Matt Hamer - Entomologist
PhD student at Insect Biodiversity
and Biogeography Laboratory, The University of Hong Kong
About Me
Email - matt.hamer AT hotmail.co.uk
Twitter
ResearchGate
Flickr
Instagram
I am an entomological researcher, with a particular interest in myrmecology,
alongside insect diversity, faunistics as well as taxonomy and evolution. Currently based at the
University of Hong Kong as a research assistant within the Insect Biodiversity and Biogeography Laboratory
investigating the ant diversity of Hong Kong, as well as other projects in the lab.
Work and Education
Education
- Taxonomy, Biodiversity & Evolution MSc. Imperial College London & Natural History Museum London
Disseration Supervisors: Dr. Thomas Creedy & Prof. Alfried Vogler
- Zoology BSc. Bangor Univeristy.
Hons Disseration Supervisor: Dr. Alison Cameron
Work
- Research Assisstant: The University of Hong Kong, IBBL. 2021-2024
- Expedition Entomologist: Operation Wallacea LTD. Cusuco National Park, Honduras. June 2019 – August 2019
- Entomology Curation: Bangor Univeristy (part time). 2018 September - June 2019
- Intern: Madagascan Biodiversity Center. August 2018 – September 2018
Publications
Indexed publications
- Wint, FDC., Oorts, D., Branstetter, MG., Graaf, DD., Dekoninck, W., Jocque, M., Martin, TE., Sudworth, J., Osselaer, RV., Hamer, MT. Ants in the clouds: A preliminary checklist of the ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) fauna of a Honduran cloud forest ecosystem, featuring a key to country genera (Cusuco National Park, Honduras). Neotropical Biology and Conservation. 19(2): 107-135 doi: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e119775
- Hamer, MT., Weemaels, AI., Fu Y., Xuan, K., Tse, CYL., Tang, KL., Guénard, B. New insights into the Leptanillinae (Formicidae) diversity and distribution within China. Zootaxa. 5471(1):99-112. DOI: 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5471.1.6
- Hamer, MT., Lee, JHC., Tse, CYL., Silva, TSR., Guénard, B. 2024. The Leptogenys Roger, 1861 (Formicidae, Ponerinae) of Hong Kong SAR with new additions to Guangdong province, China. ZooKeys. 1202: 169-211 doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1202.120214
- Hamer, MT., Turner, CR. 2024. Solenopsis abdita Thompson, 1989 (Formicidae; Myrmicinae) New to Britain. The Entomologist Monthly Magazine. 160(2): 144-150 doi: 10.31184/M00138908.1602.4231
- Hamer, MT., Turner, CR. 2024. Strumigenys emmae (Emery, 1890) (Myrmicinae) New to Britain, with an Updated Key to the Known Strumigenys of Europe. Zootaxa. 5415(4): 570-576
doi: 10.11646/ZooTaxa.5415.4.6
- Leung, TKC., Leong, CM., Hamer, MT., Guénard, B. 2023. Discovery of the formerly Japan-endemic Ponera kohmoku Terayama, 1996 (Formicidae, Ponerinae) in Southeast China. Asian Myrmecology. 16(016008): 1-11. doi: 10.20362/am.016008
- Silva, TSR., Hamer, MT., Guénard, B. 2023. Erratum. A checklist of Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) from Hong Kong and Macao SARs, with an illustrated identification key for species in Southeast China and Taiwan. (2023). Zootaxa 5343(6): 599-600.doi: 10.11646/ZooTaxa.5343.6.6
- Hamer, MT., Lee, RH., Guénard, B. 2023. First record of the genus Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in Hong Kong, with descriptions of two new species. European Journal of Taxonomy. 879(1): 116-135.
doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2023.879.2165
- Silva, TSR., Hamer, MT., Guénard, B. 2023. A checklist of Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) from Hong Kong and Macao SARs, with an illustrated identification key for species in Southeast China and Taiwan. Zootaxa. 5301(5): 501-539.doi: 10.11646/ZooTaxa.5301.5.1
- Hamer, MT., Pierce, MP., Guénard, B. The Amblyoponinae of Hong Kong. 2023. Asian Myrmecology. 16(e016005): 1-37. doi:10.1111/jbi.14546
- Wang R., Kass JM., Galkowski, C., Garcia F., Hamer, MT., Radchenko, A., Salata, S., Schifani, E,
Yusupov, ZM., Economo, EP., Guénard, B. 2023. New distribution data and phylogenetic approach reveal
bioregionalization of the western Palearctic ants. Journal of Biogeography. 50: 503-514. doi: 10.1111/jbi.14546
- Finch, EA., Rajoelison ET., Hamer, MT., Caruso, T., Farnsworth, KD., Fisher, BL., Cameron, A. 2022. The
effect of
swidden agriculture on ant communities in Madagascar. Biological Conservation. 265. doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109400
- Hamer, MT., Marquis, A., Guénard, B. 2021. Strumigenys perplexa (Smith 1876) (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) a new
exotic ant to Europe with establishment in Guernsey, Channel Islands. Journal of Hymenoptera
Research. 83: 101-124. doi:10.3897/jhr.83.66829
Non-indexed publications
- Hamer, MT., Telfer, MG., Turner, CR. 2023. Rediscovered after 102 years: Strumigenys rogeri Emery, 1890 (Formicidae; Myrmicinae) is rediscovered in Britain from the Eden Project, East Cornwall (VC 2)
British Journal of Entomology & Natural History. 36(4): 225-232.
- Hamer, MT., Northfield, A. 2023. Two new non-native Mediterranean ant species to Britain collected from cork bark.
British Journal of Entomology & Natural History. 36 (3): 199-204
- Hamer, MT., Attewell, P. 2022. Ponera testacea, Emery 1895, (Hym.: Formicidae) in a suburban
garden in coastal East Sussex (VC14), with a description of nest location.
British Journal of Entomology & Natural History. 36: 1-7
- Hamer, MT. 2021. A new site for Claviger testaceous (Preyssler) (Staphylinidae; Pselaphinae) in
East Sussex (VC 14) with a review of modern and historical records. The Coleopterist. 30(3): 129-130
- Hamer, MT. 2021. A newly recorded exotic ant Pheidole punctatissima Mayr (Hymenoptera:
Formicidae) to
Britain. British Journal of Entomology & Natural History (Short Communication). 34(3):221-223. Link
- Hamer, MT. 2021. New Records of Stenamma debile (Formicidae; Myrmicinae) in East Sussex
(Vice-County 14). Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society Spring Newsletter
- Hamer, MT., Cocks, L. 2020. Linepithema iniquum (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Found at the National
Botanic
Garden of Wales. British Journal of Entomology & Natural History. 33:71-75. Link
- Hamer, MT. 2020. First Record of Myrmica lobicornis from Anglesey, Wales (Vice-County 52).
Bees,
Wasps
and Ants Recording Society Spring Newsletter.
Reports
- Hamer, MT 2.6 Formicidae in Jocqué, M et al., 2023. The Salonga NP expedition: a rapid biodiversity assessment in the largest forest reserve in Africa, DRC.
Link
Photography
Alongside research, I am an avid macro photographer with a particular interest capturing biodiversity through
my lens - both my research and photography are therefore often intertwined. I publish all my photographs
formally onto
flickr.
I do charge for the use of my photographs depending on their use - please get in touch via my email
address above.
Where my photographs have been used
Photography Awards
Talks
I am more than happy to speak about entomology related topics, including insect natural history, specimen
prepartion and identification techneques. I would like to run some British ant identification courses in the
future too.
- The Ants of Hong Kong - Current Taxonomic Efforts. Asian Myrmecology Network Meeting. Kota Kinabula. 2023
- From Field to Pin - A guide to preparing ant specimens for point mounting.
Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society AGM 2021
- The Peculiar Natural History of the Iniquiline Ant Tetramorium atratulum.
British Entomology and Natural History Society 'Entomological Opportunities 2018'