Staff profile: Dr Andrew Mitchell

Position title:
Integrative Systematist
Section:
Entomology Collection
Branch:
Research
Division:
Research & Collections
Phone:
+61 2 9320 6346
Email:
Contact Andrew Mitchell using the form below

Profile

I first became interested in insects after visiting my local museum which had thousands of diverse bugs on display – the ultimate jigsaw puzzle! I now use both DNA-based and morphology-based methods to investigate evolutionary relationships in insects, particularly cutworm moths and their relatives (Noctuoidea). I am also an enthusiastic “DNA barcoder” applying this technique to taxonomy, pest identification and ecology.

Research Highlights

  • Development and assessment of nuclear, protein-coding genes for use in insect phylogenetics
  • The first phylogenetic analysis to suggest that Noctuidae (formerly the largest family of Lepidoptera) is not a natural group and must be subdivided
  • DNA barcoding of moth pests uncovers cryptic species complexes

Qualifications

  • PhD, University of Maryland, 1998
  • MSc, cum laude, University of Natal, 1993
  • BSc, Hons cum laude, University of Natal, 1991
  • BSc, University of Natal, 1990

Research Funding

As Principal Investigator (last 5 years)

  • Novel DNA technologies for weed diagnostics (2009-2010)
    $34,000 - Australian Weeds Research Centre
     
  • Genetic diversity of alligator weed (2008-2010)
    $60,000 - CSIRO
     
  • Molecular systematics of Nimbya spp. (2006-2007)
    $34,000 - CRC for Australian Weed Management
     
  • Training Scholarship in Diagnosing Exotic Plant Pests (2005-2006)
    $15,000 - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
     
  • Molecular Tools for the Discrimination and Diagnosis of Australian Agricultural Pests (2004-2008)
    $400,000 - NSW Ministry for Science and Medical Research

As Co-Investigator (last 5 years)

  • Integrated pest management for Finschafen disorder of oil palms in PNG (2007-2010)
    $36,000 (“molecular” component of budget) – ACIAR [PI: Prof. Geoff Gurr , CSU]
     
  • Clarifying the taxonomy of the light brown apple moth – A revision of Epiphyas (2006-2007)
    $10,000 (“molecular” component of budget) - CRC for National Plant Biosecurity [PI: Dr. Marianne Horak, CSIRO; PhD student: Bobbie Hitchcock]

Awards & Honours

  • NSW BioFirst Award, 2004
  • South African National Research Foundation “Y1” rating, 2001
  • Fulbright Scholar, 1992-1995

Professional Associations

  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Charles Sturt University
  • Steering Committee of the Australian Barcode of Life Network (current Chair)
  • Australian Entomological Society
  • Society of Systematic Biologists
  • Society of Australian Systematic Biologists

Publications

DNA Barcoding

  • 37. Mitchell, A. (2011) DNA barcoding is useful for taxonomy: A reply to Ebach. Zootaxa 2772: 67-68. Paper
     
  • 36. deWaard, J.R., Mitchell, A., Keena, M.A., Gopurenko, D., Boykin, L.M., et al. 2010. Towards a global barcode library for Lymantria (Lepidoptera: Lymantriinae) tussock moths of biosecurity concern. PLoS ONE 5(12): e14280. Abstract
     
  • 35. Mitchell, A. & Maddox, C. 2010. Scolytid beetles of importance to the macadamia industry: an integrative taxonomic approach to species diagnostics. Australian Journal of Entomology 49: 104-113. Abstract
     
  • 34. Hausmann, A., Hebert, P., Mitchell, A., Rougerie, R., Sommerer, M., Edwards, T., Young, C.J., 2009. Revision of the Australian Oenochroma vinaria Guenée 1858 species-complex (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Oenochrominae): DNA barcoding reveals cryptic diversity and assesses status of type specimen without dissection. Zootaxa 2239: 1-21. Abstract
     
  • 33. Mitchell, A. 2008. DNA barcoding demystified. Australian Journal of Entomology 47: 169-173. [Invited ‘overview’] Paper
     
  • 32. Assefa, Y., Mitchell, A., Conlong, D.E., Moyal, P. 2007. DNA identification of Busseola (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae in Ethiopian sugarcane. African Entomology 15: 375–379. Abstract
     
  • 31. Mitchell, A. & Samways, M.J. 2005. DNA evidence that the morphological ‘forms’ of Palpopleura lucia (Drury) are separate species (Odonata: Libellulidae). Odonatologica 34: 173-178.

