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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Wild, Native Bees And Managed Honey Bees Benefit From Similar Agricultural Land Uses, Elaine Evans, Matthew Smart, Dan Cariveau, Marla Spivak Sep 2018

Wild, Native Bees And Managed Honey Bees Benefit From Similar Agricultural Land Uses, Elaine Evans, Matthew Smart, Dan Cariveau, Marla Spivak

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Although both managed and unmanaged bees are important pollinators of crops and wild plants, efforts to address questions about landscapes that best support pollinators often focus on either wild pollinators or honey bees. This study examined if there was concordance between the success of wild bee communities and managed honey bee colonies at sites varying in floral availability and disturbance level in a predominantly agricultural landscape. We also determined which agricultural land uses best supported wild bee communities. The study area in the state of North Dakota in Northern Great Plains in North America is home to understudied native bee …


Knowledge Of Pollinator Conservation And Associated Plant Recommendations In The Horticultural Retail Industry, Carter M. Westerhold, Samuel E. Wortman, Kim Todd, Douglas Golick Aug 2018

Knowledge Of Pollinator Conservation And Associated Plant Recommendations In The Horticultural Retail Industry, Carter M. Westerhold, Samuel E. Wortman, Kim Todd, Douglas Golick

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Pollinating insects are integral to the health of all terrestrial ecosystems and agriculture worldwide. Urbanization can greatly reduce nutritional resources and habitat for pollinators. However, these losses can be mitigated through targeted landscape practices, such as planting nectar- and pollen-rich plants and managing pollinator habitat in urban areas, especially home landscapes. As homeowners attempt to conserve pollinators through horticultural practices, they often seek the advice and guidance of horticulture retail employees. The knowledge horticulture employees have about pollinators and the recommendations they provide to customers is largely unknown. A nationwide survey was developed and distributed with the objectives to 1) …


Field Pea Response To Seeding Rate, Depth, And Inoculant In West-Central Nebraska, Strahinja V. Stepanovic, Charles Burr, Julie A. Peterson, Daran Rudnick, Cody Creech, Rodrigo Werle Jun 2018

Field Pea Response To Seeding Rate, Depth, And Inoculant In West-Central Nebraska, Strahinja V. Stepanovic, Charles Burr, Julie A. Peterson, Daran Rudnick, Cody Creech, Rodrigo Werle

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Increased market demand and larger adoption of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) in semiarid west-central Nebraska has provided opportunities to replace summer fallow and diversify crop rotations. As a relatively new crop, its response to different seeding practices has not been evaluated in this eco-region. Field pea grain yield response to seeding depth (25, 50, and 75 mm), inoculation with Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae (yes and no rhizobia inoculant), and seeding rates (35, 50, 65, 75, 90, 105, and 120 plants m–2) was investigated in 2015 and 2016 at five sites in Perkins County, NE. There were …


Feeding Behavior Of Aphis Glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae) On Soybeans Exhibiting Antibiosis, Antixenosis, And Tolerance Resistance, E. L.L. Baldin, Mitchell D. Stamm, José P. F. Bentivenha, Kyle G. Koch, Tiffany M. Heng-Moss, Thomas E. Hunt Jun 2018

Feeding Behavior Of Aphis Glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae) On Soybeans Exhibiting Antibiosis, Antixenosis, And Tolerance Resistance, E. L.L. Baldin, Mitchell D. Stamm, José P. F. Bentivenha, Kyle G. Koch, Tiffany M. Heng-Moss, Thomas E. Hunt

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a serious pest of soybean in North America. Plant resistance is a valuable tool for the management of this pest, and a better understanding of the interactions between aphid and soybeans expressing varying levels and different categories of resistance can assist in the development of aphid resistant or tolerant genotypes. The electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique was used to evaluate the feeding behavior of A. glycines (biotype 1) on 4 soybean genotypes: (1) ‘Dowling’ (contains Rag1 gene and exhibits antibiosis); (2) PI 200538 (contains Rag2 gene and exhibits antixenosis); (3) KS4202 (exhibits tolerance); and …


New Species Of Elateridae (Coleoptera) From Madre De Dios, Peru, With New Taxonomic Changes And Distribution Records, P. J. Johnson, Hannah K. Boyd, Caroline S. Chaboo May 2018

