A revision of Floricomus (Araneae: Linyphiidae)
Floricomus is a genus of tiny, wetland-inhabiting spiders that are largely found on the Eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine. We have been studying this group of spiders for years and have uncovered at least six or seven undescribed species in the genus. We are working on documenting the described and undescribed species in an attempt to revise the genus.
A revision of Neodietrichia (Araneae: Linyphiidae)
Neodietrichia (formerly Dietrichia) is a group of tiny, arboreal erigonine spiders that range throughout North America. The genus is currently monotypic and it is heavily understudied. However, with some new discoveries from colleagues, our own collections, and museums throughout North America we are ready to add another species and describe the unknown sex of another.
A revision of Collinsia (Araneae: Linyphiidae)
Collinsia is a genus of tiny spiders that have a Holarctic distribution. It is often conflated with Halorates and was previously Catabrithorax. We've discovered multiple new species in this genus and we would like to revise this group to include these species and clear up the generic confusion with Halorates.
Spiders of the Savannah River Site
In a collaborative study with Mike Draney of the University of Wisconsin, we are attempting to determine the spider diversity at the Savannah River Site in southern South Carolina. Traps were set and collected and we are currently in the process of identifying spiders to species.
A revision of Goneatara (Araneae: Linyphiidae)
Goneatara is a small (4 species) group of spiders in the family Linyphiidae. One of these four species hasn't been seen since 1923. We have discovered a few new species of Goneatara and we think it's time to revise the genus, as soon as we re-discover the lost species, G. eranistes.
A revision of Ceraticelus (Araneae: Linyphiidae)
Ceraticelus is a genus of tiny forest-dwelling spiders that inhabit almost all of North America and likely south into Central America. We have been studying this group of spiders for years and have uncovered at least six or seven undescribed species in the genus. We are working on documenting the described and undescribed species in an attempt to revise the genus.
A revision of Masoncus (Araneae: Linyphiidae)
Masoncus is a genus of tiny spiders that live in ant nests. In a collaboration with Dr. Paula Cushing at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Taro Eldridge at U. Michigan, and Dr. Mike Draney at U. Wisconsin, we are working to revise this genus due to the discovery of multiple new species in the group.
A revision of Gnathonaroides (Araneae: Linyphiidae)
Gnathonaroides is a monotypic genus with a single tiny spider species, Gnathonaroides pedalis. We've discovered multiple new species in this genus from Eastern US and we would like to revise this group to include these species.
The spiders of Virginia
I have been collecting spiders in Virginia since I began graduate school (2004) and there is no official list of spiders in the state. I am currently compiling the known spiders within the state with help from the Virginia Museum of Natural History and Dr. Richard Hoffman's old list of spiders he's collected.
Other studies...
In collaborations with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Clemson University, the USDA, and amateur collectors around North America, we have revealed previously unknown species within a variety of habitats on the continent. We will continue to describe as much as we possibly can from these collaborations as time moves forward.
Past study: Spiders as prey of carnivorous plants
In a collaborative study with Deborah Waller at Old Dominion University, we studied the captured spider richness and abundance within carnivorous plant traps of the purple pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea. We discovered that although populations at sites may differ, these plants only select certain spider taxa for consumption! This was published in 2018 in Ecosphere and can be found here.
Past study: The effect of fire on spider communities
HEE is the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment, a 100-year long study that is attempting to measure the impact of various timber cutting practices on organism diversity. Our part of the study began in January, 2015 and takes place at Morgan-Monroe State Forest and Yellowwood State Forest. We investigated the effect of prescribed burns on the diversity and abundance of spiders in these forests. We published this study in 2021 and it can be found here.