Research
Interests
Phylogenetics
and phylogeographics of Australian Lycaenidae and the evolution of lycaenid-ant
mutualisms.
Current projects at Harvard University:
• Phylogeny of Jalmenus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).
• Phylogeny of Theclinesthes and phylogeography of T. albocincta/T.
hesperia (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).
• Phylogeny of Ogyris (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).
• Phylogeny of Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera)
Education
2002-2006 PhD in Biology, Griffith University (including Fulbright Scholarship to Harvard University – 2003-2004). PhD thesis: Ant association and speciation in Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera): consequences of novel adaptations and Pleistocene climate changes.
2000-2001 BSc in Australian Environmental Studies with 1st Class Honours, Griffith University. Honours thesis: Molecular Phylogeny and Phylogeography of Acrodipsas (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).
1970 Production Engineering Certificate, Sydney Technical College, NSW
Awards
2006 Griffith University Academic Excellence Award for PhD thesis.
2005 Phil Carne Prize, Australian Entomological Society
2005 Student presentation award 'I Econtro sobre Lepidoptera Neotropicais'
2003-4 Fulbright Alumni WG Walker Memorial Postgraduate Award
2002 Australian Geographic Science Sponsorship
2002 Queensland Entomological Society Student Award
2002 APA Postgraduate Scholarship
2002 Griffith University Postgraduate Scholarship
2001 Griffith University Medal
2001 Patience Thoms Honours Scholarship
2000 Griffith University School of Environmental Sciences Medal
1999 Griffith University Award for Academic Excellence
1998 Griffith University Award for Academic Excellence
Teaching experience
2006 Field ecology course supervisor, Sabah, Malaysia
2003
Griffith University Field Ecology, project supervisor
2002 Project Coordinator, Biodiversity Training Course, Vietnam
2001 Griffith University Advanced Population Biology, Genetics Tutor
2000, 2001, 2002 Griffith University Field Ecology, instructor/technician
Scientific consultant
2003 Killer caterpillars. National Geographic Magazine, Washington.
1998 The Ultimate Guide: Ants. Green Umbrella, Bristol for Discovery Channel.
1997 Wildlife on One - The Butterfly, Beauty or the Beast. BBC Natural History Unit, Bristol.
1996 Alien Empire: a Journey to the World of Insects. Part 5, Metropolis. BBC Natural History Unit, Bristol.
Publications
Vila, R. and Eastwood, R. (2006) Extrafloral nectar feeding by Strymon jacqueline Nicolay & Robbins, 2005 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Eumaeini). Revista Peruana de Biología 13(1): 125-128. [PDF]
Vu Thi Nga, Eastwood, R., Nguyen Thi Chat and Pham Van Lam (2006) The fig wax scale Ceroplastes rusci (Linnaeus)(Homoptera: Coccidae) in southeast Vietnam: pest status, life history and biocontrol trials with Eublemma amabilis Moore (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Entomological Research 36: 196-201. [PDF]
Eastwood, R. and Vila, R. (2006) Congregación de Strymon jacqueline Nicolay & Robbins, 2005 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Eumaeini) en nectarios extraflorales del cactus Neoraimondia arequipensis var. gigantea (Werdermann & Backeberg). Quepo 20: 28-35.
Vu Thi Nga, Eastwood, R., Nguyen Thi Chat and Pham Van Lam (2006) Breeding trials of Scymnus bipunctatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Chrysopa sp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): potential biocontrol agents for the mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Vietnam. Australian Entomologist 33(3): 115-122.