New Species Of Elateridae (Coleoptera) From Madre De Dios, Peru, With New Taxonomic Changes And Distribution Records, P. J. Johnson, Hannah K. Boyd, Caroline S. Chaboo

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The Elateridae fauna of Peru is updated with species new to science, new country records and new taxonomic combinations from the Madre de Dios region. Ten species representing eight genera are described as new: Conoderus wachiperi new species (Agrypninae, Oophorini) Cosmesus aca new species (Elaterinae, Pomachilini), Dipropus amarakaeri new species and Dipropus losamigos new species (Elaterinae, Ampedini, Dicrepidiina), Esthesopus machiguenga new species (Cardiophorinae), Glyphonyx peruanus new species (Elaterinae, Adrastini), Lissomus carmen new species (Lissominae), Paradonus kosnipata new species (Negastriinae), and Pomachilius qusqu new species and Pomachilius wayqecha new species (Elaterinae, Pomachilini). Aeolus platynotus Candèze is changed to Conoderus platynotus (Candèze) …


In Their Own Words: The Significance Of Participant Perceptions In Assessing Entomology Citizen Science Learning Outcomes Using A Mixed Methods Approach, Louise I. Lynch, Jenny Dauer, Wayne A. Babchuk, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Doug Golick Feb 2018

In Their Own Words: The Significance Of Participant Perceptions In Assessing Entomology Citizen Science Learning Outcomes Using A Mixed Methods Approach, Louise I. Lynch, Jenny Dauer, Wayne A. Babchuk, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Doug Golick

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

A mixed methods study was used to transcend the traditional pre-, post-test approach of citizen science evaluative research by integrating adults’ test scores with their perceptions. We assessed how contributory entomology citizen science affects participants’ science self-efficacy, self-efficacy for environmental action, nature relatedness and attitude towards insects. Pre- and post-test score analyses from citizen scientists (n = 28) and a control group (n = 72) were coupled with interviews (n = 11) about science experiences and entomological interactions during participation. Considering quantitative data alone, no statistically significant changes were evident in adults following participation in citizen science when compared to …


Investigation Of Cry3bb1 Resistance And Intoxication In Western Corn Rootworm By Rna Sequencing, Leslie Catherine Rault, Blair D. Siegfried, Aaron J. Gassmann, Haichuan Wang, Gary J. Brewer, Nicholas J. Miller Feb 2018

Investigation Of Cry3bb1 Resistance And Intoxication In Western Corn Rootworm By Rna Sequencing, Leslie Catherine Rault, Blair D. Siegfried, Aaron J. Gassmann, Haichuan Wang, Gary J. Brewer, Nicholas J. Miller

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The western corn rootworm (WCR) Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte is a major pest of corn that has evolved resistance to transgenic maize that produces insecticidal Cry toxins. The specific mode of action of Cry3Bb1 and mechanism of resistance in WCR are unknown. This study compared gene expression between Cry3Bb1-susceptible and Cry3Bb1-resistant WCR neonates, in the presence and absence of Cry3Bb1. RNA-Seq data were analyzed to identify differentially expressed transcripts between strains of WCR, providing candidate transcripts for resistance to Cry3Bb1. Constitutive and Cry3Bb1-induced differences between strains caused the differential expression of 608 transcripts after 8 hr. Differentially expressed transcripts between …


Resistance In 27 Rice Cultivars To Sugarcane Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), F. Correa, C. L. T. Silva, A. P. Pelosi, A. C. S. Almeida, E. A. Heinrichs, J. A. F. Barrigossi, F. G. Jesus Feb 2018

Resistance In 27 Rice Cultivars To Sugarcane Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), F. Correa, C. L. T. Silva, A. P. Pelosi, A. C. S. Almeida, E. A. Heinrichs, J. A. F. Barrigossi, F. G. Jesus

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is considered one of the most important crops in the world, and the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is among the key pests damaging the crop in the Americas. The objective of this work was to identify rice genotypes as a source of resistance to D. saccharalis. Rice plants were infested in the greenhouse and subsequently evaluated for damage, larval weight and survival, and stem size. The cultivars “Bonança,” “Caripuna,” “IR 42,” “Canela de Ferro,” “SWA Norte,” “BR IRGA 409,” “Pepita,” “Serra Dourada,” “Araguaia,” “Xingú,” “Tangará,” and “Soberana” showed antibiosis, antixenosis, or …


