Dr. Kevin A. Williams

Ph.D., Biology, Insect Systematics, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA.
(August 2005 ─ May 2012)

B.S., Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
B.S., Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

1. Williams, K. A., Pitts, J. P., Parikh, G. R., Cambra, R. A., Zhang, Y., & Bartholomay, P. R. (2025). Diagnostic review of the Sphaeropthalmini (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Central and North America, Part 1: minor nocturnal genera. Zootaxa, 5702(1), 1-64.
2. Williams, K. A. (2025). Color syndrome terminology for velvet ant females (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae and Myrmosidae). Zootaxa, 5684(1), 1-238.
3. Okayasu, J., Lelej, A. S., Williams, K. A., Brabant, C. M., Nguyen, L. T. P., Nguyen, A. D., ... & Truong, T. T. C. (2025). Current knowledge on the velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae, Myrmosidae) of Vietnam: faunal review and new distributional records. Zootaxa, 5668(1), 1-104.
4. Bartholomay, P. R., Williams, K. A., Cambra, R. A., Lopez, V. M., & Oliveira, M. L. (2025). Revision of the Traumatomutilla quadrinotata species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae, Sphaeropthalminae): new synonyms, sex associations, and a new species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. European journal of taxonomy, 995, 1-75.
5. Lopez, V.M., Allen, W.L., Polido, M., Almeida, L.H., Williams, K.A. and Ferreira, R.G., 2025. Evolutionary Drivers of Conspicuous Spots in Velvet Ants (Hymenoptera: Dasymutilla). Ecology and Evolution, 15(2), p.e70896.
6. Williams, K.A., Cambra, R.A., Bartholomay, P.R., Lopez, V.M., Brothers, D.J., Martins, H.O., Ferreira, V.S., Koroiva, R. and Guillermo-Ferreira, R., 2024. Two new genera of Neotropical Dasymutillini (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae, Sphaeropthalminae): Goncharovtilla gen. nov. from Brazil and Dasyphuta gen. nov. from Panama. Zootaxa, 5538(2), pp.127-152.
7. Cambra, R.A., Williams, K.A., Ramos, R.L., Bartholomay, P.R., Trindade-Santos, M.E. and de Oliveira, F.F., 2024. Taxonomic notes on Pertyella Mickel, 1952 (Hymenoptera; Mutillidae): Morphological characters rediscussion, new species, new combinations, new records, and species grouping. Revista peruana de biología, 31(2).
8. Williams, K.A., Pan, A.D. and Wilson, J.S., 2024. Velvet Ants of North America (Vol. 145). Princeton University Press.
9. Manley, D.G., W.R. Radke, and K.A. Williams. 2023. Velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of the Leslie Canyon and San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuges (Cochise County, Arizona). The Southwestern Naturalist, 67(2): 116–125.
10. Williams, K.A. 2023. Taxonomic updates for diurnal velvet ants Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in the United States of America. Zootaxa, 5301(1): 105–123.
11. Lelej, A.S. and Williams, K.A. 2023. Review of the tribe Smicromyrmini Bischoff, 1920 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Zootaxa, 5231(2):101–140.
12. Lelej, A.S., Williams, K.A., Terine, J.B., Okayasu, J., Parikh, G.R., and Kumar, G.P. 2023. Review of the tribe Mutillini (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) from the Oriental Region. Zootaxa, 5228(4): 455–476.
13. Marambaia, A.L., da Silva, G.C.C., Ramos, R.L., Trindade-Santos, M.E., Cambra, R.A., Williams, K.A., and Oliveira, F.F. 2023. Atillum André, 1903 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in Brazil: current and new geographic distribution records. Revista Chilena de Entomología, 49(2): 279–289.
14. Thaochan, N., Williams, K.A., Thoawan, K., Jeenthong, T. and Sittichaya, W. 2022.  Three new species and one new country record of velvet ants (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) from Thailand. Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 93: 151–165.
15. Bartholomay, P.R., Williams, K.A., Cambra, R.A. and Oliveira, M.L. 2022. Revision of the Traumatomutilla indica species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Zootaxa, 5108(1): 1–97.
16. Manley, D.G., Williams, K.A. and Pitts, J.P. 2022. Synonyms of Velvet Ants of the Genus Dasymutilla Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 123(4): 895–899.
