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Gene Hall

Manager, University of Arizona Insect Collection
Cooperative Extension Insect Diagnostics
Gene in UAIC

Entomology Collection
Forbes 403D

wehall@email.arizona.edu

Positions and Education

  • Manager, University of Arizona Insect Collection. 2013 - present
  • Insect Diagnostics Clinic. College of Agriculture, Life, and Environmental Sciences, Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona. 2015 - present
  • Senior Program Coordinator, University of Arizona Insect Collection. 2012-2013.
  • Manager, Invertebrate Zoology Collections. University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Boulder. 2001-2008, 2010-2011.
  • Manager, University of Arizona Herbarium. 2008-2010.
  • Manager, Division of Entomology Collections. University of Nebraska State Museum. 1998-2001. 

 

  • MSc. Entomology. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. 1998
  • BFA. Studio Art: Painting. School of Art, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. 1995.

Research

Natural history museum collections are resources that preserve and document our planet’s biodiversity. I strive to make the UA Insect Collection an active and accessible resource for scientists who use specimens and associated data for research and public outreach. I also provide insect and other arthropod identifications as part of the UA’s Cooperative Extension Insect Diagnostics Clinic.

My research program focuses on the evolutionary biology of insects, primarily the systematics, taxonomy, and biogeography of beetles, most notably Ptiliidae (featherwing beetles), Hydroscaphidae (skiff beetles), Sphaeriusidae (minute bog beetles), and New World species of Limnichidae (minute marsh-loving beetles). I also study fossil insects associated with pack rat middens to better understand past & recent fauna, flora, and climates of southwestern deserts.

Selected publications

G. Hall, D. Bergamaschi, J. Palumbo, P. Ellsworth, C. Martinez, Is. Bordini, N. Pier, W. Moore. 2024. Diagnostic Resources for Pests and Beneficial Insects on Specialty Crops. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/docs/default-source/pest-identification-documents/publications/2024/scbgp-poster-hall-et-al-2024.pdf?sfvrsn=fc54e355_0 

Jones, D., P.S. Stock, E. Lefoulon, M. Mazzamuto, W.E. Hall, D.L. Bergman, and J.L.Koprowski. 2023. Unraveling parasite identification in invasive and endangered squirrel species: potential for parasite spillover. Biological Invasions, December 2023. DOI:10.1007/s10530-023-03212-2

Von Beeren, C.S. Pohl, M. Fikacek, S. Kleinfelder, A.K. Tishechkin, S.    Yamamoto, M. Chani-Posse, D. Zyla, A. Tokareva, M. Maruyama, W.E. Hall, L.P. Sandoval, and D.J.C Kronauer. 2023. Army ant middens – Home and nursery of a diverse beetle fauna. Ecology & Evolution, 13(9), e10451. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10451

W.T.T. Taylor, P. Librado, M.H.T.I. (Chief Joseph AmericanHorse), C.S. Chief Gover, J. Arterberry, A.L.W. (Antonia Loretta Afraid of Bear-Cook), A.N. (Harold Left Heron), T.O. (Robert Milo Yellow Hair), M. Gonzalez (Nantan Hinapan), B. Means, S.H. Crane (Wapageya Mani), M. (Wendell W. Yellow Bull), B. Dull Knife (Mah’piya Keyaké Wih), W.W. (Anita Afraid of Bear), C.T.C. (Wanka’tuya Kiya), C. Ward, T.A. Pasqual, L. Chauvey, L. Tonasso-Calviere, S. Schiavinato, A. Seguin-Orlando, A. Fages, N. Khan, C. Der Sarkissian, X. Liu, S. Wagner, B.G. Leonard, B.L. Manzano, N. O’Malley, J.A. Leonard, E. Bernáldez-Sánchez, E. Barrey, L. Charliquart, E. Robbe,T. Denoblet, K. Gregersen, A.O. Vershinina, J. Weinstock, P. RajićŠikanjić, M. Mashkour, I. Shingiray, J.-M. Aury, A. Perdereau, S. Alquraishi, A.H. Alfarhan, K.A.S. Al-Rasheid, T.T. Vukicević, M. Buric, E. Sauer, M. Lucas, J. Brenner-Coltrain, J.R. Bozell, C.A. Thornhill, V. Monagle, A. Perri, C. Newton, W.E. Hall, J.L. Conver, P. Le Roux, S. G. Buckser, C. Gabe, J.B. Belardi, C.I. Barrón-Ortiz, I.A. Hart, C. Ryder, M. Sponheimer, B. Shapiro, J. Southon, J. Hibbs, C. Faulkner, A. Outram, L.P. Rosa, K. Palermo, M.  Solé, A. William, W. McCrory, G. Lindgren, S. Brooks, C. Eché, C. Donnadieu, O. Bouchez, P. Wincker, G. Hodgins, S. Trabert, B. Bethke, P. Roberts, E.L. Jones, Y. Running Horse Collin (Tašunke Iyanke Wih), L. Orlando. 2023. Early dispersal of domestic horses into the Great Plains and northern Rockies. Science, n. 379, p. 1316-1323. DOI: 10.1126/science.adc9691