Molecular Gut-Content Analysis Reveals High Frequency Of Helicoverpa Zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Consumption By Orius Insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) In Sweet Corn, Julie A. Peterson, E. C. Burkness, James D. Harwood, W. D. Hutchison Feb 2018

Molecular Gut-Content Analysis Reveals High Frequency Of Helicoverpa Zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Consumption By Orius Insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) In Sweet Corn, Julie A. Peterson, E. C. Burkness, James D. Harwood, W. D. Hutchison

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Management of corn earworm Helicoverpa zea in sweet corn grown for processing can be challenging due to the lack of effective transgenic and chemical control options. However, biological control by generalist predators can provide a significant impact on pests in this cropping system. One of the most ubiquitous predators of H. zea and other lepidopterans is the insidious flower bug, Orius insidiosus. This small hemipteran has been observed as an important mortality agent of H. zea in several cropping systems, but the strength of the trophic connection between these species has not been documented in sweet corn. Molecular gut-content …


Arabidopsis Actin-Depolymerizing Factor3 Is Required For Controlling Aphid Feeding From The Phloem, Hossain A. Mondal, Joe Louis, Lani Archer, Monika Patel, Vamsi J. Nalam, Sujon Sarowar, Vishala Sivapalan, Douglas D. Root, Jyoti Shah Jan 2018

Arabidopsis Actin-Depolymerizing Factor3 Is Required For Controlling Aphid Feeding From The Phloem, Hossain A. Mondal, Joe Louis, Lani Archer, Monika Patel, Vamsi J. Nalam, Sujon Sarowar, Vishala Sivapalan, Douglas D. Root, Jyoti Shah

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The actin cytoskeleton network has an important role in plant cell growth, division, and stress response. Actin-depolymerizing factors (ADFs) are a group of actin-binding proteins that contribute to reorganization of the actin network. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) ADF3 is required in the phloem for controlling infestation by Myzus persicae Sülzer, commonly known as the green peach aphid (GPA), which is an important phloem sap-consuming pest of more than fifty plant families. In agreement with a role for the actin-depolymerizing function of ADF3 in defense against the GPA, we show that resistance in adf3 was …


Altering Plant Defenses: Herbivore-Associated Molecular Patterns And Effector Arsenal Of Chewing Herbivores, Saumik Basu, Suresh Varsani, Joe Louis Jan 2018

Altering Plant Defenses: Herbivore-Associated Molecular Patterns And Effector Arsenal Of Chewing Herbivores, Saumik Basu, Suresh Varsani, Joe Louis

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Chewing herbivores, such as caterpillars and beetles, while feeding on the host plant, cause extensive tissue damage and release a wide array of cues to alter plant defenses. Consequently, the cues can have both beneficial and detrimental impacts on the chewing herbivores. Herbivore-associated molecular patterns (HAMPs) are molecules produced by herbivorous insects that aid them to elicit plant defenses leading to impairment of insect growth, while effectors suppress plant defenses and contribute to increased susceptibility to subsequent feeding by chewing herbivores. Besides secretions that originate from glands (e.g., saliva) and fore- and midgut regions (e.g., oral secretions) of chewing herbivores, …


Knockdown Of The Chromatin Remodeling Gene Brahma By Rna Interference Reduces Reproductive Fitness And Lifespan In Common Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), Sanjay Basnet, Shripat T. Kamble Jan 2018

Knockdown Of The Chromatin Remodeling Gene Brahma By Rna Interference Reduces Reproductive Fitness And Lifespan In Common Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), Sanjay Basnet, Shripat T. Kamble

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) is a nuisance household pest causing significant medical and economic impacts. RNA interference (RNAi) of genes that are involved in vital physiological processes can serve as potential RNAi targets for insect control. Brahma is an ATPase subunit of a chromatin-remodeling complex involved in transcription of several genes for cellular processes, most importantly the homeotic genes. In this study, we used a microinjection technique to deliver double stranded RNA into female bed bugs. Delivery of 0.05 and 0.5 μg/insect of brahma dsRNA directly into hemocele resulted substantial reduction in oviposition. Eggs laid …


Nebraska Growers’ And Crop Consultants’ Knowledge And Implementation Of Integrated Pest Management Of Western Bean Cutworm, Westen Ray Archibald, Jeff D. Bradshaw, Douglas A. Golick, Robert J. Wright, Julie A. Peterson Jan 2018