17. Cambra, R.A., Bartholomay, P.R., Williams, K.A., Smith, D. and Ramos, Y.J.A. 2022. Mutillidae (Hymenoptera) from Essex Co., Virginia: monthly changes in abundance and richness. Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology, 10(4): 0-0.
18. Cambra, R.A., Williams, K.A. and Bartholomay, P.R. 2022. Two New Species of Horcomutilla Casal, 1962 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), Description of Hitherto Unknown Males, and an Illustrated Key to All Known Species in the Genus. Neotropical Entomology: 1-20.
19. Williams, K.A., P.R. Bartholomay, R.A. Cambra, J.P. Pitts, & M.L. Oliveira. 2022. Revision of Cephalomutilla André (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) including one new species, three new sex associations, and ten new synonymies. Austral Entomology, 61(2): 137–155.
20. Brothers, D.J., Lelej, A.S. and Williams, K.A., 2022. Clarification of the status of Paraferreola Šustera, 1912 as an available genus name in Pompilidae, and the identity of Sphex ursus Fabricius, 1793 in Mutillidae (Hymenoptera). Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 91: 429–444.
21. Okayasu, J., K.A. Williams, and A.S. Lelej. 2021. Review of female Andreimyrme Lelej (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae: Smicromyrmini). Zootaxa 5061: 1–38.
22. Lopez, V. M., T. A. A. Tosta, G. G. da Silva, P. R. Bartholomay, K.A. Williams, and R. G. Ferreira. 2021. Color lightness of velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) follows an environmental gradient. Journal of Thermal Biology, 103030.
23. Sutanto, D.D., K.A. Williams, H. Nugroho, & A.S. Lelej. 2021. To the knowledge of the velvet ants of Bischoffitilla Lelej (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in Indonesia. Treubia, 48: 1–12.
24. Okayasu, J., K.A. Williams, and A.S. Lelej. 2021. Review of Eotrogaspidia Lelej (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae: Trogaspidiini). Zootaxa, 4920: 56–90.
25. Bartholomay, P.R., K.A. Williams, R.A. Cambra, and M.L. de Oliveira. 2021. Revision of the Traumatomutilla gemella species-group (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) with the description of its hitherto unknown males. Zoosystema, 43: 1–28
26. Cambra, R. A., C. N. Queiros, J. P. A. De Deus, K. A. Williams, P. R. Bartholomay, and M. L. T. Buschini, 2021. Description of the male of Xystromutilla bucki Suárez, 1960 (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae), including new information on the biology of the genus. ZooKeys, 1011, 73.
27. Waldren, G.C., K.A. Williams, R.A. Cambra, and J.P. Pitts. 2020. Systematic revision of the North American velvet ant genus Invreiella Suarez (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) with description of eleven new species. Zootaxa 4894 (2): 151–205.
28. Wilson, J.S., J.S. Sidwell, K.A. Williams, and J.P. Pitts. 2020. Thistle-down velvet ants in the Desert Mimicry Ring and the evolution of white coloration: Müllerian mimicry, camouflage, and thermal ecology. Biology Letters 16 (7) 0200242: 1–6.
29. Manley, D.G., K.A. Williams, & J.P. Pitts. 2020. Keys to velvet ants of the genus Dasymutilla Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in America North of Mexico, with notes on taxonomic changes since Krombein (1979). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 122 (2): 335–414.
30. Gadallah, N.S., D.J. Brothers, and K.A. Williams (editor). 2020. Biodiversity of the aculeate wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of the Arabian Peninsula. Zootaxa 4754 (1): 001–216.
31. Añino Y.J., R.A. Cambra, D.M. Windsor, K.A. Williams, P.R. Bartholomay, V. Sánchez, and D. Quintero. 2020. Seasonal and annual abundance of Ephuta wasp (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in Panama. Revista de Biologica Tropica, 68(2): 573–579.
32. Pagliano, G., D.J. Brothers, R. Cambra, A.S. Lelej, P. Lo Cascio, M. Matteini Palmerini, P.L. Scaramozzino, K.A. Williams, and M. Romano. 2020. Checklist of names in Mutillidae (Hymenoptera), with illustrations of selected species. Bollettino del Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino, 36 (1-2) (2018): 5–425.
33. Bartholomay, P.R., K.A. Williams, R.A. Cambra, and M.L. de Oliveira. 2019. Review of the Traumatomutilla juvenilis species-group (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). Journal of Natural History, 53 (43–44): 2639–2683.
