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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

European Fire Ants On Mount Desert Island, Maine: Population Structure, Mechanisms Of Competition And Community Impacts Of Myrmica Rubra L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Jeffrey Garnas Dec 2004

European Fire Ants On Mount Desert Island, Maine: Population Structure, Mechanisms Of Competition And Community Impacts Of Myrmica Rubra L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Jeffrey Garnas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the early to mid-201h century, Mvrmica rubra Latreille established in various communities in Maine, mostly along the coast. Since its establishment, the ant has spread both locally via vegetative colony budding and regionally via human commerce to no fewer than 30 Maine communities, including one inland site. Studies were undertaken in the summer of 2002 to address questions of the ants' population structure in its introduced range by testing for intercolony aggression within and between local infestations. Using captive nests maintained in their original nest soil, M. rubra was tested against its close neighbors, neighbors of lorn within the …


Seasonal Abundance Of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) At A High And Low Prevalence Site For La Crosse Encephalitis In Eastern Tennessee, Nathan David Caldwell Dec 2004

Seasonal Abundance Of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) At A High And Low Prevalence Site For La Crosse Encephalitis In Eastern Tennessee, Nathan David Caldwell

Masters Theses

La Crosse (LAC), a California (CAL) serogroup bunyavirus, is the most prevalent pediatric arboviral disease in the United States and accounts for virtually all encephalitis cases associated with CAL serogroup arboviruses. In Tennessee, USA, prior to the drastic increase of confirmed La Crosse (LAC) encephalitis cases in 1997, the sum of documented cases reported to the Tennessee Department of Health totaled 9. During subsequent years in Tennessee (1997 to 2003), an average of 12 cases has been reported annually. Approximately 62% of these reported cases have occurred in the months of July and August. The native, container-inhabiting mosquito Ochlerotatus triseriatus …


Building Web-Based Interactive Keys To The Hymenopteran Families And Superfamilies, Katja Chantre Seltmann Jan 2004

Building Web-Based Interactive Keys To The Hymenopteran Families And Superfamilies, Katja Chantre Seltmann

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Traditionally manufacturing job shops either have a process layout or a product layout. The advantages of one type of layout tend to be a disadvantage for the other. Hybrid cellular constructs represents a novel fusion of process and product layouts. In this thesis, hybrid cellular constructs specifically Hybrid Flow Shops and Reoriented andamp; Reshaped Cells are clearly described in terms of their structure, key features, and modes of operation. An engineering procedure is illustrated by cases and particular manufacturing circumstances where each concept would be most useful are identified. This thesis then defines the lean practices that are compatible with …


Integration Of Management Tactics For The Rice Water Weevil Lissorhoptrus Oryzophilus Kuschel With Particular Emphasis On Use Of Plant Resistance (Tolerance), Li Zou Jan 2004

Integration Of Management Tactics For The Rice Water Weevil Lissorhoptrus Oryzophilus Kuschel With Particular Emphasis On Use Of Plant Resistance (Tolerance), Li Zou

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Studies were conducted to test the hypothesis, significant benefits can be achieved for the management of rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, by the use of rice varieties with low levels of host plant resistance coupled with the judicious use of cultural practices and insecticides. Tolerant traits of a current commercial variety of rice, "Bengal", was manifested consistently over multiple years. Study on rice growth as effected by weevil injury showed that pruning of root systems by larvae of weevil resulted in a decrease in tiller number and shoot biomass of rice plants in the vegetative stage of growth. Yield …


Evaluation Of Injury And Management Strategies For Stink Bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) On Cotton, Gossypium Hirsutum L., Melissa Marie Willrich Jan 2004

Evaluation Of Injury And Management Strategies For Stink Bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) On Cotton, Gossypium Hirsutum L., Melissa Marie Willrich

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The effects of brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), and southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.), feeding on pre-flowering, flowering, and senescing cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., plants were evaluated in field studies. Vegetative stage seedlings and flower buds (squares) were not significantly injured by adults or nymphs of either species in no-choice studies. Brown stink bug adults induced boll abscission, and reduced seedcotton yield and seed germination in bolls accumulating „T 350, „T 550, and 101 to „T 600 heat units beyond anthesis, respectively. In free-choice tests, boll preference was evaluated during each of the initial five weeks of …


Species Diversity And Biogeography Of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) In Louisiana With Notes On Their Ecology, Shawn T. Dash Jan 2004

Species Diversity And Biogeography Of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) In Louisiana With Notes On Their Ecology, Shawn T. Dash

LSU Master's Theses

Over three decades have passed since the completion of Moser and Blum's (1960) treatment of the ants of Louisiana. This research represents a significant contribution to and update of their work. I report the first-ever comprehensive assessment of the Louisiana Formicid fauna. More than 100 species from 38 genera and eight subfamilies are covered. This faunistic survey gives valuable data of biodiversity and macro/microhabitat selection of ant species. Included are keys to all subfamilies, genera, and species with illustrations photographs, and a regional map for each species.