Nebraska Growers’ And Crop Consultants’ Knowledge And Implementation Of Integrated Pest Management Of Western Bean Cutworm, Westen Ray Archibald, Jeff D. Bradshaw, Douglas A. Golick, Robert J. Wright, Julie A. Peterson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Western bean cutworm (WBC), Striacosta albicosta (Smith; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a native noctuid pest of corn and dry beans in North America. While this pest has expanded its range greatly in recent years, historically it has consistently caused high yield losses in western Nebraska. A survey was distributed to growers, crop consultants and other agricultural professionals to obtain information about current management practices used for WBC. Questions covered multiple topics including: demographics, scouting practices, degree-day model use, confidence in management knowledge, Bt corn use, insecticide use, and considerations for biological control. There were 95 completed responses received by email. Respondents …


The First Record Of Ooencyrtus Nezarae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) On Kudzu Bug (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) In North America, Blessing Ademokoya, Rammohan Balusu, Charles Ray, Jason Mottern, Henry Fadamiro Jan 2018

The First Record Of Ooencyrtus Nezarae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) On Kudzu Bug (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) In North America, Blessing Ademokoya, Rammohan Balusu, Charles Ray, Jason Mottern, Henry Fadamiro

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Heteroptera: Plataspidae), is an invasive insect pest introduced from Asia in 2009 that poses a threat to soybeans (Glycine max [L.] Merr. [Fabales: Fabaceae]) and other legume crops in the United States. Initially discovered in Georgia, M. cribraria rapidly expanded across the southeast until 2014 when a significant decline in its population was observed across many locations. This notable decline in M. cribraria populations is attributed to the emergence of new parasitoids and pathogens in its new invasive range. So far, only a single egg parasitoid, Paratelenomus saccharalis (Dodd) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), is known …


U.S. National Collection Of Scarabs At Unsm, Brett Ratcliffe Jan 2018

U.S. National Collection Of Scarabs At Unsm, Brett Ratcliffe

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The Department of Entomology of the Smithsonian Institution (SI) National Museum of Natural History granted an Offsite Collection Enhancement Pogram (OEP) to the State Museum at the University of Nebraska (UNSM). TheOEP consists of the renewable ten-year loan of a large collection which is bound to a detailed, 19 point Memorandum of Understanding between both parties and signed off institutionally by Museum Directors. The basic idea is that if part of the U.S. National Collection has no ongoing resident active research and there exists a center of expertise at another institution, it is most prudent to allow this off-site center …


Morphological And Genetic Analysis Of Four Color Morphs Of Bean Leaf Beetle, Bamphitlhi Tiroesele, Steven R. Skoda, Thomas Hunt, Donald Lee, Muhammad I. Ullah, Jaime Molina-Ochoa, John E. Foster Jan 2018

Morphological And Genetic Analysis Of Four Color Morphs Of Bean Leaf Beetle, Bamphitlhi Tiroesele, Steven R. Skoda, Thomas Hunt, Donald Lee, Muhammad I. Ullah, Jaime Molina-Ochoa, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Bean leaf beetle (BLB), Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster; Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), exhibits considerable color variation but little is known about the underlying genetic structure and gene flow among color phenotypes. Genetic and morphological variation among four color phenotypes—green with spots (G+S), green without spots (G-S), red with spots (R+S) and red without spots (R-S)—were analyzed using amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) and morphometrics, respectively. AFLP generated 175 markers that showed ≥80% polymorphism. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that genetic variation was greatest within phenotypes (82.6–84.0%); gene flow among the four phenotypes was relatively high (Nm = 3.82). The dendrogram and …


Interactions Between Pesticides And Pathogen Susceptibility In Honey Bees, Scott T. O'Neal, Troy D. Anderson, Judy Wu-Smart Jan 2018

Interactions Between Pesticides And Pathogen Susceptibility In Honey Bees, Scott T. O'Neal, Troy D. Anderson, Judy Wu-Smart

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

There exist a variety of factors that negatively impact the health and survival of managed honey bee colonies, including the spread of parasites and pathogens, loss of habitat, reduced availability or quality of food resources, climate change, poor queen quality, changing cultural and commercial beekeeping practices, as well as exposure to agricultural and apicultural pesticides both in the field and in the hive. These factors are often closely intertwined, and it is unlikely that a single stressor is driving colony losses. There is a growing consensus, however, that increasing prevalence of parasites and pathogens are among the most significant threats …


