Diškus, Arūnas

Abstract

Scientific Activity Overview

Education and Academic Titles PhD in Biomedical Sciences (Zoology) – Vilnius University, 2005. Docent (Associate Professor) – Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, 2012.

Professional Experience Associate Professor, Vytautas Magnus University Education Academy (2018–present). Senior Research Fellow, Nature Research Centre (2019–2022).

Research Focus and Expertise. Work Topic: Taxonomy, diversity, and biogeography of primitive Microlepidoptera (Nepticulidae, Tischeriidae). Scientific Research: Research on the fauna, distribution, trophic relationships, and seasonal cycles of the Lithuanian leaf-mining moths (Nepticuloidea and Tischerioidea). Taxonomic identification and description of new taxa (species and genera of Nepticuloidea and Tischerioidea) across multiple regions. Phylogenetic analyses of Nepticulidae, Opostegidae, and Tischeriidae.

Main Achievements: Discovered and described 227 new species and 11 new genera from Asia, South America, South Africa, and Europe. Published original phylogenetic schemes and provided diagnostic tools on the phylogenetically basal groups of Lepidoptera.

Selected Scientific Project. Innovative diagnostic systems and tools for leaf-mining Microlepidoptera for the present-day user (“DiagnoStics”) – LMT Group Project (S-MIP-19-30, 2019–2022).

Scientific Expeditions. 21 international expeditions on Nepticuloidea and Tischerioidea fauna and ecology in: Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Ukraine (Crimea), Georgia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, India, New Zealand, etc.

Publications. Author of 138 scientific publications and published didactic works, including: 6 monographs, 3 teaching aids, 1 handbook. Selected Monographs: Genera of Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera): A Review of the Global Fauna, with Descriptions of New Taxa (2023). Neotropical Nepticulidae (A Pictorial Monograph Introducing an Electronic Identification Tool) (2022). Selected Didactic Works: A Guide to Leaf Mines of the Lithuanian Nepticulidae (introducing an electronic identification tool) (2022) (for STEAM organizers and implementers, and other users). A Review of Insect Groups with Proposals on Lithuanian Terminology. Part 1: Archaeognatha – Hemiptera, Heteroptera (2016).

Research Supervision. Doctoral Supervisor (2009–2013). Field: Biomedical Sciences, Biology (01B): Entomology and Plant Parasitology.

Memberships. Member of the Lithuanian Entomological Society. Distinguished Member of the former Baltic-American Biotaxonomy Institute.

Interests. International and local travel, nature/landscape photography, rearing of exotic insects, cuisine from different countries.