Nikolai Tatarnic

Curator of Entomology

Terrestrial Zoology

B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.

Nikolai Tatarnic holds up a piece of rubber piping and stands in a leafy forrest

Contact

(08) 9212 3791 nikolai.tatarnic@museum.wa.gov.au

Research


  • Taxonomy and systematics of insects, focusing on Heteroptera (True Bugs)
  • Sexual selection and insect mating systems
  • X-Ray microtomography of insects and other invertebrates

Collections:

  • Develops the Museum’s collections through targeted fieldwork and collaborations with other organisations.

Services (to other bodies):

  • Council member of the Society for Australian Systematic Biologists (SASB)
  • Subject editor for the journal Austral Entomology
  • Member of the Australian Biological Resources Study Bush Blitz Scientific Reference Group
  • Member of National Imaging Facility (NIF) Animal, Plants and Materials Theme Group

Adjunct/Honourary positions:

  • Adjunct Lecturer, Centre for Evolutionary Biology, University of Western Australia
  • Research Associate, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada

Exhibitions and Public Programs


  • Presents talks and provides media coverage of research on evolution and insects.
  • Develops gallery displays
  • Co-supervisor to honours and post-graduate students at local and national universities.

Selected Publications

Nikolai’s full publication list can be found here

 

2019 – present

Evangelista, O., Tatarnic, N. and Bayless, K. 2024, Phylogenomics of endemic Australian Ulopinae (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadellidae). Invertebrate Systematics (in press)

Kovacs, T.G.L., Walker, J., Hellemans, S., Bourguignon, T., Tatarnic, N.J., McRae, J.M., Ho, S.Y.W., and Lo, N. 2023. Dating in the dark: elevated substitution rates in cave cockroaches (Blattodea: Nocticolidae) have negative impacts on molecular date estimates. bioRxiv, 2023.01. 17.524483.

Ewart, P.M., Kovacs, T.G.L., Walker, J., Tatarnic, N.J., Clark, H., and Lo, N. 2023. Considerable gene flow in troglomorphic cockroach species across a vast subterranean landscape. Journal of Biogeography 50(11): 1967-1980. DOI: 10.1111/jbi.14707.

Maroni, P.J., Bryant, K.A. and Tatarnic, N.J. 2023. Female genital concealment and a corresponding male clasping apparatus in Australian ripple bugs (Hemiptera: Veliidae). Arthropod Structure and Development 74 101254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2023.101254

Tatarnic, N.J. (2022). A new genus and species of stilt bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Berytidae) from Western Australia. Austral Entomology 61(1): 29-36. https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.1257

Tatarnic, N.J. and Cassis, G. (2022). Turrana ejuncida, A new species of Acanthocorini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae) from Cape Range, Western Australia, with discussion of its systematic position and host plant associations. Zootaxa 5092(1): 85-96. https://doi.org/10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5092.1.4

Song, H., Muschett, G.R., Woller, D.A., Slatyer, R.A., Tatarnic, N.J., and Umbers, K.D.L. (2021). Taxonomic notes on the Australian skyhopper genus Kosciuscola Sjöstedt (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Oxyinae). Zootaxa 5071(1): 118-130. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5071.1.6

Semple, T.L., Vidal-Garcia, M., Tatarnic, N.J. and Peakall, R. (2021). Evolution of reproductive structures for in-flight mating in thynnine wasps (Hymenoptera: Thynnidae: Thynninae). Journal of Evolutionary Biology 34(9): 1406-1422. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.13902

Umbers , K., Slatyer , R., Tatarnic , N.J., Muschett , G., Wang , S. and Song, H. (2021). Phylogenetics of the skyhoppers (Kosciuscola) of the Australian Alps: evolutionary and conservation implications. Pacific Conservation Biology (early online) https://doi.org/10.1071/PC21015

Darling, DC and Tatarnic, NJ (2020). On the horns of a dilemma: toward a better understanding of the Monacon species (Hymenoptera: Perilampidae) of Borneo. Journal of Natural History 54(9-12): 723-734. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2020.1776906

Kelley, JL, Tatarnic, NJ, Schröder-Turk, GE, Endler, JA and Wilts, BD (2019). A dynamic optical signal in a nocturnal moth. Current Biology 29(17): 2919-2925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.005

Layton, KKS, Middlefart, PU, Tatarnic, NJ and Wilson, NG (2019). Erecting a new family for Spirostyliferina, a truncatelloidean microgastropod, and further insights into truncatelloidean phylogeny. Zoologica Scripta 48(6): 727-744. https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.12374

Mikó, I, Rahman, SR, Anzaldo, SS, van de Kamp, T, Parslow, BA, Tatarnic, NJ, Wetherington, MT, Anderson, J, Schilder, RJ, Ulmer, JM, Deans, AR and Hines, HM (2019). Fat in the leg: function of the expanded hind leg in gasteruptiid wasps (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae). Insect Systematics and Diversity 3(1): 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixy020

Semple, TL, Peakall, R and Tatarnic, NJ (2019). A comprehensive and user‐friendly framework for 3D‐data visualisation in invertebrates and other organisms. Journal of Morphology 280(2): 223-231. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.20938

Siversson, M, Cook, TD, Ryan, HE, Watkins, DK, Tatarnic, NJ, Downes, PJ and Newbrey, M.G. (2019). Anacoracid sharks and calcareous nannofossil stratigraphy of the mid-Cretaceous ‘upper’ Gearle Siltstone and Haycock Marl in the lower Murchison River area, Western Australia. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology 43(1), 85-113. https://doi.org/10.1080/03115518.2018.1462401