Rnai-Mediated Knockdown Of Vatpase Subunits Affects Survival And Reproduction Of Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), Sanjay Basnet, Shripat T. Kamble Jan 2018

Rnai-Mediated Knockdown Of Vatpase Subunits Affects Survival And Reproduction Of Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), Sanjay Basnet, Shripat T. Kamble

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) has resurged as one of the most troublesome household pests affecting people across the globe. Bed bug infestations have increased in recent years primarily due to the evolution of insecticide resistance and the insect’s ability to hitchhike with travelers. vATPases are one of the most evolutionarily conserved holoenzymes in eukaryotes, which are mainly involved in proton transport across the plasma membranes and intracellu­lar organelles. RNA interference (RNAi) has been developed as a promising tool for insect control. In this study, we used RNAi as an approach to knock down subunits A …


The Interface Between Wheat And The Wheat Curl Mite, Aceria Tosichella, The Primary Vector Of Globally Important Viral Diseases, Anna Skoracka, Brian G. Rector, Gary L. Hein Jan 2018

The Interface Between Wheat And The Wheat Curl Mite, Aceria Tosichella, The Primary Vector Of Globally Important Viral Diseases, Anna Skoracka, Brian G. Rector, Gary L. Hein

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Wheat production and sustainability are steadily threatened by pests and pathogens in both wealthy and developing countries. This review is focused on the wheat curl mite (WCM), Aceria tosichella, and its relationship with wheat. WCM is a major pest of wheat and other cereals and a vector of at least four damaging plant viruses (Wheat streak mosaic virus, High plains wheat mosaic virus, Brome streak mosaic virus, and Triticum mosaic virus). The WCM–virus pathosystem causes considerable yield losses worldwide and its severity increases significantly when mixed-virus infections occur. Chemical control strategies are largely ineffective because WCM occupies …


Evaluation Of Greenbug And Yellow Sugarcane Aphid Feeding Behavior On Resistant And Susceptible Switchgrass Cultivars, Kyle G. Koch, Teresa Donze-Reiner, Lisa M. Baird, Joe Louis, Keenan L. Amundsen, Gautam Sarath, Jeff Bradshaw, Tiffany Heng-Moss Jan 2018

Evaluation Of Greenbug And Yellow Sugarcane Aphid Feeding Behavior On Resistant And Susceptible Switchgrass Cultivars, Kyle G. Koch, Teresa Donze-Reiner, Lisa M. Baird, Joe Louis, Keenan L. Amundsen, Gautam Sarath, Jeff Bradshaw, Tiffany Heng-Moss

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is an emerging biofuel crop that serves as host for aphids. To discern the effects of plant age and possible resistance mechanisms, the feeding behavior of greenbugs (Schizaphis graminum Rondani.) and the yellow sugarcane aphid (Sipha flava Forbes.) was monitored on three diverse switchgrasses by the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique. Callose deposition and genes associated with callose metabolism were also analyzed to discern their association with plant resistance. There was a strong host effect on greenbugs feeding on lowland cultivar Kanlow at the V3 stage of development, as compared to the greenbug-susceptible …


The Influence Of Spatiotemporally Decoupled Land Use On Honey Bee Colony Health And Pollination Service Delivery, Matthew D. Smart, Clint R. V. Otto, Benjamin L. Carlson, Cali L. Roth Jan 2018

The Influence Of Spatiotemporally Decoupled Land Use On Honey Bee Colony Health And Pollination Service Delivery, Matthew D. Smart, Clint R. V. Otto, Benjamin L. Carlson, Cali L. Roth

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Societal dependence on insects for pollination of agricultural crops has risen amidst concerns over pollinator declines. Habitat loss and lack of forage have been implicated in the decline of both managed and native pollinators. Land use changes in the Northern Great Plains of the US, a region supporting over 1 million honey bee colonies annually, have shifted away from historical grassland ecosystems bees rely on for forage toward landscapes dominated by corn, soybeans, and other row crops. We investigated how land use impacts honey bee colony population size during the growing season and subsequent colony population size for almond pollination …


The Six-Legged Subject: A Survey Of Secondary Science Teachers’ Incorporation Of Insects Into U.S. Life Science Instruction, Erin Ingram, Douglas Golick Jan 2018

The Six-Legged Subject: A Survey Of Secondary Science Teachers’ Incorporation Of Insects Into U.S. Life Science Instruction, Erin Ingram, Douglas Golick

