Bismillah Shah, PhD, Associate Professor.
Research Interests
My research focuses on insect taxonomy and systematics, mainly on the classification, phylogeny, biodiversity, and conservation of insects. I am particularly interested in the study of dark taxa, with an emphasis on black fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaroidea: Sciaridae). The term "dark taxa" refers to groups of species that are poorly known, not formally described, or difficult to classify due to the lack of comprehensive taxonomic information. These taxa often remain "in the dark" because of limited research, indistinct morphological features, cryptic species, and challenges in classification tools. Traditional morphology-based taxonomy is often insufficient to identify these taxa, requiring increased reliance on molecular techniques such as DNA barcoding and genomic studies to resolve their status.
A second area of my research emphasizes the taxonomy and systematics of leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae), which are primarily plant sap feeders and significant agricultural pests. I do work with internal and external morphological traits, molecular methods, and robust phylogenetic techniques. This study is exciting, demonstrating the broad utility and impact across various areas of science.
To date, I have published more than 65 scientific articles in well-reputed national and international journals and also acted as a reviewer.
Teaching
Main courses: Animal Biology, Forest Entomology.
Education
2016.9–2020.6: PhD (with distinction), Agricultural Entomology and Pest Control (Insect Taxonomy), Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China.
2014.2–2016.2: MSc (Hons), Agriculture (Entomology), The University of Agriculture, Peshawar (KP), Pakistan.
2010.2–2014.1: BSc (Hons), Agriculture (Entomology), The University of Agriculture, Peshawar (KP), Pakistan.
Professional Experience
2024.7–Present: Associate Professor, Insect Systematics and Diversity Lab, School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China.
2022.7–2024.6: Post-doctoral Researcher, Insect Systematics and Diversity Lab, School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China.
2021.12–2022.6: Medical Entomologist (BS-17), Health Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
2020.10–2021.12: Visiting Lecturer, Department of Entomology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Research Projects and Grants
1. Systematics and DNA barcoding of the subfamily Megalosphyinae (Diptera: Sciaridae) from China. Funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Research Fund for International Young Scientists (RFIYS), Grant No. 32150410359, 400000 Chinese Renminbi, 2022.1–2023.12, Principal Investigator.
2. Systematics and DNA barcoding of the subfamily Megalosphyinae (Diptera: Sciaridae) from China, Funded by State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China, 300000 Chinese Renminbi, 2022.1–2023.12, Principal Investigator.
3. Study on the phylogeny of the superfamily Sciaroidea, Funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), 650000 Chinese Renminbi, 2024.1–2027.12, Main Participant.
Achievements
1. “Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contribution to International Work (Foreign Scholars’Research Fund Programme)” during Post-doctorate by Zhejiang A&F University in 2024.
2. “Outstanding International Student Award” during PhD by the Chinese Scholarship Council in 2019.
3. “Chinese Government Scholarship” for PhD by the Chinese Scholarship Council from 2016.9–2020.7.
4. “HEC Indigenous Scholarship” for PhD by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan in 2016.
5. “Best Academic Performance Certificate”from Study Aid Foundation for Excellence (SAFE) Pakistan in 2013.