Ellsworth, P.C., N. Pier, W.E. Hall, W. Moore, and D. Haviland. (May 2023, updated 2021 edition). Potential Pest of Arizona Pecans: Rapid Communication .University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. https://repository.arizona.edu/handle/10150/668183   

Kelly, S.E., W. Moore, W.E. Hall, M.S. Hunter. 2022. Hiding in plain sight:  Cryptic enemies are found on cochineal (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae), a scale insect of cultural and economic significance. Ecology and Evolution 12: e9151. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9151

Gouge, D., W. E. Hall, S. Vitanza‐Hedman. 2022. Leaffooted Bugs Want Your Veggies, Not Your Blood.  UA Cooperative Extension. https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/attachment/leaffooted-bugs.pdf

Li, S.  D. H. Gouge, I. Ruberto, S. Nair, A.J. Fournier, W. E. Hall. 2022. What You Should Know About Kissing Bugs. UA Cooperative Extension: https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1992-2022.pdf

von Beeren, C., N. Blüthgen, P.O. Hoenle, S. Pohl, A. Brückner, A.K. Tishechkin, M. Maruyama, B.V. Brown, J.M. Hash, W.E. Hall and D.J.C. Kronauer. 2021. A remarkable legion of guests: Diversity and host specificity of army ant symbionts. Molecular Ecology, 30(4). DOI: 10.1111/mec.16101 

W. E. Hall, J. D. Sherman, W. Moore, P. C. Ellsworth, N. Pier. 2021. First Detection Of Pecan Bud Moth In Arizona. UA Cooperative Extension. https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/docs/default-source/ipm-shorts/PBM 

S. (Lucy) Li, D. H. Gouge, I. Ruberto, S. Nair, A. J. Fournier, W. E. Hall. 2021. What You Should Know About Kissing Bugs.  https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/community-ipm/home-and-school-ipm-newsletters/ipm-newsletter-view/ipm-newsletters/2021/06/27/what-you-should-know-about-kissing-bugs 

W. E. Hall, P. C. Ellsworth, N. Pier. 2020. Mistaken Identity: The Cicada Killer Wasp And The Asian Giant Hornet. UA Cooperative Extension. https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/docs/default-source/ipm-shorts/cicadakiller.pdf?sfvrsn=689535f5_0

N. Pier, W. E. Hall, P. C. Ellsworth. 2020. False Chinch Bugs In Cotton. UA Cooperative Extension. https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/docs/default-source/ipm-shorts/FCBcotton

S. Li and W. E. Hall. 2020. Crane Flies, Not Giant Mosquitoes. UA Cooperative Extension. https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/docs/default-source/default-document-library/crane-flies-ipm-short.pdf?sfvrsn=e299f47e_0 

