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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Survey Of Native Predatory Hemipterans And Assessment Of Nabis Americoferus Carayon (Hemiptera: Nabidae) As A Biological Control Agent Of Lepidopteran Tomato Pests, Andrew Laflair Feb 2022

Survey Of Native Predatory Hemipterans And Assessment Of Nabis Americoferus Carayon (Hemiptera: Nabidae) As A Biological Control Agent Of Lepidopteran Tomato Pests, Andrew Laflair

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Invasive species have become a grave threat to the economic viability of our global vegetable producers. Tomato pinworm Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) has expanded from its range originating from Peru to being established in nearly hundreds of countries, causing tomato production losses of up to 100% on occasion; however, it has not yet been found in Canada or the USA. Southwestern Ontario is a significant tomato producer making it a high risk from this invasive species. Efficient integrated control methods such as native biological control agents (BCAs) that avoid creating insecticide resistance are ideal. Surveys of Southwestern Ontario conservation …


Variation In Oviposition Behaviour Of Blow Flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Due To Relative Humidity And Intraspecific Interactions, Theresa Tran Jan 2022

Variation In Oviposition Behaviour Of Blow Flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Due To Relative Humidity And Intraspecific Interactions, Theresa Tran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Blow flies are usually the first insects to arrive at carrion, using it to oviposit or breed. The behaviour to search for and accept a carrion resource as suitable for oviposition is influenced by abiotic factors, particularly temperature and humidity, as well as by the presence of other insects. My thesis focuses on the influence of relative humidity (RH), combined with intraspecific interactions, on oviposition choices of three blow fly species Lucilia sericata (Meigen), Phormia regina (Meigen), and Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Individual fly oviposition behaviour was measured on a temperature gradient (10-40°C) under high (75- 85%) and low …