Recent Publications
Shah B, Shao YS, Du H, Wang Y, Huang JH (2024) Taxonomy and DNA barcoding of the dark-winged fungus gnat genus Zygoneura Meigen (Diptera: Sciaridae) from China, with revision of the type materials.Zootaxa, 5496 (3): 377–400. (SCI)
Shah B, Hassan MA, Xie BQ, Wu KQ, Naveed H, Yan MH, Dietrich CH, Duan YN (2024) Mitogenomic Analysis and Phylogenetic Implications for the deltocephaline Tribe Chiasmini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae). Insects, 15 (4), 253: 1–20. (SCI)
Du H, Liu JW, Heller K, Shah B, Wang QY, Huang JH (2024) Morphology and DNA barcodes of four species of Bradysia hilaris group from China (Diptera, Sciaridae).Zootaxa, 5493 (2): 129–140. (SCI)
Hassan MA, Shah B, Xing JC (2024) Key to species of the leafhooper genus Fistulatus Zhang, Zhang & Chen (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Drabescini) with description of a new species. Zootaxa, 5481 (3): 363–372. (SCI)
Shah B, Hassan MA, Naveed H, Khan A, Shakeel, M, Duan YN (2023) Taxonomic notes on the leafhopper genus Balclutha Kirkaldy (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from Pakistan with a new country record. Journal of Insect Biodiversity, 43 (2): 57–67. (SCI)
Naveed H, Shah B, Sohail K, Zhang YL, Chen KP (2023) Review of the leafhopper tribe Deltocephalini Dallas, 1870 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae) in Pakistan with description of a new species of Paramesodes. ZooKeys, 1186: 207–219. (SCI)
Zhang XY, Xu J, Shah B, Duan YN (2023) New taxa in the leafhopper tribe Deltocephalini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from China. Zootaxa, 5271 (3): 525–537. C-first author (SCI)
Chen J, Zhang J, Liu W, Shah B, Dietrich CH, Duan YN (2023) Morphological and ultrastructural studies of the internal reproductive systems of two deltocephaline leafhoppers, Nephotettix cincticeps and Deltocephalus vulgaris (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae). Zookeys, 1182: 339–359. (SCI)
Shah B, Hassan MA, Naveed H, Shakeel M, Khan MT, Duan YN (2023) New findings of Deltocephalinae (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) from Pakistan. Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics, 09 (3): 583–590.
Shah B, Khan W, Naveed H, Shakeel M, Duan YN (2022) A new species in the grassland leafhopper genus Stirellus Osborn & Ball (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Stenometopiini) from Pakistan. Zootaxa, 5125 (3): 344–350. (SCI)
Shah B, Naveed H, Webb MD, Duan YN (2021) Taxonomic review of the grassland leafhopper genus Maiestas Distant (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Deltocephalini) from Pakistan with description of a new species and two new records. Zootaxa, 5060 (3): 401–416. (SCI)
Shah B, Khan A, Khan MT, Ahmed I, Khan SH, Duan YN (2021) First record of Tambocerus viraktamathi (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) in Pakistan. Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina, 80 (4): 133–135. (SCI)
Naveed H, Shah B, Khan BS, Cao C, Webb MD, Zhang YL (2021) Checklist and keys to Deltocephalinae leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from Pakistan. Zookeys, 1078: 135–188. (SCI)
Shah B, Naveed H, Duan YN (2020) A new species and four new records of Stirellus Osborn & Ball (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Stenometopiini) from Pakistan with a revised key to species. Zootaxa, 4895 (3): 398–410. (SCI)
Shah B, Naveed H, Duan YN (2020) Taxonomic review of the leafhopper genus Stirellus Osborn & Ball (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Stenometopiini) from Pakistan with description of a new species. Zootaxa, 4763 (2): 189–202. (SCI)
Naveed H, Shah B, Sohail K, Zhang YL (2020) Review of the leafhopper genus Stirellus Osborn & Ball, 1902 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with description of two new species from Pakistan. Zootaxa, 4722 (5): 479–485. (SCI)
Naveed H, Shah B, Zhang YL (2020) A review of the leafhopper genus Pseudosubhimalus Ghauri (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with description of a new species from Pakistan. Zootaxa, 4790 (1): 193–197. (SCI)
Shah B, Naveed H, Duan YN (2019) Taxonomic review of the leafhopper genus Grammacephalus Haupt (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Scaphoideini) with description of a new species from Pakistan. Zootaxa,4688 (1): 071–085. (SCI)
Shah B, Naveed H, Duan YN (2019) A newly recorded species of the leafhopper genus Goniagnathus Fieber (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Goniagnathini) from Pakistan. Entomotaxonomia, 42 (1): 12–24.
Shah B, Duan YN, Naveed H, Zhang YT (2019) Study on the Diagnostic Features of Green Leafhopper Cicadella viridis (L.) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) from China. North American Academic Research, 2 (2): 01–10.
Contact details
Address: 6-401, Insect Systematics and Diversity Lab, Department of Forestry Protection, College of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, East Lake campus, 666 Wusu street, Linan, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, P.R. China.
Cell: 0086-19357191990 / 0092-3132558014
Email: bismillahshah1990@yahoo.com / bs@zafu.edu.cn