Selected publications (pre-2019)

Tatarnic, N. J. (2018). Traumatic Insemination and Copulatory Wounding. Reference Module in Life Sciences (published online 14 Sept 2018) https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809633-8.20730-9

Somjee, U., Miller, C. W., Tatarnic, N. J. and Simmons, L. W. (2018). Experimental manipulation reveals a trade-off between weapons and testes. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 31(1): 57-65. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.13193

Cassis, G., Hodgins, M., Weir, T. A. and Tatarnic, N. (2018). Phylogenetic reclassification and genitalic morphology of the small water strider genus Nesidovelia Andersen & Weir and allied Microveliinae (Hemiptera: Veliidae). Austral Entomology 57(1): 97-106. https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.12273

Mahoney, P. C., Tatarnic, N. J., O'Hanlon, J. C. and Umbers, K. D. L. (2017). Mate guarding and male mate choice in the chameleon grasshopper Kosciuscola tristis (Orthoptera: Acrididae). Journal of Ethology 35(2): 197-201. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-017-0509-9

Tatarnic NJ, Cassis. G and Siva-Jothy, MT (2014). Traumatic insemination in terrestrial arthropods. Annual Review of Entomology 59: 245–261. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-011613-162111

Tatarnic NJ and Cassis, G (2013). Surviving in sympatry: paragenital divergence and sexual mimicry between a pair of traumatically inseminating plant bugs. American Naturalist 182: 542–551. https://doi.org/10.1086/671931

Tatarnic NJ, Umbers, KDL, and Song, H (2013). Molecular phylogeny of the Kosciuscola grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) endemic to the Australian alpine and montane regions. Invertebrate Systematics 27: 307–316. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/IS12072

Tatarnic, NJ and Cassis, G (2013). Description of eight new species of the traumatically inseminating plant bug genus Coridromius (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae: Coridromini).  European Journal of Taxonomy 35: 1-24.https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2013.35

Tatarnic, NJ and Spence, JR (2013). Courtship and mating in the crusader bug, Mictis profana Fabricius. Australian Journal of Entomology. 52: 151–155. https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.12011

Umbers, KDL, Tatarnic, NJ, Holwell, GI and Herberstein, ME (2013). Bright turquoise as an intraspecific signal in the chameleon grasshopper (Kosciuscola tristis). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 67: 439–447. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-012-1464-7

Tatarnic, N.J. (2012). Mafulemesa schuhi (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae), a new species from Australia. Entomologica Americana 118: 274–277. https://doi.org/10.1664/12-RA-027.1

Umbers, KDL, Tatarnic, NJ, Holwell, GI, and Herberstein, ME (2012). Ferocious fighting between male grasshoppers. PLoS ONE 7(11): e49600 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0049600 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0049600

Bath, E., Tatarnic, N.J. and Bonduriansky, R. (2012). Asymmetric reproductive isolation and interference in neriid flies: the roles of genital morphology and behaviour. Animal Behaviour 84(6): 1331–1339.

Tatarnic, N.J. and Cassis, G. (2012). The Halticini of the world (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae): generic reclassification, phylogeny, and host plant associations. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 164: 558–658.

Cassis, G. Cheng, M. and Tatarnic, N.J. (2012). Systematics of the plantbug genus Irianocoris Carvalho (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae: Austromirini). Entomologica Americana 118: 157–176.

Tatarnic, N.J. and Cassis, G. (2011). The thread–legged bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) of Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. Zootaxa 2967: 21–43.

Tatarnic, N.J., Wall, M. A., and Cassis, G. (2011). A systematic revision of the Australian ploiarioline thread–legged assassin bus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae). Zootaxa 2762: 1–30.

Cassis, G., Tatarnic, N. and Symonds, C. (2011). Systematics of Kundakimuka Cassis from the eastern hemisphere (Heteroptera: Miridae: Deraeocorinae: Termatophylini). Heteropterus Revista de Entomologia 11: 215–225.

Tatarnic, N.J. and Cassis, G. (2010). Sexual coevolution in the traumatically inseminating plant bug genus Coridromius. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 23:1321–1326.

Cassis, G., Symonds, C. and Tatarnic, N. (2010). A remarkable new species of stone–dwelling Orthotylini (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae) from Australia. Zootaxa 2485: 58–68.

Tatarnic, N. J. 2009. Dampierella and Goodeniaphila: two new genera and three new species of Halticini from Australia, with a species key to the Halticini of Australia (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Orthotylinae). Zootaxa 2105: 43-60.

Tatarnic, N. J. and Cassis, G. 2008. Revision of the plant bug genus Coridromius Signoret (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae). Nulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 315: 1-95.

Schwartz, M. D., Schuh, R.T. and Tatarnic, N. 2008. A new genus and species of Halticini from South Africa (Hemiptera: Miridae). African Entomology 16(1): 23-32.

Schwartz, M. D. and Tatarnic, N. 2008. Nesidiorchestes hawaiiensis Kirkaldy: new tribal assignment and lectotype designation (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae: Orthotylini) Zootaxa 1677(1): 57-68.

Tatarnic, NJ, Cassis, G and Hochuli, DF (2006). Traumatic insemination in the plant bug genus Coridromius Signoret (Heteroptera: Miridae). Biology Letters 2(1): 58-61.