John W. Wenzel,
Ph.D. Entomologist

Executive Director Conemaugh Valley Conservancy

Promoting knowledge of the living world, preserving it for future generations.

John W. Wenzel,
Ph.D. Entomologist

Executive Director Conemaugh Valley Conservancy

Promoting knowledge of the living world, preserving it for future generations.

Conemaugh Valley Conservancy

In 2022, I joined CVC as Executive Director to continue good work across a broad landscape.

Ecology

Ecological studies tell us about the processes that connect species in the Web of Life. I began my career as a behavioral ecologist and sociobiologist. My early work included reproductive behavior, kin recognition, and nest construction in wasps (and one bee paper), with nest construction and architecture becoming a major avenue of research.

Phylogeny

Phylogenetic studies tell us how species have evolved and given rise to new forms over millions of years. I was one of a few leaders who formalized the use of behavioral or ecological characters in computerized phylogenetic analyses. My lab published widely on wasps, ants, beetles, moths, locusts, damselflies, and spiders, including ecological studies.

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