Michael Skvarla

Extension Educator; Director, Insect Identification Lab

Huck Affiliations

News Articles Featuring Michael Skvarla

What does Pittsburgh's mild winter mean for spring bugs?

On the calendar, it might technically be winter. In real life, Penn State assistant research professor Michael Skvarla just pulled a black-legged tick off his daughter about a week ago. That’s typically a spring and summer problem.

Penn State University researcher discovers bug dating back to Jurassic Period

Michael Skvarla is an assistant research professor who operates the Insect Identification Laboratory at Penn State University. Skvarla recently made national news for his discovery of a bug that hasn't been seen in Eastern North America for more than 50 years. He discovered a Giant Lacewing outside a Walmart in Arkansas in 2012.

Giant Jurassic-era insect missing from eastern North America for at least 50 YEARS is rediscovered outside a WALMART in Arkansas

It's not every day you discover a missing species when popping to the supermarket to get some milk. But that's exactly what happened to Professor Michael Skvarla, a zoologist at the Insect Identification Lab at Penn State University.

Giant bug flying outside Walmart found to be ‘super rare’ insect not seen in decades

For nearly 10 years, an insect discovered outside a Walmart was only thought to be an “interesting” finding. But when the doctoral student turned professor showed his class the bug during a 2020 lesson, they learned together just how rare the discovery was.

Giant bug flying outside Walmart found to be ‘super rare’ insect not seen in decades

For nearly 10 years, an insect discovered outside a Walmart was only thought to be an “interesting” finding. But when the doctoral student turned professor showed his class the bug during a 2020 lesson, they learned together just how rare the discovery was.

Giant bug found at an Arkansas Walmart identified as a Jurassic-era insect

The giant lacewing was commonly found in eastern North America but mysteriously disappeared in the 1950s. Scientists previously thought that the increase in light pollution and a decrease in raging forest fires in eastern North America potentially played of role in its disappearance.

Rare, Jurassic-Era Giant Insect Discovered at Arkansas Walmart

Back in 2012, entomologist Michael Skvarla stopped at a Walmart in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to pick up some milk. On the way in, he spotted a large, unusual insect on the side of the building. So he snagged it, took it shopping, brought it home and mounted it, thinking it was an antlion, a type of flying insect. Years later, he discovered it was something much rarer: an insect with an ancient history.

Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart

Back in 2012, Michael Skvarla was running to a Walmart in Arkansas for milk when he spotted a huge insect on the side of the building. Its wingspan was nearly two inches across. Mr Skvarla studies insects, so he took it home - and forgot about it. But in 2020, he showed it to his students in class. They realised it was something far more rare than expected: A giant lacewing.

Giant flying bug found at Arkansas Walmart turns out to be "super-rare" Jurassic-era insect

A 2012 trip to a Fayetteville, Arkansas, Walmart to pick up some milk turned out to be one for the history books. A giant bug that stopped a scientist in his tracks as he walked into the store and he ended up taking home turned out to be a rare Jurassic-era flying insect.

Rare Jurassic-era insect found at Arkansas Walmart

A gigantic insect from a species that once flourished in the age of the dinosaurs was found for the first time in decades on the façade of an Arkansas Walmart, renewing hope that there may be relic populations of the bug undiscovered in the Ozark Mountains.