34. Williams, K.A., P.R. Bartholomay, R.A. Cambra, D.R. Luz, and M.L. Oliveira. 2019. Review of Leucospilomutilla Ashmead and description of the new genus Atlantilla (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Neotropical Entomology, 49: 82–97.
35. Hearn, L.R., K.A. Williams, M.I. Stevens, M.P. Schwarz, O.K. Davies, and B.A. Parslow. 2019. Description and novel host records for a new species of Australian mutillid wasp (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) from hylaeine bee nests. Austral Entomology 58: 524–532.
36. Williams, K.A., A.S. Lelej, and N. Thaochan. 2019. New species of Myrmosinae (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) from Southeastern Asia. Zootaxa, 4656 (3): 525−534.
37. Brothers, D.J., A.S. Lelej, & K.A. Williams. 2019. Genus-group names of Mutillidae (Hymenoptera): corrections and updates since 2008. Zootaxa 4651 (3): 578−588.
38. Bartholomay, P.R., K.A. Williams, D.R. Luz, R.A. Cambra, and M.L. de Oliveira. 2019. Traumatomutilla André Miscellanea: Revision of thebellica, bifurca, diabolica, and vitelligera species groups, and a new group for the new species T. pilkingtoni (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae, Dasymutillini). Insecta Mundi, 0709: 1−37.
39. Bartholomay, P.R., K.A. Williams, R.A. Cambra and M.L. Oliveira. 2019. Does the genus Dasymutilla Ashmead occur in South America? A new genus, new combinations, and new distribution records for Neotropical velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Zootaxa, 4623 (2): 261−282.
40. Bartholomay, P.R., K.A. Williams, V. Lopez, and M.L. Oliveira. 2019. Taxonomic revision of the Traumatomutilla americana species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Zootaxa, 4608: 001−034.
41. Williams, K.A., A.S. Lelej, J. Okayasu, C.J. Borkent, R. Malee, K. Thoawan, and N. Thaochan. 2019. The female velvet ants (aka modkhong) of southern Thailand (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), with a key to the genera of southeast Asia. Zootaxa, 4602: 1−69.
42. Williams, K.A., R.A. Cambra, P.R. Bartholomay, D.R. Luz, D. Quintero, & J.P. Pitts. 2019. Review of the genus Lomachaeta Mickel, 1936 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) with new species and sex associations. Zootaxa, 4564 (1): 101−136.
43. Williams, K.A., R.A. Cambra, G.C. Waldren, D. Quintero, and J.P. Pitts. 2019 [2018]. Silvorientilla, a new Neotropical velvet ant genus (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Folia Entomológica Mexicana (nueva serie), 4 (3): 91−109.
44. Cambra, R.A., D. Quintero A., G.C. Waldren, P.R. Bartholomay, and K.A. Williams. 2018. Taxonomic revision of the genus Timulla Ashmead, 1899 of Panama (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). Tecnociencia, 20 (2): 23–57.
45. Okayasu, J., K.A. Williams, and A.S. Lelej, 2018. A remarkable new species of Sinotilla Lelej, 1995 (Mutillidae: Smicromyrmini) from Taiwan and an overview of color diversity in East Asian mutillid females. Zootaxa, 4446 (3): 301–324.
46. Bartholomay, P.R., K.A. Williams, D.R. Luz, and M.L. Oliveira. 2018. New species of Traumatomutilla André in the T. tabapua and T. integella species-groups (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). Zootaxa, 4433: 361–385.
47.  Zhou, H., Lelej, A.S., Williams, K.A., & Liu, J. 2018. Revision of the Oriental genus Zavatilla Tsuneki (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae, Trogaspidiini), with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa, 4418 (2): 101-120.
48. Cambra, R.A., Williams, K.A., Quintero, D., Windsor, D.M., Pickering, J. and Saavedra, D., 2018. Dasymutilla Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) in Panama: new species, sex associations and seasonal flight activity. Insecta Mundi, 0608: 1-17.
49. Wilson, J.S., Pan, A.D., Limb, E.S. and Williams, K.A., 2018. Comparison of African and North American velvet ant mimicry complexes: Another example of Africa as the ‘odd man out’. PloS one, 13(1), 0189482.
50. Williams, K.A., Bartholomay, P.R. and de Oliveira, M.L., 2017. Species groups of Traumatomutilla André (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Insecta Mundi, 0533: 1-38.