Taxonomy

  • 30. Pogue, M.G., Matthews, M.J. & Mitchell, A. Chapter 1. Identification and Taxonomy. In: Heliothine Moth Pests: Biology, Ecology, and Management. Ed: Benedict, J.H. CABI publishing (in press).
     
  • 29. Gitau, C.W., Fletcher, M.J., Mitchell, A., Dewhurst, C.F. & Gurr, G.M. (2011) Review of the planthopper genus Zophiuma Fennah (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Lophopidae) with first description of male Zophiuma pupillata Stål. Australian Journal of Entomology 50: 86–92. Abstract
     
  • 28. Dittrich-Schröder, G., Conlong, D.E., Way, M., Harrison, J.duG. & Mitchell, A. 2009. Identification key to scarabaeid larvae attacking sugarcane in South Africa. Proceedings of the South African Sugarcane Technologists’ Association 82: 500-524. Abstract
     
  • 27. Mitchell, A. 1997. The first endemic Hawaiian Heliothis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): H. melanoleuca, a new species from riparian forest. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey 1996 Part 1: 78-81.
     
  • 26. Mitchell, A. & Brothers, D.J. 2002. Phylogeny of the genera of Ticoplinae (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 11: 312-325.
     
  • 25. Mitchell, A. & Brothers, D.J. 1998. Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical genus Areotilla Bischoff (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). African Entomology 6: 193-214.

Molecular Phylogenetics

> Noctuoidea

  • 24. Cho, S., Mitchell, A., Mitter, C., Regier, J., Matthews, M. & Robertson, R. 2008. Molecular phylogenetics of heliothine moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae), with comments on the evolution of host range and pest status. Systematic Entomology 33: 581-594. Abstract
     
  • 23. Mitchell, A., Mitter, C. & Regier, J.C. 2006. Phylogeny of Noctuidae (Lepidoptera): Evidence from nuclear protein-coding genes. Systematic Entomology 31: 21-46. Paper
     
  • 22. Mitchell, A., Mitter, C. & Regier, J.C. 2000. More taxa or more characters revisited: combining data from nuclear protein-encoding genes for phylogenetic analyses of Noctuoidea (Insecta: Lepidoptera). Systematic Biology 49: 202-224. Abstract
     
  • 21. Fang, Q.Q., Mitchell, A., Regier, J.C., Mitter, C., Friedlander, T.P. & Poole, R.W. 2000. Phylogenetic utility of the nuclear gene dopa decarboxylase in noctuoid moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 15: 473-486. Abstract
     
  • 20. Mitchell, A., Cho, S., Regier, J.C., Mitter, C., Poole, R.W. & Matthews, M. 1997. Phylogenetic utility of elongation factor-1α in Noctuoidea (Insecta: Lepidoptera): the limits of synonymous substitution. Molecular Biology and Evolution 14: 381-390. Abstract
     
  • 19. Cho, S., Mitchell, A., Regier, J.C., Mitter, C., Poole, R.W., Friedlander, T.P. & Zhao, S. 1995. A highly conserved nuclear gene for low-level phylogenetics: Elongation Factor-1α recovers morphology-based tree for heliothine moths. Molecular Biology and Evolution 12: 650-656. Abstract

> Other taxa

  • 18. Herbert, D.G. & Mitchell, A. 2008. Phylogenetic relationships of the enigmatic land snail genus Prestonella (Mollusca: Stylommatophora) – the missing African element in the Gondwanan family Bulimulidae. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 96: 203-221. Abstract
     
  • 17. Abdel Rahman Ahmad, E.H., Ducroz, J-F., Mitchell, A., Lamb, J., Contrafatto, G., Denys, C., &Taylor, P. 2008. Phylogeny and historical demography of economically-important rodents of the genus Arvicanthis (Mammalia: Muridae) from the Nile Valley: of mice and men. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 93: 641-655. Abstract
     
