Entomology ($750).
2000  KU Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, H.B. Hungerford Award in Entomology ($540).
2000  KU Biodiversity Institute, Snow Entomological Collection Development Fund ($500).
2000  KU Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, H.B. Hungerford Award in Entomology ($500).
2000  KU Biodiversity Institute, Snow Entomological Collection Development Fund ($912).
2000  KU Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, H.B. Hungerford Award in Entomology ($693).
1999  KU Biodiversity Institute, Snow Entomological Collection Development Fund ($1,500).
1999  KU Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, H.B. Hungerford Award in Entomology ($806).
1999  KU Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, H.B. Hungerford Award in Entomology ($1200).
1997  University of Kansas, Graduate School Summer Fellowship ($2,000).
1996  Harvard University, Ernst Mayr Grant ($1,050).
1996  American Museum of Natural History, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund ($741).
1996  KU Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, H.B. Hungerford Award in Entomology ($500).
1996  KU Biodiversity Institute, Panorama Society Grant  ($584).

Professional Presentations: 

Falin, Z.H. 2013.  Kansas arthropod specimen data at KU: recent efforts, talking stock, and future uses.  Annual Kansas Entomological Society Meeting, Pittsburg, KS; Apr. 13.

Falin, Z.H. 2013.  A status report on the digitization of Kansas arthropod records at KU: 15 years in and still scratching the surface.  Annual Kansas Academy of Science Meeting, Overland Park, KS; Apr. 6.

Falin, Z.H.  2012.  Brining LLAMA home: the legalities and logistics of managing the “by-catch” of a large arthropod survey. Annual Entomological Collections Network Meeting, Knoxville, TN; Nov. 11.

Falin, Z.H.  2012.  Twenty-four years in the business: my collections-based experience as viewed through NEON colored glasses. National Ecological Observatory Network, Boulder, CO; Jul. 30. Invited.

Falin, Z.H.  2012.  Catch as catch can in KS: recent informal insect survey & inventory work at the SEMC. USDA & KS Dept. Ag. Kansas Entomologists Meeting, Topeka, KS; Jan. 19. Invited.

McKenna, D.D. & Z.H. Falin, Z.H.  2011.  Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution of Ripiphorid Beetles (Ripiphoridae).  Annual Entomological Society of America Meeting, Reno, NV; Nov. 16.

Falin, Z.H.  2011.  Tales of a loan scofflaw, or, what the hell am I thinking?  Annual Entomological Collections Network Meeting, Reno, NV; Nov. 12. Invited.

Falin, Z.H.  2011.  An embarrassment of riches: The capture, dissemination and use of collections-based data in the 21st Century. Essig Museum of Entomology, University of California, Berkeley, CA; Sept. 8. Invited.

Falin, Z.H.  2011.  Catch as catch can: The research life as an Academic Staff in Kansas. Essig Museum of Entomology, University of California, Berkeley, CA; Sept. 8. Invited.

Falin, Z.H.  2008.  Best practices vs. reality: A practical guide to improving your georeference data.  Annual Entomological Collections Network Meeting, Reno, NV; Nov. 15. Invited.

Falin, Z.H.  2006.  Moving the Snow Entomological Collection 1.5km or, What a long strange trip its been. Annual Entomological Collections Network Meeting, Indianapolis, IN; Dec. 10.

Falin, Z.H.  2003.  Phylogenetic analysis and revision of the genera and subfamilies of the Ripiphoridae (Coleoptera). Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology seminar series, Lawrence, KS; Aug. 25.

Hodges, E.S. & Z.H. Falin.  2002.  Entomology Collections at KU: A guided tour with tips for illustrators. Annual Guild for Natural Science Illustrators Meeting, Lawrence, KS; Aug. 7.

Major Field Experience: 

2006 – present  Kansas  Ongoing. Conducting an informal faunal survey of Kansas Coleoptera for the Division of Entomology, KU Biodiversity Institute.
2010  Costa Rica  March, ten days. Participated in an expedition for the collection of staphylinids and general Coleoptera for the Division of Entomology, KU Biodiversity Institute.
2005  Kansas  March to December, nine months. Organized and performed a periodic bulk insect trapping regime in Northeast Kansas to establish a modern regional Coleoptera collection for the Division of Entomology, KU Biodiversity Institute.
2004  Costa Rica. May/June, four weeks. Co-organized and participated in an expedition for the collection of staphylinids and general Coleoptera for the Division of Entomology, KU Biodiversity Institute.
2002  Nicaragua  May/June, four weeks. Participated in an expedition for the collection of staphylinids and general Coleoptera for the Division of Entomology, KU Biodiversity Institute.
2001  Guyana  May/June, four weeks. Participated in an expedition for the collection of staphylinids and general Coleoptera for the Division of Entomology, KU Biodiversity Institute.
2000  Paraguay  November/December, four weeks. Participated in an expedition for the collection of staphylinids and general Coleoptera for the Division of Entomology, KU Biodiversity Institute.
2000  Costa Rica  May/June, four weeks. Participated in an expedition for the collection of staphylinids and general Coleoptera for the Division of Entomology, KU Biodiversity Institute.
1999  Ecuador  October/November, three weeks. Participated in an expedition for the collection of staphylinids and general Coleoptera for the Division of Entomology, KU Biodiversity Institute.
1999  Suriname  May/July, six weeks. Organized and performed an expedition for the collection of staphylinids and general Coleoptera for the Division of Entomology, KU Biodiversity Institute.
1996  Arizona & New Mexico  August, two weeks. Organized and performed a field expedition for the collection and life history study of North American Ripiphoridae.
1996  Honduras  May/June, two weeks. Organized and performed a field expedition for the collection and life history study of neotropical Ripiphoridae.
1995  Trinidad  January, two weeks. Worked as a field assistant for Dr. U. Mueller, locating, excavating, and culturing colonies of various basal genera of attine ants.
1995  Trinidad  January, two weeks. Organized and performed an expedition for the collection of general Coleoptera for the Cornell University Insect Collection.
1992  Costa Rica  June, four weeks. Organized and performed an expedition for the collection of general Coleoptera for the Cornell University Insect Collection.

Professional Societies: 

American Entomological Society
Kansas (Central States) Entomological Society
Coleopterists Society
Kansas Academy of Science.