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

To improve students’ understanding and appreciation of insects, entomology education efforts have supported insect incorporation in formal education settings. While several studies have explored student ideas about insects and the incorporation of insects in elementary and middle school classrooms, the topic of how and why insects are incorporated in secondary science classrooms remains relatively unexplored. Using survey research methods, this study addresses the gap in the literature by (1) describing in-service secondary science teachers’ incorporation of insects in science classrooms; (2) identifying factors that support or deter insect incorporation and (3) identifying teachers’ preferred resources to support future entomology education …


Parental Rnai Suppression Of Chromatin Remodeling Genes To Control Coleopteran Pests, Blair D. Siegfried, Kenneth E. Narva, Kanika Arora, Sarah E. Worden, Chitvan Khajuria, Elane Fishilevich, Nicholas P. Storer, Meghan Frey, Ronda L. Hamm, Ana Maria Velez Jan 2018

Parental Rnai Suppression Of Chromatin Remodeling Genes To Control Coleopteran Pests, Blair D. Siegfried, Kenneth E. Narva, Kanika Arora, Sarah E. Worden, Chitvan Khajuria, Elane Fishilevich, Nicholas P. Storer, Meghan Frey, Ronda L. Hamm, Ana Maria Velez

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

This disclosure concerns nucleic acid molecules and meth ods of use thereof for control of hemipteran pests through RNA interference - mediated inhibition of target coding and transcribed non - coding sequences in hemipteran pests. The disclosure also concerns methods for making transgenic plants that express nucleic acid molecules useful for the control of hemipteran pests, and the plant cells and plants obtained thereby.


Breeding Patterns And Population Genetics Of Eastern Subterranean Termites Reticulitermes Flavipes In Urban Environment Of Nebraska, United States, Ah Ab Majid, Shripat T. Kamble, H. Chen Jan 2018

Breeding Patterns And Population Genetics Of Eastern Subterranean Termites Reticulitermes Flavipes In Urban Environment Of Nebraska, United States, Ah Ab Majid, Shripat T. Kamble, H. Chen

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) has become the most destructive subterranean termite pest, on urban structures in Nebraska. In this study, we used seven microsatellite loci to infer the colony breeding system and population genetic structure among 20 infested urban structures in Nebraska. Our data revealed that 17 structures were infested by simple family colonies of R. flavipes, while, the remaining three were infested with mixed family colonies. The measure of population differentiation, FCT value (0.459) indicated that all the 20 urban colonies (10 - 410 km apart) represented pronounced levels of genetic differentiation. The Mantel test disclosed a weak and …


Rna Interference Of The Muscle Actin Gene In Bed Bugs: Exploring Injection Versus Topical Application For Dsrna Delivery, Sanjay Basnet, Shripat T. Kamble Jan 2018

Rna Interference Of The Muscle Actin Gene In Bed Bugs: Exploring Injection Versus Topical Application For Dsrna Delivery, Sanjay Basnet, Shripat T. Kamble

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Bed bugs are one the most troublesome household pests that feed primarily on human blood. RNA interference (RNAi) is currently being pursued as a potential tool for insect population management and has shown efficacy against some phytophagous insects. We evaluated the different techniques to deliver dsRNA specific to bed bug muscle actin (dsactin) into bed bugs. Initially, stability of dsRNA in human blood was studied to evaluate the feasibility of feeding method. Adult bed bugs were injected with dsRNA between last thoracic segment and first abdominal segment on the ventral side, with a dose of 0.2 μg dsactin …


Comparing The Effects Of Two Tillage Operations On Beneficial Epigeal Arthropod Communities And Their Associated Ecosystem Services In Sugar Beets, Rudolph J. Pretorius, Gary L. Hein, Erin E. Blankenship, Foster F. Purrington, Robert G. Wilson, Jeff D. Bradshaw Jan 2018

Comparing The Effects Of Two Tillage Operations On Beneficial Epigeal Arthropod Communities And Their Associated Ecosystem Services In Sugar Beets, Rudolph J. Pretorius, Gary L. Hein, Erin E. Blankenship, Foster F. Purrington, Robert G. Wilson, Jeff D. Bradshaw