  • 16. Ponsie, M.E., Mitchell, A., Edwards, T.J. and Johnson, S.D. 2007. Phylogeny of Bonatea (Orchidaceae: Habenariinae) based on molecular and morphological data. Plant Systematics and Evolution 263: 253–268. Abstract
     
  • 15. Duncan, G.D., Edwards, T.J. & Mitchell, A. 2005. Character variation and a cladistic analysis of the genus Lachenalia Jacq.f. ex Murray (Hyacinthaceae). Acta Horticulturae 673: 113-120. Abstract
     
  • 14. Masters, J.C., Anthony, N., de Wit, M.J. & Mitchell, A. 2005. Phylogenetic relationships of the Lorisidae using a combined molecular and morphological data set. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 127: 465-480. Abstract
     
  • 13. Mitchell, A., Sperling, F.A.H. & Hickey, D. 2002. Higher level phylogeny of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae): mtDNA data support a derived placement for Toxorhynchites. Insect Systematics and Evolution 33: 163-174. Abstract

Pest insects & miscellaneous

  • 12. Gitau, C.W., Gurr, G.M., Dewhurst, C.F., Mitchell, A., Fletcher, M.J., Liefting, L.W. & Cowling, A. 2011. Zophiuma lobulata (Hemiptera: Lophopidae) causes Finschhafen disorder of coconut and oil palms. Annals of Applied Biology 158: 139-148. Abstract
     
  • 11. Assefa, Y., Mitchell, A., LeR?, B. & Conlong, D.E. (2010) Population genetics of Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and the implications for management using biocontrol. Comm. Appl. Biol. Sci. 75 (3): 423-431. Abstract
     
  • 10. Assefa, Y., Conlong, D.E., van den Berg, J. & Mitchell, A. 2010. Distribution of sugarcane stem borers and their natural enemies in small-scale farmers' fields, adjacent margins and wetlands of Ethiopia. International Journal of Pest Management 56: 233-241. Abstract
     
  • 09. Gitau, C.W., Gurr, G.M., Dewhurst, C.F., Fletcher, M.J. & Mitchell, A. 2009. Insect pests and insect-vectored diseases of palms – a review. Australian Journal of Entomology 48: 328-342. Abstract
     
  • 08. Assefa, Y., van den Berg, J., Mitchell, A., Le Rü, B. and Conlong, D.E. 2009. Record of Eldana saccharina in inland South Africa and its genetic relationship with the coastal population. Journal of Applied Entomology 133: 449-455. Abstract
     
  • 07. Assefa, Y., Mitchell, A., Conlong, D.E. & Muirhead, K. 2008. The establishment of Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in sugarcane fields of Ethiopia and the origin of the founding population. Journal of Economic Entomology 101(3): 686-691. Abstract
     
  • 06. Getachew, M.A., Mitchell, A., Gurr, G.M., Fletcher, M.J., Pilkington, L.J., Nikandrow, A. & Elliott, E. 2007. First report of a “Candidatus Phytoplasma australiense”-related strain in lucerne (Medicago sativa) in Australia. Plant Disease 91: 111. Paper
     
  • 05. Assefa, Y., Mitchell, A. & Conlong, D.E. 2006. Phylogeography of Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Annales de la Société entomologique de France 42: 331-337. Abstract
     
  • 04. Assefa, Y., Conlong, D.E. & Mitchell, A. 2006. Inter-population fertility in sugarcane stem borer Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Proceedings of the South African Sugarcane Technologists’ Association 80: 218-225.
     
  • 03. Assefa, Y., Conlong, D.E. & Mitchell, A. 2006. Status of Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), its host plants and natural enemies in Ethiopia. Bulletin of Entomological Research 96: 497-504. Abstract 
     
  • 02. Dittrich, G., Conlong, D.E. & A. Mitchell. 2006. Genetic diversity of Sturmiopsis parasitica Curran (Diptera: Tachinidae). Annales de la Société entomologique de France 42: 325-329. Paper
     
  • 01. Mitchell, A., McClay, A., Pohl, G.R. & Sperling, F.A.H. 2005. PCR-based methods for identification of two species of Eteobalea (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae) used as biological control agents of weedy Linaria species. The Canadian Entomologist 137: 129-137. Paper

 

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