Professor ZhiQiang Zhang

PhD (Entomology) Cornell University; BSc (Zoology) Fudan University

Professor

In: Biological Sciences » Faculty of Science

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)
Ms Zoe Wei (PhD candidate 2017–2020) Effects of mild and strong stressors on mite longevity (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)

Potential postgraduate student projects

Biosecurity and biocontrol: Tritrophic interactions in weed biocontrol: predatory mites, gall mites and Galium aparine in New Zealand (MSc or PhD)
Systematics and evolution: Life in amber: systematics and diversity of micro-arthropods (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

Miss Guangyun Li (PhD candidate 2015–2019) Sex-specific aging in two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae: effects of diet, social environment and predator-induced stress (Main supervisor: Prof ZhiQiang Zhang; co-supervisor: Prof Bill Lee)
- Research output:
  - 2019 The costs of social interaction on survival and reproduction of arrhenotokous spider mite Tetranychus urticae
  - 2019 Development, lifespan and reproduction of spider mites exposed to predator-induced stress across generations
  - 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
  - 2017 Some factors affecting the development, survival and prey consumption of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) feeding on Tetranychus urticae eggs (Acari: Tetranychidae)
- Award
  - 2019 Award of a place on Dean of School of Graduate Studies list in recognition of excellence achieved with PhD thesis (The University of Auckland)
- Career
  - 2019 Lecturer, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
Jianfeng Liu (PhD candidate 2016–2019) Biocontrol of invasive tomato/potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli: Effects of predatory mite, entomopathogenic fungi, diets and ants (Main supervisor: Prof ZhiQiang Zhang; co-supervisor: Prof. Jacqueline Beggs)
- Research outputs:
  - 2019 Lethal and sublethal effects of entomopathogenic fungi on tomato potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) in capsicum
  - 2019 Influence of pathogenic fungi on the life history and predation rate of mites attacking a psyllid pest
  - 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
- Award
  - 2019 Award of a place on Dean of School of Graduate Studies list in recognition of excellence achieved with PhD thesis (The University of Auckland)
- Career
  - 2019 Lecturer, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
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 Reversed role in tritrophic system: predation by three generalist phytoseiid species on Sericothrips staphylinus, a biocontrol agent of gorse
  - 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
- Career
  - 2019 Analyst, Target Evaluation—Biosecurity & Food Imports, Ministry for Primary Industries, Auckland
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)
- Career
  - 2019 Editorial coordinator, Dove Medical Press
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)
- Career
  - Since 2018: Auckland Council
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)
- Career pathways
  - 2015–2016 AsureQuality New Zealand
  - 2016–2017 Ministry for Primary Industries, Auckland
  - Since 2018 Ministry for Primary Industries, Wellington
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)
- Career
  - Since 2019 Environmental Advisor, KiwiRail (Auckland)
  - 2016 to 2019 Environment Compliance Advisor, Fletcher Building (Auckland)
  - 2015 to 2016 Technical Writer, Fletcher Building (Auckland)

Completed 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

Miss Xinyao Gu (PhD student from Guizhoul University, China; Sept 2019-Sept 2020) Acari ecology and systematics
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:
- Career
  - since 2017 Lecturer, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
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:
- Career
  - Since 2016: Post-doc fellow, Fujian Agricultural & Forestry University, Fuzhou, China

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:
Dr Dong Liu (From Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; June 2018; Apr-May 2012) Oribatid systematics
- Research outputs:
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
Ms Lichen YU (From Hebei Academy of Agricutural and Forestry Sciences, China; Nov. 2012 to Feb 2013) Pyemotidae
- Research output:
  - 2019 New Zealand Pyemotes (Trombidiformes: Pyemotidae)
Dr Sheng Lin (From Fujian Agricultural & Forestry University, China; Mar 2013 to Mar 2014) Insect ecology
- Research output:
  - 2019 Reduced fitness on tomato and potato of a capsicum-adapted strain of tomato/potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), an invasive pest in New Zealand
  - 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:

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

Selected publications and creative works (Research Outputs)

Liu, J.-F., Zhang, Z.-Q., & Beggs, J. R. (2019). Tri-partite complexity: odour from a psyllid's mutualist ant increased predation by a predatory mite on the psyllid. Pest management science, 75 (5), 1317-1327. 10.1002/ps.5246
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Jacqueline Beggs
Liu, J.-F., Zhang, Z.-Q., Beggs, J. R., & Zou, X. (2019). Provisioning predatory mites with entomopathogenic fungi or pollen improves biological control of a greenhouse psyllid pest. Pest management science10.1002/ps.5438
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Jacqueline Beggs
Li, G.-Y., & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2019). The sex- and duration-dependent effects of intermittent fasting on lifespan and reproduction of spider mite Tetranychus urticae. Frontiers in zoology, 1610.1186/s12983-019-0310-4
Zhang, Z.-Q. (2018). Repositories for mite and tick specimens: acronyms and their nomenclature. SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY, 23 (12), 2432-2446. 10.11158/saa.23.12.12
Xu, Y., & Zhang, Z. (2018). Tenuipalpus (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tetranychoidea: Tenuipalpidae). Lincoln, New Zealand: Landcare Research. Pages: 163. 10.7931/J2/FNZ.77
Liu, J.-F., Beggs, J. R., & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2018). Population development of the predatory mite Amblydromalus limonicus is modulated by habitat dispersion, diet and density of conspecifics. Experimental & applied acarology, 76 (1), 109-121. 10.1007/s10493-018-0292-5
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Jacqueline Beggs
Lee, M. H., & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2018). Assessing the augmentation of Amblydromalus limonicus with the supplementation of pollen, thread, and substrates to combat greenhouse whitefly populations. Scientific reports, 8 (1)10.1038/s41598-018-30018-3
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/45755
Prathapan, K. D., Pethiyagoda, R., Bawa, K. S., Raven, P. H., Rajan, P. D., & 172 co-signatories from 35 countries (2018). When the cure kills-CBD limits biodiversity research. Science (New York, N.Y.), 360 (6396), 1405-1406. 10.1126/science.aat9844