Akito Kawahara

Akito Kawahara is the Director of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, a Curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History, and a Professor at the University of Florida. In 2023, he took on the role of Director at the McGuire Center, home to one of the world’s largest collections of butterflies and moths, containing over 10 million specimens. Much of his work focuses on securing funding and building relationships with potential donors to support ongoing research and educational programs related to these insects. Kawahara's primary research interests lie in Lepidoptera, which includes studying over 160,000 species of butterflies and moths. His work spans various aspects of their biology, from genetic makeup to behavior, particularly emphasizing the defense mechanisms these insects use to evade predators. One of his notable research areas is investigating how moths produce ultrasound sounds to protect themselves from bats, which use echolocation to hunt at night. The research conducted in Kawahara’s lab aims to understand the fundamental reasons behind the immense diversity of insects, particularly Lepidoptera. His team employs a range of scientific approaches, including phylogenetic analysis, behavioral studies, and functional genomics, to explore how factors like daily activity patterns and evolutionary traits contribute to the richness of insect species. He is also interested in studying the impact of human-induced changes, such as habitat loss and artificial light, on the behavior and survival of these important insects. Kawahara has received numerous accolades throughout his career for his contributions to entomology. He has been honored with the John Henry Comstock Award from the Entomological Society of America, the Alexander B. Klots Award from the Lepidopterists’ Society, and the Research Foundation Professorship Award from the University of Florida.