Hall, W. E. 2019. 5. Sphaeriusidae. [pp. 15-17]. In: Australian Beetles. Volume 2. Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga (part). (A. Slipinski, J. Lawrence, editors). Clayton: CSIRO Publishing. https://www.publishing.csiro.au/book/6523/ 

Hall, W. E., Brown, L. M., Pier, N., & Ellsworth, P. C. 2019. Blister Beetles in Food? https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/docs/default-source/ipm-shorts/bbinfood.pdf?sfvrsn=17a1da4f_2 

Hall, W. E., Pier, N., & Ellsworth, P. C. 2019. Blister Beetle Basics. UA Cooperative Extension. https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/docs/default-source/ipm-shorts/bbid.pdf?sfvrsn=a3df290d_2 

Hall, W. E., Ellsworth, P. C., Abell, L., Pier, N., & Diaz, D. 2019. Blister Beetles –A Challenge for Arizona’s Growers. UA Cooperative Extension. https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/docs/default-source/pest-identification-documents/presentations/blisterbeetleposter.pdf?sfvrsn=557e151e_0 

Li, S., Gouge, D. H., Nair, S., & Fournier, A. J. and Hall, W.E. 2019. Arizona Kissing Bugs: For Pest Management And Extension Professionals. UA Cooperative Extension. https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1787-2019.pdf 

Skelley, P.E., T.R. Van Devender, W. E. Hall. 2017. First records of the fungus beetles Aegithus hogei Gorham, 1888 and Aegithus melaspis Gorham, 1888 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) in Sonora, Mexico. Dugesiana 24 (2): 149-150. DOI: 10.32870/dugesiana.v24i2.6784

Hall, W. E. 2016. Ptiliidae. Pp. 345- 356 in R. G. Beutel and R.A.B. Leschen (eds.), Handbook of Zoology, Arthropoda: Insecta: Coleoptera, Beetles. Volume 1, 2nd Edition: Morphology and Systematics. De Gruyter, Berlin/New York. 10.1515/9783110373929 

W. Meyer III, J.A. Eble, K. Franklin, R.B. McManus, S.L. Brantley, J. Henkel, P.E. Marek, W. E. Hall, C.A. Olson, R. McInroy, E.M. Bernal Loaiza, R.C. Brusca, W. Moore. 2015. Ground-Dwelling Arthropod Communities of a Sky Island Mountain Range in Southeastern Arizona, USA: Obtaining a Baseline for Assessing the Effects of Climate Change. PLoS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0135210

V.J. McKenzie, W. E. Hall, R.P. Guralnick. 2013. New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) in Boulder Creek, Colorado: environmental factors associated with fecundity of a parthenogenic invader. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2013, 91(1): 30-36. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2012-0183

Hall, W. E. and A. E. Z. Short. 2010. A new species of Hydroscapha LeConte from northwestern Venezuela (Coleoptera: Myxophaga: Hydroscaphidae). Zootaxa, 2358: 49-56. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2358.1.4 

Hall, W. E. 2005. Ptiliidae. Pp. 251- 261 in R. G. Beutel and R.A.B. Leschen (eds.), Handbook of Zoology, Volume 4. Arthropoda: Insects: Part 38. Coleoptera, Beetles. Volume 1: Morphology and Systematics. De Gruyter, Berlin/New York.

Guralnick, R., W. E. Hall and S. Perkins. 2004. A comparative approach to understanding causes and consequences of mollusk-digenean size relationships: a case study with allocreadiid trematodes and Cycloclayx clams. Journal of Parasitology, 90(6): 1253-1262. DOI: 10.1645/GE-332R1

Hall, W. E. 2003.  Limulopteryx, a new genus of neotropical featherwing beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinoidea: Ptiliidae) and comments on pterycine ptiliids. Pp. 85-102. -In: G. Cuccodoro and R.A.B. Leschen (eds.), Systematics of Coleoptera: Papers Celebrating the Retirement of Ivan Lobl. Memoirs on Entomology, Volume 17. International Associated Publishers, Florida. https://www.mapress.com/AP/memoirs.html 