51. Lelej, A.S., Williams, K.A., Loktionov, V.M., Pang, H. and Xu, Z.F., 2017. Review of the genus Zeugomutilla Chen, 1957 (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae, Mutillini), with description of two new species. Zootaxa, 4247(1), pp.1-15.
52. Pan, A.D., Williams, K.A. and Wilson, J.S., 2017. Are diurnal iguanian lizards the evolutionary drivers of New World female velvet ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) Müllerian mimicry rings? Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 120(2), pp.436-447.
53. Luz, D.R., Aranda, R. and Williams, K.A., 2017. Mutillidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Iheringia. Série Zoologia, 107.
54. Vieira, C.R., Waichert, C., Williams, K.A. and P. Pitts, J., 2017. Evaluation of Malaise and Yellow Pan Trap Performance to Assess Velvet Ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) Diversity in a Neotropical Savanna. Environmental Entomology, 46(2): 353-361.
55. Luz, D.R., Williams, K.A. and Bartholomay, P.R., 2016. The mutillid wasps of the Dasymutilla paradoxa species-group (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). Zootaxa, 4193(2).
56. Auko, T.H., Bartholomay, P.R., Luz, D.R., Waldren, G.C. and Williams, K.A., 2016. First records of the genus Allotilla Schuster, 1949 (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) in Brazil. Check List, 12(3), p.1898.
57. Luz, D. R., B.B. Rosa, K.A. Williams, and G.A.R. Melo. 2016. An uncommon feeding habit: mutillid wasps (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) visiting extrafloral nectaries in Malpighiaceae." Brazilian Journal of Biology AHEAD (2016): 551-553.
58. Wilson, J. S., J.P. Jahner, M.L. Forister, E.S. Sheehan, K.A. Williams, and J.P. Pitts. 2015. North American velvet ants form one of the world’s largest known Müllerian mimicry complexes. Current Biology, 25(16), R704-R706.
59. Bartholomay, P.R., K.A. Williams, D.R. Luz, and E. Morato. 2015. Frigitilla gen. nov., a new genus of Amazonian Mutillidae (Hymenoptera). Zootaxa, 3957: 49–58. 
60. Bartholomay, P.R., K.A. Williams, G.C. Waldren, and M.L. De Oliveira. 2015. Corrections on the biology of Traumatomutilla André, 1901 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Zootaxa, 3920(1), 198-200.
61. Medal, J., A.S. Cruz, K.A. Williams, S. Fraser, D. Wolaver, T. Smith, and B.J. Davis. 2015. First Record of Paratelenomus saccharalis (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) on Kudzu Bug Megacopta cribraria (Heteroptera: Plataspidae) in Florida. Florida Entomologist, 98: 1250-1251.
62. C.O. Azevedo, A.D. Molin, A. Penteado-Dias, A.C.C. Macedo, B. Rodriguez-V., B.Z.K. Dias, C. Waichert, D. Aquino, D.R. Smith, E.M. Shimbori, F.B. Noll, G.Gibson, H.C. Onody, J.M. Carpenter, J.E. Lattke, K.S. Ramos, K.A. Williams, L. Masner, L.S. Kimsey, M.T. Tavares, M. Olmi, M.L. Buffington, M. Ohl, M. Sharkey, N.F. Johnson, R. Kawada, R.M. Feitosa, R.B. Gonçalves, S.L. Heydon, T.M. Guerra, T.S.R. da Silva, V. Costa. 2015. Checklist of the genera of Hymenoptera (Insecta) from Espírito Santo, Brazil. Boletim do Museu de Biologia Mello Leitão, 37(3).
63. Luz, D.R., and K.A. Williams. 2014. The first sexual associations in the genus Darditilla Casal, 1965 (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). ZooKeys 454: 41-68.
64. Brothers, D.J., D.G. Manley, and K.A. Williams. 2014. Case 3643: Mutilla clytemnestra Fox, 1899 (currently Dasymutilla clytemnestra) and Mutilla clytemnestra Péringuey, 1899 (currently Mutilla dasya Péringuey, 1899): maintenance of current usage (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Aculeata, VESPOIDEA, MUTILLIDAE), Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, 71: 13-16.
65. Williams, K.A., and J.P. Pitts. 2013. Mexican and Caribbean additions to the Dasymutilla bioculata species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 106:429-436.
66. Wilson, J.S., J.P. Jahner, K.A. Williams, and M.L. Forister. 2013. Ecological and evolutionary processes drive the origin and maintenance of imperfect mimicry.  PLoS ONE, 8: e61610.
67. Waichert, C., C.O. Azevedo, R.B. Ferreira, and K.A. Williams. 2013. Range extension of Plumarius brasiliensis Penteado-Dias and Scatolini, 2003 (Hymenoptera: Plumariidae) in Northeastern Brazil. Check List, 9: 626-627.
