Has a BSc in Agronomic Engineering and specialization in Phytopathology. His main tasks are the diagnostic and management of agricultural pests and development of research in applied entomology to support local agriculture. His main interests and areas of scientific work range from faunistics, ecology, taxonomy and systematics of the Macaronesian entomofauna, with particular relevance to Madeira and neighbouring islands.
Participation in research projects:
· Survey of potential biological controllers of the Firebush Myrica faya Aiton. Collaboration with University of Hawaii (Manoa) – [November 1992 / June 1993]
· IPM Program to control the citrus whitefly Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell) – [1994 / 1998]
· IPM Program to control the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) – [1994 / 1999]
· Coordination with Prof. Dr. Carmelo Rapisarda, Catania University, of the Faunistics & Systematics Discipline of the European Whiteflies Studies Network (EWSN), Program FAIR-CT98-4303 [1999 / 2001]
· Applicability of pheromones to control the Chestnut Borer Cydia splendana (Hb.), in Madeira, leaded by Biology Dept., University of Madeira – [2004 / 2006]
· An omnipotent guest in an omnipotent pest: Aphids/Wolbachia case, PTDC/AGR-AAM/108312/2008 leaded by Biology Dept., University of Madeira – [2010 / 2012]
· Conflict between human activities and the conservation of island endemics in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot, PTDC/BIA-BEC/099138/2008 leaded by Fundação da Faculdade de Ciências (FFC/FC/UL) – [2010 / 2013]
· Integrated Management of Aedes aegypti, Program MAC 2007-2013, leaded by IASAUDE, IP-RAM [2009-2014]
Relevant papers:
ACHTERBERG, C. van & AGUIAR, A. M. Franquinho (2009): Additions to the fauna of Braconidae from Madeira and Selvagens Islands, with description of five new species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Homolobinae, Alysiinae, Opiinae). Zoologische Mededelingen Leiden, 83: 777-797.
AGUIAR, A.M. Franquinho (2001): Three new species of Trioza (Hemiptera: Triozidae) from Central Macaronesia, with the description of the larva of Trioza lienhardi Burckhardt. Bocagiana, No. 203: 1-25
AGUIAR, A.M. Franquinho & ILHARCO, F.A. (2005): Macrosiphoniella madeirensis Aguiar & Ilharco sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) from Madeira Island. Zootaxa, 867: 1-12.
AGUIN-POMBO, D., AGUIAR, A. M. Franquinho & V. G. KUZNETZOVA (2007): The two-spotted leafhopper Sophonia orientalis (Matsumura, 1912) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), a Pacific pest species in the Macaronesian Archipelagos: Bionomics and taxonomy. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 100 (1): 19-26.
DISNEY, H. & AGUIAR, A.M. Franquinho (2008): Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) of Madeira. Fragmenta Faunistica 51 (1): 23-62.
HERNÁNDEZ-SUÁREZ, E.; A. CARNERO; AGUIAR, A. M. F., G. PRINSLOO; J. LASALLE & A. POLASZEK (2003): Parasitoids of whiteflies (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae, Eulophidae, Platygastridae; Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from the Macaronesian archipelagos of the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores. Systematics and Biodiversity, 1 (1): 55-108.
MARTIN, J.H.; AGUIAR, A. M. Franquinho; M. T. PITA. (1996): Aleyrodidae of Madeira - descriptions of three new species and notes on a pan-Meditrranean species of Aleurotrachelus. Journal of Natural History, 30 (1): 113-125.
Laboratório de Qualidade Agrícola, Caminho Municipal dos Caboucos, 61,
9135-372 Camacha, Madeira, Portugal.
Email:
antonioaguiar@gov-madeira.pt
Relevant Island Knowledge:
Madeira
Taxon:
Insecta; Hemiptera; Hymenoptera
Geographic Location:
Madeira