Hall, W. E. 2003.  Sphaeriusidae (Coleoptera). pp. 37-41. In: Water Beetles of China, Volume 3. Wien: Zoologisch-Botanische Gesellschaft in Österreich and Wiener Coleopterologenverein. https://www.coleoptera.at/publikationen/34 

 Mico, E., W. E. Hall and B. C. Ratcliffe. 2001. Descriptions of theLarvae of Hoplopyga singularis(Gory and Percheron) and Hologymnetis cinerea(Gory and Percheron) with a Revised Key to the Larvae of the New World Gymnetini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae). Coleopterists Bulletin, 55 (2): 205-217. DOI: 10.1649/0010-065X(2001)055[0205:DOTLOH]2.0.CO;2

Hall, W. E. 2000. Ptiliidae Erichson, 1845, pp. 233-246. In: Arnett, R.H., Jr. and M. C. Thomas (eds.). 2000. American Beetles. Vol. 1. Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. xv + 443 pp. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781482274325 

Hall, W. E. 2000. Microsporidae Crotch, 1873, pp. 24-26. In: Arnett, R.H., Jr. and  M. C. Thomas (eds.). 2000. American Beetles. Vol. 1. Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. xv + 443 pp. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781482274325 

Hall, W. E. 2000. Hydroscaphidae LeConte, 1874, pp. 27-29. In: Arnett, R. H., Jr. and M. C. Thomas (eds.). 2000. American Beetles. Vol. 1. Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. xv + 443 pp. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781482274325 

Hall, W. E. 1999. Generic Revision of the Tribe Nanosellini (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae: Ptiliinae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society 125 (1- 2): 39 - 126. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25078673 

Hall, W. E. 1999. Swimming Through the Air: Size Does Matter. Museum Notes, University Of Nebraska State Museum, No. 104.

Van Devender, T.R. and W. E. Hall. 1994. Holocene Arthropods from the Sierra Bacha, Mexico, with Emphasis on Beetles (Coleoptera). Coleopterists Bulletin, 48(1): 30-50. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4008998 

Werner, F.G. and C.A. Olson (W. E. Hall, illustrator). 1994. Learning About and Living with Insects of the Southwest. Fisher Books, Tucson, Arizona, 162pp.

Van Devender, T.R. and W. E. Hall. 1993. Fossil Arthropods from the Sierra Bacha, Sonora, Mexico. Ecologica. 3(1): 1-12. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260634847_Fossil_Arthropods_from_the_Sierra_Bacha_Sonora_Mexico 

Olson, C.A. and W. E. Hall. 1992. Cockroaches of Arizona. Cooperative Extension Bulletin, No. 191059, College of Agriculture, University of Arizona.

Van Devender, T.R., A.M. Rea and W. E. Hall. 1991. Faunal Analysis of Late Quaternary Vertebrates from Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Southwestern Arizona. Southwestern Naturalist. 36(1): 94-106. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3672122?origin=crossref&seq=1 

Hall, W. E., T.R. Van Devender and C.A. Olson. 1990. Arthropod history of the Puerto Blanco Mountains, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Southwestern Arizona. In "Fossil Packrat Middens: The last 40,000 years of Biotic Change in the Arid West" (P.S. Martin, T.R. Van Devender, J.L. Betancourt, Eds.). Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv21wj578.18 

Hall, W. E., C.A. Olson and T.R. Van Devender. 1989. Late Quaternary and Modern Arthropods from the Ajo Mountains of Southwestern Arizona. Pan-Pacific Entomologist. 65(3): 322-347. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/56180446#page/332/mode/1up 

Hall, W. E., T.R. Van Devender and C.A. Olson. 1988. Late Quaternary Arthropod Remains from Sonoran Desert Packrat Middens, Southwestern Arizona and Northwestern Sonora. Quaternary Research. 29: 277-293. https://doi.org/10.1016/0033-5894(88)90036-1