Professor ZhiQiang Zhang

Research | Current

• Diversity, systematics and evolution of invertebrates (esp. mites)

• Ecology and evolution of mating and ageing in animals (esp. effects of sexual reproduction, diet and stress on life span)
• Ecology of invasive species and pests (insects and weeds) and biocontrol-based integrated pest management

• Behavioral and population ecology of predator-prey or parasite-host interactions
• Ecology of animal-fungus-plant interactions

• Biodiversity informatics

Postgraduate supervision

Current postgraduate students

• Ms Parveen Farzana Absar (PhD candidate 2019–2022) Taxonomical and microhabitat studies of arachnids in limestone caves (Main supervisor: Prof ZhiQiang Zhang; co-supervisor: Dr Qing-Hai Fan of MPI)
• Miss Wendy Lam (MSc candidate 2018–2019) Effects of predation on the ability of gorse thrips, Stericothrips staphylinus, to control gorse (Ulex europaeus). (Main supervisor: Prof ZhiQiang Zhang; co-supervisor: Dr Quentin Paynter of Landcare Research)
  • Research output:
    • 2019 Predation, prey preference and reproduction of predatory mites Amblydromalus limonicus (Garman), Amblyseius herbicolus (Chant) and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) on immature Sericothrips staphylinus Haliday (Thyasanoptera: Thripidae), a biocontrol agent of gorse
• Miss Zoe Wei (PhD candidate 2017–2020) Effects of mild and strong stressors on the longevity of the mites (Main supervisor: Prof ZhiQiang Zhang; co-supervisor: Prof Bill Lee)
  • Research output:
    • 2018 Responses of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acaridae) to odour associated with its predator Neoseiulus cucumeris (Phytoseiidae)
• Miss Guangyun Li (PhD candidate 2015–2019) The trade-off between reproduction and lifespan of two-spotted spider mite and its mechanism (Main supervisor: Prof ZhiQiang Zhang; co-supervisor: Prof Bill Lee)
  • Research output:
    • 2019 The sex- and duration-dependent effects of intermittent fasting on lifespan and reproduction of spider mite Tetranychus urticae
    • 2018 Does size matter? Fecundity and longevity of spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) in relation to mating and food availability 

Potential postgraduate student projects

• Systematics and evolution: Life in amber: systematics and diversity of micro-arthropods (PhD)
• Biosecurity and biocontrol: Tritrophic interactions in weed biocontrol: predatory mites, gall mites and Galium aparine in New Zealand (MSc or PhD)
• Biosecurity and biosystematcs: Native and naturalised nematode fauna of Pinus radiata in New Zealand (MSc, co-superviser Dr Z.Q. Zhao of Landcare Research)
• Ecology and evolution: Sexual conflict and ageing: experimental studies using arthropods (PhD)
• Ecology and evolution: Sexual dimorphism and mating behavior in arthropods (MSc or PhD)
• Ecology and evolution: Evolution of aging: integrating behavioural and genomic studies (PhD)
• Ecology and evolution: Rapid evolution in the laboratory: mites as model systems (PhD)
• Biodiversity and ecology: Does diversity promote persistence of meta-populations? Experiments using mites in microcosms (PhD)
• Biodiversity and ecology: Living in leaf domatia: complex trophic interactions among fungivores, phytophages and predators (MSc or PhD)
• Biodiversity, ecology and systematics: Insect-mite interactions: candidate selecting a particular taxonomic group or topic of interest (MSc or PhD)
• Biodiversity, ecology and systematics: Mite systematics and ecology: candidate selecting a particular taxonomic group of interest (MSc or PhD)

Potential postgraduate students are encouraged to bring his/her own topics of interest in systematics, ecology and evolution (not limited to these listed above) for discussion. I love to hear from motivated students who are interested in joining the lab. Please first check if you meet the University of Auckland requirements for MSc or PhD programmes. Honour students are welcome to participate in research projects in the lab. 