68. Wilson, J.S., K.A. Williams, M.L. Forister, C.D. von Dohlen, and J.P. Pitts. 2012. Rapid Evolution in overlapping mimicry rings among North American velvet ants. Nature Communications, 3:1272-1278.
69. N.F. Boehme, K.A. Williams, and J.P. Pitts. 2012. Faunal study of velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) and their activity patterns and habitat preference at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Nye County, Nevada, USA. Zootaxa, 2587: 1-45.
70. Williams, K.A., D.G. Manley, M. Deyrup, C.D. von Dohlen, and J.P. Pitts. 2012. Systematic review of the Dasymutilla monticola species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae): using phylogenetics to address species-group placement and sex associations. Zootaxa, 3554: 1-29.
71. Wilson, J.S., S.L. Clark, K.A. Williams, and J.P. Pitts. 2012. Historical biogeography of the arid-adapted velvet ant Sphaeropthalma arota (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) reveals cryptic species. Journal of Biogeography, 39: 336-352.
72. Williams, K.A., D.J. Brothers, and J.P. Pitts. 2011. New species of Tobantilla Casal, 1965 and a new genus and species, Gogoltilla chichikovi gen. et sp. nov., from Argentina (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Zootaxa, 3064: 41-68.
73. Williams, K.A., D.G. Manley, E.M. Pilgrim, C.D. von Dohlen, and J.P. Pitts. 2011. Multi-faceted assessment of species validity in the Dasymutilla bioculata species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Systematic Entomology 36: 180-191.
74. Wilson, J.S., K.A. Williams, C.F. Gunnell, and J.P. Pitts. 2010. Preliminary phylogeography of the widespread, arid-adapted antlion Brachynemurus sackeni Hagen (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Psyche: A Journal of Entomology 804709: 1-7.
75. Brabant, C., K. A. Williams, and J. P. Pitts. 2010. True females of the Photomorphus subgenus Photomorphina Schuster (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Zootaxa, 2559: 58–68.
76. Pitts, J.P., J.S. Wilson, K.A. Williams, and N.F. Boehme. 2010. Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa, 2553: 1–34.
77. Wilson, J.S., K.A. Williams, D. Tanner, and J.P. Pitts. 2010. Nectaring by nocturnal velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Southwestern Naturalist, 55:443-444.
78. Wilson, J.S., K.A. Williams, and J.P. Pitts. 2010. Preliminary Assessment of velvet ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) diversity in deserts southern California. Western North American Naturalist, 70 (2): 224-232.
79. Williams, K.A., and J.P. Pitts. 2009. Eight New species of Lomachaeta Mickel and the Synonymy of Smicromutilla Mickel (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 18: 227-243.
80. Pilgrim, E.M., K.A. Williams, D.G. Manley, and J.P. Pitts. 2009. Addressing the Dasymutilla quadriguttata species-group and species-complex (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae): several distinct species or a single, morphologically variable species? Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 82 (3): 231-249.
81. Pitts, J.P., J.S. Wilson, K.A. Williams, and N.F. Boehme. 2009. Velvet Ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of the Algodones Sand Dunes of California, USA. Zootaxa, 2131: 1-53.
82. Williams, K.A., and J.P. Pitts. 2008. Three Species Masquerading as One: Updating the Taxonomy of Pseudomethoca russeola Mickel and P. donaeanae (Cockerell & Fox) (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 17: 127-133.
83. Pilgrim, E.M., K.A. Williams, and J.P. Pitts. 2008. Sex association and synonymy in Southwestern U.S. species of Dasymutilla (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 84: 58-69.
84. Williams, K.A., and J.P. Pitts. 2007. New species of predominately temperate velvet ant genera Lomachaeta Mickel and Sphaeropthalma Blake from Central America and northern South America (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 133: 297-326.
85. Williams, K.A. and D.G. Manley. 2006. A New Color Variant of Dasymutilla gloriosa (Saussure) from Mexico (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 82:103-104.
86. Manley, D.G. and K.A. Williams. 2005. A New Color Variant of Dasymutilla atricauda Mickel from Imperial County, California (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 81:184-185.

