Kyhl Austin

Kyhl Austin is a Graduate Researcher at the University of Hawaii's Rubinoff Lab, focusing on the taxonomy and systematics of Lepidoptera, particularly Tortricidae moths. They hold a B.S. in Biology from Davidson College (2018) and an M.S. in Entomology from Cornell University (2020). Their research emphasizes island ecosystems, host plant associations, and collection-based studies, with a strong commitment to museum curation.

• Education: B.S. in Biology, Davidson College (2018); M.S. in Entomology, Cornell University (2020).

Austin's work spans Hawaiian endemic moth conservation, molecular identification tools for agricultural pests, and digitization of entomological collections. They lead updates to the Tortricids of Agricultural Importance (TortsAI) website and contribute to the Terrestrial Parasite Tracker (TPT) project. Fieldwork includes extensive surveys across Hawaiian islands (2021-2025) and collaborative research with institutions worldwide.

Their 15 most recent publications (2017-2025) focus on Tortricidae systematics, biogeography, and conservation challenges in Hawaii and the Caribbean. Austin frequently presents at international lepidopterology conferences, highlighting discoveries like novel sexual coupling mechanisms and biogeographic patterns. They also co-instructed a workshop on microlepidoptera curation (2019).

Fieldwork Efforts: Documented across Hawaii (Kauai, Molokai, Maui, Hawaii), mainland USA (Georgia, North Carolina, New York), and international locations (Martinique, Guadeloupe, France). Active in updating interactive identification keys for pest species and advocating for Hawaiian endemic Lepidoptera conservation.