 

Completed postgraduate students

• Jianfeng Liu (PhD candidate 2016–2019) Population ecology and biological control of invasive psyllid Bactericera cockerelli using predatory mites and fungi (Main supervisor: Prof ZhiQiang Zhang; co-supervisor: Prof. Jacqueline Beggs)
  • Research outputs:
    • 2019 Provisioning predatory mites with entomopathogenic fungi or pollen improves biological control of a greenhouse psyllid pest
    • 2018 Tri-partite complexity: Odour from a psyllid’s mutualist ant increased predation by a predatory mite on the psyllid
    • 2018 Population development of the predatory mite Amblydromalus limonicus is modulated by habitat dispersion, diet and density of conspecifics
    • 2018 A survey of descriptions of immature instars of mites during the last three years
    • 2017 Development, survival and reproduction of a New Zealand strain of Amblydromalus limonicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on Typha orientalis pollen, Ephestia kuehniella eggs, and an artificial diet;
• Miss Kajal Patel (MSc 2016–2017) Predatory mites for biocontrol of tomato/potato psyllid (Supervisor: Prof ZhiQiang Zhang)
  • Research outputs:
    • 2017 Prey preference and reproduction of predatory mites, Amblybromalus limonicus and Neoseiulus cucumeris, on eggs and 1st instar nymphs of the tomato/potato psyllid; 
    • 2017 Functional and numerical responses of Amblydromalus limonicus and Neoseiulus cucumeris to eggs and first instar nymph of tomato/potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerrelli)
• Miss Ming Lee (MSc 2015–2016) Assessment of how pollen and twine supplementation may contribute to the control of greenhouse whitefly by Amblydromalus limonicus (Main supervisor: Prof ZhiQiang Zhang; co-supervisor: Dr Darren Ward)
  • Research outputs:
    • 2018 Assessing the augmentation of Amblydromalus limonicus with the supplementation of pollen, thread, and substrates to combat greenhouse whitefly populations​
    • 2016 Habitat structure and its influence on populations of Amblydromalus limonicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae); 
• Miss Preet Parmar (MSc 2014–2015) Characterising the direct and indirect ecological impacts of the gall mite Aceria genistae, a biological control agent of Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius, in New Zealand (Main supervisor: Prof ZhiQiang Zhang; co-supervisors: Prof Bill Lee, Dr Quentin Paynter)
• Mrs Varsha Mala (MSc 2012–2013) The ecology and the impact of the broom gall mite (Aceria genistae) on its host plant scotch broom, Cytisus scoparius (Main supervisor: Prof Bill Lee; co-supervisors: Dr Quentin Paynter, Prof ZhiQiang Zhang)

Summer students

• Miss Wendy Lam (Dec 2016-Feb 2017) Amblyseius herbicolus as a potential biocontrol agent against tomato-potato psyllid
• Miss Fonti Kar (Jan-Jun 2013) Mites associated with beetles
  • Research outputs: 
    • 2015  Neocypholaelaps novaehollandiae Evans (Acari: Ameroseiidae) rediscovered: experiments on its life history and behaviour

Visiting postgraduate students

• Mrs Pei-Yun Peng (PhD student from Dali Medical University, China; May-Aug 2018) Mesostigmata ecology and systematics 
• Miss Xiao Han (PhD student from Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; Aug-Oct 2012; Dec 2014-Dec 2015) Systematics and Phylogeny of Eriophyoidea (Acari)
  • Research outputs:
    • 2019 A new genus and three new species of eriophyoid mites from New Zealand Coprosma (Rubiaceae)
    • 2016 Identification of Aceria genistae species complex (Acari: Eriophyidae) from broom, gorse and related plants (Fabaceae: Genisteae) in western US and a new record of Aculops hussongi
    • 2015 Correct identification and biosecurity decision-making: two species instead of one in Aceria genistae complex (Acari: Eriophyidae) in New Zealand;
    • 2015 Disella rebeeveri (Prostigmata: Eriophyidae): new distribution and host records;
• Mrs Yun Xu (PhD student from Fujian Agricultural & Forestry University, Fuzhou, China; Jul-Oct 2012; May 2013 to Jan 2014)  Systematics of Tenuipalpidae
  • Research outputs:
    • 2018 Description of a new species of Prolixus (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) from Austroderia splendens (Poaceae) in New Zealand, with discussion of its ontogenetic patterns in chaetotaxy
    • 2018 Tenuipalpus (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tetranychoidea: Tenuipalpidae)
    • 2017 Two new species of Prolixus (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) on Gahnia (Cyperaceae) from New Zealand
    • 2015 Amblydromalus limonicus: a “new association” predatory mite against an invasive psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) in New Zealand;
    • 2014 Tenuipalpus mansoniculus (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) of Australia: redescription of the holotype; 
    • 2014 Prolixus (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) newly recorded from New Zealand: a new species from Cyperaceae and its ontogenetic patterns in chaetotaxy;
    • 2013 A new species of Ultratenuipalpus (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) from Cook Islands, with a key to the known species; 
    • 2013 New Zealand Tenuipalpidae (Acari: Trombidiformes): a new species of Acaricis from Cyperaceae and its ontogenetic patterns in chaetotaxy;