Senior Insect Biosystematist, , California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, CA, USA. Full time. January, 2019 – present. Duties include identifying pests in Hymenoptera, Gastropoda, Heteroptera, Orthoptera, non-insect arthropods, and minor insect orders for ag regulations; curating insect specimens in the California State Collection of Arthropods; and conducting research in taxonomy of Hymenoptera.

Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, CA, USA. Full time. April, 2016 – December, 2018. Duties include identifying pests in Hymenoptera, Gastropoda, Heteroptera, Orthoptera, non-insect arthropods, and minor insect orders for ag regulations; curating insect specimens in the California State Collection of Arthropods; and conducting research in taxonomy of Hymenoptera.

Biological Scientist IV, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL, USA. Full time. January, 2014 – March, 2016. Duties include curating Hymenoptera and Neuroptera for the Florida State Collection of Arthropods; making regulatory, survey, and service identifications; writing research articles; and conducting field surveys.

Post-doctoral Researcher, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil. Full time. April, 2013 – Dec. 2013. Duties included collecting and identifying insect specimens, writing research articles, reviewing colleague’s manuscripts and presentations, mentoring graduate students, and teaching courses for graduate students.

Agricultural Assistant,, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, CA, USA. Full time. September, 2012 – March, 2013. Duties included identifying and curating insect specimens in the California State Collection of Arthropods and obtaining DNA sequences for pest species identification.

Laboratory Instructor, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA. Part time. August – December: 2005 – 2011; January – May: 2006 – 2008 & 2010 – 2012. Courses outlined below.

Research Assistant, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA. Part time. June – August: 2006 – 2011. In 2006 and 2007, I mainly curated specimens in the insect collection. From 2009 – 2011, I monitored Utah for the Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) with visual inspections.

Assistant Insect Collection Manager,, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA. Voluntary. August 2005 – August 2012. I taught insect curation techniques (pinning, labeling, dissecting, identification), to all undergraduate and graduate students. I collected specimens for the University insect collection in 16 US states and 4 foreign countries. I trained fellow graduate students in insect collecting techniques.

Lecturer,, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA. Part time. January – May, 2009. Course outlined below.

Agricultural Assistant,, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Pest Diagnostics Laboratory, Sacramento, CA, USA. Part time. September 2003 – August 2005. My responsibilities included curation of specimens and preliminary screening for non-targeted potential invasive pests.

Agriculture Inspector Aide,, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Pest Diagnostics Laboratory, Sacramento, CA, USA. Part time. September 2003 – August 2005. My responsibilities included curation of specimens and preliminary screening for non-targeted potential invasive pests.