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Beneficial arthropods provide important ecosystem services in terms of arthropod pest and weed management, but these services can be adversely affected by farming practices such as tillage. This study investigated the impact of two tillage operations (zone tillage and moldboard plow) on the activity density of several beneficial, epigeal arthropod taxa, and postdispersal weed seed and prey removal in sugar beet agroecosystems. In addition, four omnivorous ground beetle species were selected for a weed-seed choice feeding assay, whereas a single species was selected for a weed-seed age preference assay. Ground beetles were the most commonly collected taxon (via pitfall sampling), …


In-Hive Acaricides Alter Biochemical And Morphological Indicators Of Honey Bee Nutrition, Immunity, And Development, Alison M. Reeves, Scott T. O'Neal, Richard D. Fell, Carlyle C. Brewster, Troy D. Anderson Jan 2018

In-Hive Acaricides Alter Biochemical And Morphological Indicators Of Honey Bee Nutrition, Immunity, And Development, Alison M. Reeves, Scott T. O'Neal, Richard D. Fell, Carlyle C. Brewster, Troy D. Anderson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The honey bee is a widely managed crop pollinator that provides the agricultural industry with the sustainability and economic viability needed to satisfy the food and fiber needs of our society. Excessive exposure to apicultural pesticides is one of many factors that has been implicated in the reduced number of managed bee colonies available for crop pollination services. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of exposure to commonly used, beekeeper-applied apicultural acaricides on established biochemical indicators of bee nutrition and immunity, as well as morphological indicators of growth and development. The results described here demonstrate that …


Evaluation Of Seed Treatments And At-Plant Soil Insecticides For The Control Of Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) In Field Corn, 2015, Kayla A. Mollet, Jonas Victor De Macedo, Grace E. Hirzel, C. Oliveira-Hofman, Julie A. Peterson Jan 2018

Evaluation Of Seed Treatments And At-Plant Soil Insecticides For The Control Of Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) In Field Corn, 2015, Kayla A. Mollet, Jonas Victor De Macedo, Grace E. Hirzel, C. Oliveira-Hofman, Julie A. Peterson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Wireworms are an important pest of corn, other field crop seedlings, and vegetables and can cause significant damage if not controlled. This field trial was established to evaluate the efficacy of neonicotinoid seed treatments and in-furrow soil insecticides to protect seedling field corn under a heavy wireworm pressure scenario. The trial was conducted on a commercial production field in Perkins County near Madrid, NE (40.781993° N, −101.463666° W). The field was selected for its likelihood to have heavy wireworm pressure due to the following: 1) past farmer observations of crop damage when planted to field corn in 2012; 2) sandy …


Host Plants Of Spodoptera Frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) In The Americas, Débora G. Montezano, Alexandre Specht, Daniel Ricardo Sosa-Gómez, Vânia F. Roque-Specht, José Carlos Sousa-Silva, Silvana V. De Paula-Moraes, Julie A. Peterson, Thomas Hunt Jan 2018

Host Plants Of Spodoptera Frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) In The Americas, Débora G. Montezano, Alexandre Specht, Daniel Ricardo Sosa-Gómez, Vânia F. Roque-Specht, José Carlos Sousa-Silva, Silvana V. De Paula-Moraes, Julie A. Peterson, Thomas Hunt

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is the most important noctuid pest in the Americas and has recently become an invasive pest in Africa. A detailed record of S. frugiperda’s host plants is essential to better understand the biology and ecology of this pest, conduct future studies, and develop Integrated Pest Management programmes. In this study, we collected and systematically arranged the fragmented bibliographic information on S. frugiperda feeding records. Furthermore, we registered new records of host plants for S. frugiperda based on eight years of surveys in Brazil. The literature review and surveys resulted in …


Evaluation Of Foliar Insecticides For The Control Of Western Bean Cutworm In Field Corn, 2017, Katharine A. Swoboda-Bhattarai, Grace E. Hirzel, Julie A. Peterson Jan 2018

Evaluation Of Foliar Insecticides For The Control Of Western Bean Cutworm In Field Corn, 2017, Katharine A. Swoboda-Bhattarai, Grace E. Hirzel, Julie A. Peterson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The objective of this field trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a single application of foliar insecticides at preventing feeding damage by the western bean cutworm (WBC), an important pest of corn and dry beans. Direct feeding by WBC larvae on developing kernels in the ear can result in yield loss, whereas WBC infestation can also lead to secondary fungal infections. WBC has undergone a rapid range expansion into the eastern Corn Belt within the last 16 yr. This study was conducted within the historic range of WBC, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Henry J. Stumpf International Wheat Center …