Life Sciences Commons^™

Technological Advances To Address Current Issues In Entomology: 2020 Student Debates, Lina Bernaola, Molly Darlington, Kadie Britt, Patricia Prade, Morgan Roth, Adrian Pekarcik, Michelle Boone, Dylan Ricke, Anh Tran, Joanie King, Kelly Carruthers, Morgan Thompson, John J. Ternest, Sarah E. Anderson, Scott W. Gula, Kayleigh C. Hauri, Jacob R. Pecenka, Sajjan Grover, Heena Puri, Surabhi Gupta Vakil

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The 2020 Student Debates of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) were live-streamed during the Virtual Annual Meeting to debate current, prominent entomological issues of interest to members. The Student Debates Subcommittee of the National ESA Student Affairs Committee coordinated the student efforts throughout the year and hosted the live event. This year, four unbiased introductory speakers provided background for each debate topic while four multi-university teams were each assigned a debate topic under the theme ‘Technological Advances to Address Current Issues in Entomology’. The two debate topics selected were as follows: 1) What is the best taxonomic approach to …

Description Of The Immature Stages Of Stenocrates Agricola Dechambre & Hardy (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) With Redescription Of The Adult And Discussion Of Its Tribal Position, Mario G, Ibarra-Polesel, Jhon C. Neita-Moreno, Brett Ratcliffe

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The enigmatic genus Stenocrates Burmeister has 52 species that are widely distributed from Mexico to Argentina, but mainly in South America. In the present study, the larva of the third instar and pupa of Stenocrates agricola Dechambre & Hardy, 2004 are described and illustrated based on specimens from Argentina, this being the first description of immatures for the genus. The adult is also redescribed, significantly expanding the number of characters and providing information on the natural history of this species. In addition, 28 species of Cyclocephalini and 20 species of Pentodontini are morphologically compared, emphasizing the most useful larval characters …

First Description Of The Female Of The Rare Megasoma Lecontei Hardy (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Dynastini), Brett Ratcliffe, Guillermo Nogueira, Rich Cunningham

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Megasoma lecontei Hardy is the most rarely collected of all species of Megasoma Kirby, and the female remained undescribed. A description and illustrations of the female of M. lecontei are provided for the first time based on several specimens from near Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. A revised key to the Megasoma species occurring in Baja California Sur, Mexico is presented.

New Tribal Placement And Review Of Parapucaya Prell And Pucaya Ohaus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae), Aura Paucar-Cabrera, Matthew Robert Moore

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The dynastine scarab genera Parapucaya Prell and Pucaya Ohaus have been historically classified in Pentodontini; however, that tribal classification is not supported under the current tribal circumscriptions. A discussion justifying the transfer of the genera Parapucaya and Pucaya from Pentodontini into Cyclocephalini is presented. This research is based on morphological observations (mandible shape and wing characters among others) and molecular data (genes 28S, COI, and 16S/ND1). A review of both genera is included, providing descriptions, diagnoses, distribution data, illustrations, and keys to species. A revised key to the world genera of Cyclocephalini is also included.

Los escarabajos de los géneros …

Description Of The Female Of Hologymnetis Reyesi Gasca And Deloya (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Gymnetini), With New State Records For Mexico And A Bilingual Key To The Species Of Hologymnetis Martínez, Brett C. Ratcliffe, Hector Jaime Gasca-Alvarez, Cuauhtemoc Deloya

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The female of Hologymnetis reyesi Gasca and Deloya is described and illustrated for the first time based upon specimens from Estado de México, Mexico, new state record. The species is also herein reported from the state of Guerrero, new state record. A bilingual key in Spanish and English to all the species of Hologymnetis Martínez is presented and accompanied by maps showing distributions for all species in the genus.

Predominantly Left-Dominant Mandibular Chirality In Coleoptera, Mathew L. Brust, W. Wyatt Hoback

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Patterns of mandible chirality have been virtually unexplored in beetles, apart from a single study in 2010. Here we present the mandible chirality trends found in 58 beetle species representing the families Carabidae (52 species), Cerambycidae (three species), and Silphidae (three species) that display overlapping mandibles. Mandible chirality was not random in the groups examined, all of which exhibited a dominant trend towards left-superiority. The degree to which each taxonomic group displayed the left-superior trend differed, with tiger beetles showing the greatest dominance (99%) and longhorned beetles the weakest (71%).

Morphological Characterization And Molecular Mediated Genetic Variation Of Thief Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Ralph B. Narain, Shripat T. Kamble, Thomas O. Powers

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The morphological characterization and molecular genetic variation were determined in populations of thief ants, Solenopsis molesta (Say). The genetic variations were elucidated using mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mDNA) sequences of cytochrome oxidase I. DNA from thief ants was extracted with Qiagen’s Gentra PUREGENE DNA Isolation Kit using their solid tissue protocol. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were run on the extracted DNA using primers Lep-F1 (forward) and Lep-R1 (reverse). The DNA products were concentrated and purified by Microcon Centrifugal Filter Unit YM-100. Purified DNA samples were sequenced at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences (UAMS) DNA Sequencing Core Facility. The sequences were …