2013 - Programa Ciéncia sem Fronteiras – Boslas no País modalidade atração de Jovens Talentos [Science without Borders program – grants for attracting young talents to the coutry], Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). Complexos miméticos em vespas da família Mutillidae (Insecta, Hymenoptera): padrões de mimetismo e diversidade nos biomas brasileiros [Mimicry complexes in wasps of the family Mutillidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera): patterns of mimicry and diversity in Brasilian biomes] (co-written with Gariel Melo). Br R$ 191,400 [~USD $90,000]

2009 - Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Grant, American Museum of Natural History. Transectional Survey of Mutillidae (Hymenoptera) across the Deming Plain. $1,600

2007 - Research Grant, California Desert Research Fund, Community Foundation of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Endemism and diversity in velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of the Southern California deserts (co-written with James Pitts and Joseph Wilson). $3,194

Second Place - Graduate student oral presentations, 15 minute talks in Biology: Investigations of Dual Sex-Limited Mimicry in the Thistledown Velvet Ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Intermountain West Graduate Student Symposium, Logan, UT, USA, 5 April, 2011

Second Place - Students Competition for the President’s Prize, 10 minute talks: Does the Thistledown Velvet Ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) mimic Creosote seeds? A phylogenetic approach. Entomological Society of America, National Meeting, San Diego, CA, 15 Dec. 2010

First Place - Graduate student oral presentations, 15 minute talks in Biology: Mimicry confuses taxonomy: Lessons from the Dasymutilla bioculata species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Intermountain West Graduate Student Symposium, Logan, UT, 31 March, 2010

Second Place - Students Competition for the President’s Prize, 10 minute talks: Phylogenetic Investigation of mimicry complexes in Dasymutilla Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Entomological Society of America, National Meeting, Reno, NV, 15 Nov. 2008

Oral Presentations and Seminars

1. Williams, K.A., How to catch velvet ants. Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, CA, USA. July 2023.
2. Williams, K.A., Mutilli-Day 2020: a celebration of Earth’s most magnificent creatures. Pacific Coast Entomological Society, delivered via Zoom teleconference, Sacramento, CA, USA. April 2020.
3. Williams, K.A., Mutilli-Day: a celebration of Earth’s most magnificent creatures. Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, CA, USA. April 2017.
4. Williams, K.A., Velvet ant research, working up to the ground floor. Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, CA, USA. June 2016.
5. Williams, K.A., Morphology of Hymenoptera, HymCourse, Anillaco, La Rioja, Argentina. March 2015.
6. Williams, K.A., Identification of families and subfamilies of Aculeata (Hymenoptera), HymCourse 2015, Anillaco, La Rioja, Argentina. March 2015.
7. Williams, K.A., Detecting Cerceris to detect Emerald Ash Borer, CAPS Giant African Land Snail Survey, Orlando, FL, USA. August 2014.
8. Williams, K.A., Detecting Cerceris to detect Emerald Ash Borer, CAPS Giant African Land Snail Survey, Orlando, FL, USA. August 2014.
9. Williams, K.A. Florida’s stinging wasps, Entomology Summer Camp, Gainesville, FL, USA. July 2014.
10. Williams, K.A. Mimicry and biodiversity in velvet ants, Entomology Seminars, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. February 2014.
11. Williams, K.A. Neotropical Mutillidae: overview and genus identification, Nucleus for Excellence in Systematics of Hymenoptera, Vitoria, ES, Brazil, July 2013.
12. Williams, K.A. Investigações no mimetismo e taxonomia dos mutilídeos, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil, May 2013.
13. Williams, K.A. Mutillid mimicry madness: Colorful insights into the largest mimetic complex, Sacramento City College, Sacramento, CA, USA. March 2013.
14. Williams, K.A. Mutillid mimicry madness: Colorful insights into the largest mimetic complex, Pacific Coast Entomological Society Meeting, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA. February 2013.
15. Williams, K.A. Colorful insights into mimicry and biodiversity in velvet ants, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA, USA. February 2013.
16. Williams, K.A. Fuzzy logic and fuzzy wasps: A Holistic Systematic Approach to velvet ant research, Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, CA, USA. January 2013.
17. Williams, K.A. The velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Trinidad: A springboard for biodiversity studies in South America.  Intermountain West Graduate Student Symposium, Logan, UT, April, 2012.
18. Williams, K.A., C.D. von Dohlen, & J.P. Pitts. Phylogenetic studies of Dasymutilla and their relatives shed light on mimicry, biodiversity, and biogeography (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Entomological Society of America, National Meeting, Reno, NV, November 2011.
19. Williams, K.A. Hymenoptera Diversity in the Great Basin National Park. Presented to volunteers and park staff during the Great Basin National Park’s annual Bioblitz, Baker, NV, USA. August 2011.
20. Williams, K.A., J.S. Wilson, C.D. von Dohlen, & J.P. Pitts. Investigations of Dual Sex-Limited Mimicry in the Thistledown Velvet Ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Intermountain West Graduate Student Symposium, Logan, UT, USA, April, 2011. Second Place.
21. Williams, K.A., J.S. Wilson, & J.P. Pitts. Does the Thistledown Velvet Ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) mimic Creosote seeds? A phylogenetic approach. Entomological Society of America, National Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA, December 2010. Second Place.
22. Williams, K.A., C.D. von Dohlen, & J.P. Pitts. Mimicry confuses taxonomy: Lessons from the Dasymutilla bioculata species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Intermountain West Graduate Student Symposium, Logan, UT, USA, March, 2010. First Place.
23. Williams, K.A. Phylogenetic investigation of mimicry complexes in Dasymutilla (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Entomological Society of America, National Meeting, Reno, NV, USA, November, 2008. Second Place.
24. Williams, K.A. Phylogenetic investigation of mimicry complexes in Dasymutilla (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Presented to the Utah State University Entomology Club, Logan, UT, USA. October 2008.
25. Williams, K.A. and J.S. Wilson. Diversity of insects in Jackson, Wyoming. Presented to the public at the Teton Science School, Jackson, Wyoming in conjunction with a Bioblitz and visit from E. O. Wilson. October 2007.

