Don Miller

Donald G. Miller III is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at California State University, Chico. He earned his M.Sc. in Biological Anthropology from the University of Oxford (1990) and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy and Management from UC Berkeley (1997). His research focuses on behavioral ecology and social evolution in invertebrates, particularly galling aphids (Tamalia spp.) on manzanita plants in the Sierra Nevada near Chico. His work explores the causes and consequences of social behavior, sex allocation, and insect-plant interactions.

Research Highlights: Miller's publications span galling aphid ecology, inquiline social parasitism, pollination dynamics, and fish/shoaling behavior. His 2014 co-authored paper in Scientific Reports examined bee-flower coevolution, while his 2013 studies in Journal of Ethology applied decision theory to animal behavior. Earlier work (2005-2003) analyzed kinship in aphid galls and host-plant relationships.

Awards & Grants: Miller has secured over $200,000 in grants, including NSF funding for gall midge mutualism studies (2010) and US Fish and Wildlife Service grants for beetle ecology (2008, 2006). He received Sigma Xi and Entomological Society of America travel grants, and multiple research foundation awards.

Teaching & Outreach: At CSU Chico, he teaches courses like General Entomology and Animal Behavior. He has organized butterfly counts since 1991, presented public lectures on bee ecology, and engaged elementary schools with insect collection demonstrations. His CV lists committee service in curriculum development, graduate advising, and conservation initiatives.