The Flat Bark Beetles of Florida

It is well-known that some flat bark beetles are serious pests of stored grains. Little is published, however, about the biology or pest potential of most species of flat bark beetles._The first step in exploring the biology of these beetles for any geographic area must be a knowledge of the species [occurring] in the region. This volume of the Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring_Land Areas thoroughly covers the–species which occur or might be expected to occur in Florida. Complete descriptions, illustrations. and distributions in the state are given for all but the most common pests (which have been amply described elsewhere), and all species (including all pest species) are included in the key.

Dr. Michael C. Thomas was born in Miami, Florida, on 5 May 1948, son of Charles E. and June Thomas. One of 3 children, he has 2 sisters. In 1970, he married Sheila McCuiston of Indialantic, Florida; they have two daughters, Andrea and Erin. Mike was raised and educated in Miami, where he graduated from Southwest High School. His undergraduate work in fine arts was begun at Miami-Dade Community College (A.A. degree) and completed at the University of South Florida (B.A. degree). After working for several years in the news business, first as a reporter and news editor for the Punta Gorda Daily Herald-News, then as a reporter and bureau chief for the Orlando Sentinel­ Star, Mike took a position in 1977 with the University of Florida’s Division of Information and Publications Services as an information specialist and research editor.

It was during these last several years that Mike renewed a childhood interest in beetles which was to culminate in his decision to return to school in theDepartment of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida as a graduate assistant in entomology. In 1985, he received his doctoral degree and he was employed as a biological scientist in the same department, working on the biological control of the aquatic weed, hydrilla.  Mike took a taxonomic entomologist position with the Plant Protection Programs of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture in 1986, where he was curator of the arthropod collection. Two years later, he replaced the retired Dr. Robert E. Woodruff as curator of Coleoptera and Orthoptera for the Florida State Collection of-Arthropods, Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In 1992, Mike was appointed head curator to replace Dr. Howard V. Weems, Jr., who retired that year.

Mike has been editor of lnsecta Mundi, journal of the Center for Systematic Entomology, since 1987.  He presently serves on the Division of Plant Industry Library, Computer, and Editorial Committees. He has 33 previous entomological publications, mostly on flat bark beetles, weevils, long-horn beetles, and rove beetles. He claims not to have any hobbies, but his friends and colleagues know him as something of a computer fanatic.

G. B. Edwards Jr., Ph.D.
Editor, Entomology Section
Bureau of Entomology, Nematology, and Plant Pathology
Division of Plant Industry
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
28 January 1993