Ashley H. Kirk-Spriggs

Ashley was head of the Entomology Department of the National Museum from 2008 to January 2019. He was awarded a PhD by Rhodes University, Grahamstown in April 2012 for a thesis entitled “A systematic revision of selected genera of Afrotropical Curtonotidae (Diptera: Schizophora: Ephydroidea) – a phylogenetic approach”.

Ashley’s research interests were systematics, taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography and evolution of true flies (Diptera), with special emphasis on the Curtonotidae and other Ephydroidea, the immature stages and biology of acalyptrate Diptera in general and biogeography and insect biodiversity projects in southern Africa.

Ashley received a B2 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) in 2015 and is a Research Associate of the National Museum of Namibia, Windhoek. Ashley was co-editor of the ‘Manual of Afrotropical Diptera’ Volume 1 and 2 published in 2017.