Eastwood, R. Pierce, N. E., Kitching, R. L. and Hughes, J. M. (2006) Do ants enhance diversification in lycaenid butterflies? Phylogeographic evidence from a model myrmecophile, Jalmenus evagoras. Evolution 60(2): 315-327. [PDF]
Eastwood, R., Boyce, S. L. and Farrell, B. D. (2006) The provenance of Old World swallowtail butterflies, Papilio demoleus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), recently discovered in the New World. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 99(1): 164-168. [PDF]
Eastwood, R., Kitching, R. L. and Hui Buu Manh (2005) Behavioral observations on the early stages of Jamides celeno (Lycaenidae) at Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam: an obligate myrmecophile? Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 59(4): 219-222. [PDF]
Braby, M. F., Trueman, J. W. H. and Eastwood, R. (2005) When and where did triodine butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) evolve? Phylogenetic and biogeographic evidence suggests an origin in remnant Gondwana in the Late Cretaceous. Invertebrate Systematics 19: 113-143. [PDF]
Eastwood, R. (2004) Successive replacement of tending ant species at aggregations of scale insects (Hemiptera: Margarodidae and Eriococcidae) on Eucalyptus in south-east Queensland. Australian Journal of Entomology 43: 1-4. [PDF]
Eastwood, R. and Hughes, J. M. (2003) Phylogeography of the rare myrmecophagous butterfly, Acrodipsas cuprea (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from pinned museum specimens. Australian Journal of Zoology 51: 331-340. [PDF]
Eastwood, R. and Hughes, J. M. (2003) Molecular phylogeny and evolutionary biology of Acrodipsas (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 27(1): 93-102. [PDF]
Eastwood, R. and Bean, A. R. (2002) Correcting erroneous larval food plant records: the case of Hypochrysops byzos (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Australian Entomologist 29(4): 113-114.
Kitching, R. L., Eastwood, R. and Hurley, K. (2001) Butterflies and Wallace's Line: faunistic patterns and explanatory hypotheses within the south-east Asian butterflies. In: Faunal and Floral Migrations and Evolution in South East Asia/Australasia (eds. I. Metcalf, J. M. B. Smith, M. Morwood and I. Davidson) pp. 269-286. A. A. Balkema (Swets and Zeitlinger Publishers), Lisse. [PDF on request]
Eastwood, R. and Fraser, A. M. (1999) Associations between lycaenid butterflies and ants in Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 24: 503-537. [PDF]
Eastwood, R. (1999) An aberrant food-plant record for Jalmenus evagoras (Donovan) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Australian Entomologist 26: 13-14.
Eastwood, R. and King, A. J. (1998) Observations of the biology of Arhopala wildei Miskin (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) and its host ant Polyrhachis queenslandica Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Australian Entomologist 25: 1-6.
Eastwood, R. (1997) Field observations on the symbiotic interactions of Ogyris genoveva (Hewitson) and Ogyris zosine (Hewitson) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) with Camponotus spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Australian Entomologist 24: 137-143.
Eastwood, R. (1997) An interesting local form and new larval hostplant of Hypochrysops byzos (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Australian Entomologist 24: 37-38.
Eastwood, R. (1995) Additional records of butterflies taken at light in northern Queensland. Australian Entomologist 22: 77-78.
Eastwood, R. (1995) New distribution records of Hesperiidae and Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera) from northern Queensland. Australian Entomologist 22: 75-76.
Dunn, K. L. and Eastwood, R. (1991) Range extension for the butterfly Tagiades japetus janetta Butler (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) in Queensland. Australian Entomological Magazine 18: 91-93.
Presentations and posters
2006 Presentation: Ant association and speciation in Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera): consequences of novel adaptations and Pleistocene climate changes. Seminar, National University of Singapore.
2006 Presentation: Ant association and speciation in Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera): consequences of novel adaptations and Pleistocene climate changes. Guest speaker, Queensland Entomological Society, May meeting, Brisbane, Australia.
2005 Presentation: Do ants enhance diversification in Lycaenidae? Phylogeographic evidence from a model myrmecophile Jalmenus evagoras. Phil Carne Prize Presentation, Australian Entomological Society AGM, Canberra, Australia.
2005 Presentation: Ant-enhanced diversification in the Lycaenidae: evidence from a comparative analysis of the myrmecophilous genus Jalmenus. I Econtro sobre Lepidoptera Neotropicais, Campinas, Brazil.
2004 Presentation: Phylogeography of the obligate myrmecophile Jalmenus evagoras (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): testing the mechanisms of 'ant-enhanced diversification'. Lepidopterists' Society AGM, Washington, USA.
2003 Poster: Phylogeography of the obligate myrmecophile Jalmenus evagoras (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). XIX International Congress of Genetics, Melbourne, Australia.
2002 Presentation: Molecular phylogeny of Acrodipsas (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Student prize presentation, Queensland Entomological Society, Brisbane.
Field trip to Peru 2004, L - Huaraz, R - Collecting the fabled Styx infernalis
Rod
Eastwood
