Frank Koch

Dr. Frank Koch is a researcher and curator of the Hymenoptera collection at the Museum of Natural History, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research in Berlin. His work focuses on the taxonomy, biogeography, phylogeny, and ecology of Afrotropical Symphyta (sawflies), with a particular emphasis on species discovery and classification in southern Africa and Namibia.

Research projects led by Dr. Koch include studies on The Symphyta of the Afromontane Region funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and Snail shells as microhabitats in arid biomes of southern Africa supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG). He has contributed to major publications on sawfly biodiversity and collaborated with institutions like BIOTA-Southern Africa Project.

His recent publications (1995–2010) span topics such as new species descriptions in Sclerogibbidae and Argidae families, revisions of genera like Xenapates and Triarge, and ecological studies on insect-mollusk interactions in desert environments. These works highlight his expertise in Hymenoptera systematics and Afrotropical biodiversity.

Contact: frank.koch@mfn.berlin