1. Williams, K.A., A.W. Hook, & J.P. Pitts. The Mutillidae (Hymenoptera) of Trinidad: Matching sexes in limited space. Entomological Society of America, National Meeting, Reno, NV, USA, November 2011.
2. Perez, S.M., K.A. Williams & J.P. Pitts. Identification and differentiation of females in the Odontophotopsis parva and O. venusta species-groups (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Undergraduate Research Symposium, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA, December 2010.
3. Gunnell, C., J.S. Wilson, K.A. Williams, and J.P. Pitts. 2010. Do phylogenetic relationships based solely on ITS1 & 2 adequately represent evolution?. Undergraduate Research Symposium, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA, December 2010.
4. Williams, K.A. & J.P. Pitts. Coping with confusing coloration: molecular and morphological analysis of the Dasymutilla occidentalis species-complex (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Entomological Society of America, National meeting, San Diego, CA, USA, December, 2007.
5. Williams, K.A., E.M. Pilgrim, & J.P. Pitts. Synonymies and sex associations in the velvet ant genus Dasymutilla (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Pacific Branch Entomological Society of America meeting, Portland, OR, USA, March, 2007. First Place.
6. Pitts, J.P., J.S. Wilson, and K.A. Williams. Phylogenetics of the Nearctic Nocturnal velvet ant genus Odontophotopsis Viereck (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Pacific Branch Entomological Society of America meeting, Portland, OR, USA, March, 2007.

HymCourse 2015. Workshop on Hymenoptera research and identification for 20 students in La Rioja Argentina. The other three instructors worked for the USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory.

Biology 3500, Plagues, Pests, and People. Lecture course (21 students), Spring 2009, Utah State University. Course for non-majors about the impact of infectious diseases on human history, emphasizing insect-vectored diseases.

Biology 5530, Insect Systematics Laboratory. One section (8-14 students) per semester, Fall 2005, 2007, 2011, Utah State University. Course for Biology majors and graduate students about insect identification and classification.

Biology 1610. General Biology Laboratory. One to three sections (30 students) per semester, Fall 2005-2010, Utah State University. Subjects included: microscopy, cell division, Mendelian genetics, DNA fingerprinting, plant diversity.

Biology 1620, General Biology Laboratory. One to three sections (30 students) per semester, Spring 2006-2008, 2010, 2011, Utah State University. Subjects included: population genetics, phylogenetics, scientific method, animal diversity.