Visiting researchers (post-doc level)

• Dr Suqin Shang (From Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China; June 2018-June 2019) Phytoseiidae: ecology and systematics 
• Dr Min Ma (From Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China; Sept 2017-Sept 2018) Phytoseiidae systematics 
  • ​Research outputs:
    • 2019 Ontogenetic changes in the morphology of Phytoseius leaki Schicha, 1977 (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
    • 2018 Ontogenetic changes in the morphology of Eharius chergui (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
    • 2018 Morphological ontogeny of Amblydromalus limonicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
    • 2018 An assemblage of predatory mites (Phytoseiidae) associated with a potential biocontrol agent (Cecidophyes rouhollahi; Eriophyidae) for weed Galium spurium (Rubiaceae)
• Dr Dong Liu (From Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; June 2018; Apr-May 2012) Oribatid systematics​ 
  • ​​​​Research outputs:
    • 2018 New Zealand Austrophthiracarus (Acari, Oribatida, Steganacaridae): two new species from the North Island
    • 2016 Phthiracarus species (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) from New Zealand, with description of a new species, redescription of Phthiracarus pellucidus and a key to 19 described species from the Australian Region;
    • 2016  Review of the genus Austrophthiracarus (Acari, Oribatida, Phthiracaridae) with a description of a new species from Australia, a key to known species of the Australian Region and a world checklist;
    • 2015 New Zealand Austrophthiracarus (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae): three new species from North Island and offshore islands;
    • 2014 Two new peculiar ptyctimous mites (Acari: Oribatida: Phthiracaridae) from the Australian region, with a key to 54 described species of Notophthiracarus Ramsay in Australia
    • 2013 Hotspots of new species discovery: new mite species described during 2007 to 2012
• Dr Lixia Xie (From Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'An, China; Dec 2016-Dec 2017) Ecology of predatory mites
  • ​​Research output:
    • 2018 Development, survival and reproduction of Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Acari: Laelapidae) on four diets
• Dr Yi Yan (From Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'An, China; Dec 2016-Jan-Feb & Jul-Aug 2017) Systematics and ecology of predatory mites
  • ​​Research output: 
    • 2018 Development, survival and reproduction of Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Acari: Laelapidae) on four diets
• Dr Shisen Ye (From Fujian Forest Professional Technology College, Nanping 353000, China; April 2014-Apr 2015) Ecology of mites
  • ​​Research output: 
    • 2014  Age and size at maturity in Tyrophagus curvipenis (Acari: Acaridae) when fed on three different diets
• Dr Sheng Lin (From Fujian Agricultural & Forestry University, China; Mar 2013 to Mar 2014) Insect ecology
  • Research output: 
    • 2014  Neocypholaelaps novaehollandiae Evans (Acari: Ameroseiidae) rediscovered: experiments on its life history and behaviour
• Dr Tianci Yi (From Guizhou University, Guiyang, China; Feb-Aug 2013) Systematics of spider mites
  • ​​Research outputs: 
    • 2017 A new species of Sonotetranychus (Acariformes: Tetranychidae) from China;
    • 2013 Ontogenetic development and redescription of Tribolonychus collyerae (Acari: Tetranychidae); 
    • 2013 A new species of the genus Sonotetranychus (Acari: Tetranychidae) from New Zealand
    • 2013 Hotspots of new species discovery: new mite species described during 2007 to 2012

Areas of expertise

 

• Biodiversity
• Biosecurity
• Systematics
• Ecology
• Zoology

Committees/Professional groups/Services

Secretary-General and Commissioner, International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature

Member, Top 10 New Species International Committee

President, Systematic and Applied Acarology Society

Chief editor, Zootaxa

Chief editor, Fauna of New Zealand

Editor-in-Chief, Systematic and Applied Acarology

Managing editor, Phytotaxa

Vice Director of Editorial Committee, Entomotaxonomia

Editoral board member, Experimental and Applied Acarology

Editorial board member, Zoological Systematics

Editorial board member, Oriental Insects

Editorial board member, Acarological Studies

Editorial board member, Palaeoentomology