Biography: Todd Johnson is a Zambian ecologist and entomologist who has been working as Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at the Copperbelt University since 2012. He has also worked as Curator of Entomology in the Natural History Department at the Livingstone Museum for more than 10 years. He is recognized for and interested in the biology of crop pests and disease vectors, such as mosquitoes. His aim is to explore the reproductive and developmental biology of agricultural pests to have a clear picture of how to control them as well to use growth models to find out whether these pests will extend their geographical ranges. In addition, Todd is interested in the diversity of insects, relationships between insects, climate change and human health and to use this knowledge to protect the environment and human health. In the last five years, he has utilised both qualitative and quantitative methods to improve our understanding of the ecology of especially disease vector mosquitoes in northern South Africa. The findings suggest that mosquito diversity and abundance are greater in untransformed natural areas especially the Savanna regions compared to the transformed landscape regions of the inland plateau in northern South Africa. Johnson got his bachelor’s degree from the University of Zambia and his BSc (hons) and MSc from Stellenbosch University while his doctorate was obtained from the University of Pretoria.
 
Academic qualifications
BSc, BSc (hons), MSc, PhD
 
Research areas
Entomology, Medical Entomology, Ecology, Insect Taxonomy, Insect & Vector Ecology, Crop Protection/ Biocontrol, Aquatic Biomonitoring
 
Publications
1. Johnson, T., Guarido, M., Venter, M., Almeida, A.P.G. and Braack, L. 2020. Mosquito community composition and abundance at contrasting sites in northern South Africa, 2014–2017. Journal of Vector Ecology 45: 104–117.
 
2. Cornel, A.J., Lee, Y., Almeida, A.P.G., Johnson, T., Mouatcho, J., Venter, M., De Jager, C. and Braack, L. 2018. Mosquito community composition in South Africa and some neighboring countries. Parasites & Vectors (11) 331: pp 12.
 
3. Johnson, T. and Giliomee, J.H. 2013. Practical problems and their solutions in studying the biology of the mealybug Paracoccus burnerae (Brain) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). African Journal of Biotechnology 12: 3609–3614.
 
4. Johnson, T. and Giliomee, J.H. 2012. Seasonal phenology and natural enemies of the oleander mealybug, Paracoccus burnerae (Brain) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in South Africa. African Entomology 20: 1–7.
 
5. Johnson, T. and Giliomee, J.H. 2011. Development of the oleander mealybug, Paracoccus burnerae (Brain) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) at five temperatures on citrus. African Entomology 19: 641–649.
 
6. Johnson, T. and Giliomee, J.H. 2011. Evaluation of citrus, butternut and sprouting potato as mass rearing substrates for the oleander mealybug, Paracoccus burnerae (Brain) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). African Journal of Biotechnology 10: 8320–8324.
 
7. Johnson, T. and Giliomee, J.H. 2010. Is there a link between developmental rate and occasional dominance of the oleander mealybug, Paracoccus burnerae (Brain) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), on citrus in South Africa. African Entomology 18: 354–359.
 
8. De Merxem, D.G., Borremans, B., De Jager, M.L., Johnson, T., Jooste, M., Ros, P., Zenni, R.D., Ellis, A.G. and Anderson, B. 2009. The importance of flower visitors not predicted by floralsyndromes. South African Journal of Botany 75: 660–667.
 
9. Lukasik, P. and Johnson, T. 2007. Arthropod communities and succession in baobab (Adansonia rubrostipa) fruits in a dry deciduous forest in Kirindy Forest Reserve, Madagascar. African Entomology 15: 214–220.
 
10. Johnson, T. 2005. Insect survey of the Katombora Islands of Zambia (24-28 April 2005). Environment Africa Biodiversity Expedition Report.
 
11. Lukasik, P. and Johnson, T. 2004. Fate of baobab (Adansonia rubrostipa) fruits in dry deciduous forest of Kirindy, Madagascar. Tropical Biology Association Research Reports.
Links to publications
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Todd_Johnson5
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6346-5604