ENTOMOLOGY SECTION
Phone: +61 8 9368 3248
Email: aszito@agric.wa.gov.au
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Szito, A. (B.Sc Agric; M.Sc. Biol) Andy has graduated in Hungary and obtained his Master of Science Degree at Curtin University of Technology. Thesis entitled: “A Taxonomic Overview of the Beetle Genus Trogoderma in the Western Australian Wheatbelt (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). He has an extensive 10 years overseas experience in the field of entomology including research, manager and adviser activities.
Andy joined the Agency in 1989, working on the biology and control of native cockchafer Heteronyx obesa Burmeister. He has collected and preserved about 25,000 insects in relation with the project, amongst them several new genera and dozens of new species. Parallel to this he has also preserved about 2,500 specimens of predator, parasite and non pest species in conjunction with regular stored grain pest resistance testing, many of them first recorded in Australia.
Following this Andy worked on the project entitled "The biology and identification of native and pest Trogoderma species". This project demanded the extensive use of his taxonomic knowledge and German and Latin skills.
Andy is currently fulfilling the duties of the Insect Collection Curator and provides identification and control advice of pest and non pest species to the public, farmers, Agency staff, officers of Entomology Branch and Quarantine Service.
He is particularly interested in the taxonomy of Dermestidae and Scarabaeidae.
He has participated numerous courses and workshops on the insect identification
(Thysanoptera, Fruitfly) and on molecular techniques (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA
(RAPD). He has detailed practical knowledge in Scanning and Environmental Scanning
Electron Microscopy. Andy is a member of the Australian Entomological Society.