Bees Associated With Louisiana Longleaf Pine Savannas, Chanda Sara Bartholomew Jan 2004

Bees Associated With Louisiana Longleaf Pine Savannas, Chanda Sara Bartholomew

LSU Master's Theses

Longleaf pine savannas are perhaps the most threatened ecosystems in North America. Despite a well documented and highly diverse flora, little has been published on insects in general and, in particular, on bees that provide the valuable service of plant pollination. Thus, the aims of this study were to: 1) survey bees found in two savanna types in southeastern Louisiana; and 2) contrast the diversity and species composition of these two savanna types. An ancillary goal was to contrast two collecting protocols for bees in the savanna habitat. Overall, a total of 3,407 bees were collected representing 125 species. Of …


Seasonal Occurrence Of Phyllophaga Species And Biological Studies Of Phyllophage Ephilida (Say) On Sweet Potato, Ipomoea Batatas (L) Lam, In Louisiana, Aboubacar Diagne Jan 2004

Seasonal Occurrence Of Phyllophaga Species And Biological Studies Of Phyllophage Ephilida (Say) On Sweet Potato, Ipomoea Batatas (L) Lam, In Louisiana, Aboubacar Diagne

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The biology of Phyllophaga ephilida (Say) was studied in Louisiana with both laboratory and field experiments from 1998 through 2003. The seasonal occurrence of common adult Phyllophaga species in sweet potato growing areas was surveyed with blacklight traps. P. ephilida and P. crinita (Burmeister) were the most common species at all locations. The attractiveness of seven methyl esters of L-isoleucine and L-valine blends to P. ephilida males was evaluated in sweet potato fields in 1999 and 2000. The 100% methyl ester of L-isoleucine was significantly more attractive than all other blend ratios that were tested. The life cycle of P. …


Biology And Host Finding Of Predaceous Hister Beetles (Coleoptera: Histeridae) Associated With Ips Spp. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) In Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda L.), William Pinson Shepherd Jan 2004

Biology And Host Finding Of Predaceous Hister Beetles (Coleoptera: Histeridae) Associated With Ips Spp. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) In Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda L.), William Pinson Shepherd

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The most common predaceous Histeridae (Coleoptera) found associated with Ips engraver beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in Louisiana were Platysoma attenuata LeConte, Pla. cylindrica (Paykull), Pla. parallelum (Say), and Plegaderus transversus (Say). Seasonal abundance of histerids in flight traps coincided with Ips spp. activity in the area. Histerid adults arrived at loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) logs one wk after Ips attacks had begun. As a group, histerids exhibited a bimodal emergence pattern with the first peak occurring during Ips emergence and a second four wks later, indicating that they fed on bark beetles and associated organisms arriving later in the colonization …


Field Evaluation Of Mosquito Control And Repellent Devices In Southern Louisiana, Brett Warren Collier Jan 2004

Field Evaluation Of Mosquito Control And Repellent Devices In Southern Louisiana, Brett Warren Collier

LSU Master's Theses

The effect of 2 mosquito traps and 2 repellent systems upon the catch of an American Biophysics Corporation (ABC) light trap were evaluated over a 14-month period at 3 locations in Louisiana. Devices evaluated included: 1) ABC Mosquito Magnet® with dry ice and octenol, 2) the BioSensory 500 cc Dragonfly® Biting Insect Trap with CO2, octenol, and Mosquito Cognito® which uses Conceal™ inhibitor, 3) the SC Johnson OFF!® Mosquito Lantern, and 4) the ThermaCell® cordless mosquito repellent system for residential use. The number of mosquitoes caught in the ABC light traps at the SC Johnson OFF!® Mosquito Lantern …


Plant Surrogacy: An Evaluation Of Its Use And Application In The Effort To Conserve Ground Dwelling Invertebrates, Kerry Leigh Ironside Jan 2004

Plant Surrogacy: An Evaluation Of Its Use And Application In The Effort To Conserve Ground Dwelling Invertebrates, Kerry Leigh Ironside

Theses : Honours

A study conducted in the Ridges State Forest, Yanchep was designed to investigate the relationship between plant species richness, vegetation association and ground dwelling invertebrate species richness. Four plant communities were sampled at two scales of measurement. Two treatments were located in woodland and two in heath. Within each vegetation association, plant communities that were representative of both high and low species richness were selected. Three invertebrate orders, Araneae, Coleoptera and Araneae were sorted to morphospecies level. Ordinal richness was also investigated. Two-way ANOVAs indicated that there was no relationship between plant species richness, vegetation association· or the interaction between …


Investigation Of Insect-Weed Interactions In The Rice Agroecosystem, Kelly V. Tindall Jan 2004

Investigation Of Insect-Weed Interactions In The Rice Agroecosystem, Kelly V. Tindall

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Interactions between graminaceous weed and insect pests of rice and between management practices for these pests were investigated. Studies were conducted to examine preference and performance of rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, on several weeds commonly found in rice fields. Several weeds were more preferred than rice, and larvae were present on several dicotyledonous weeds, suggesting the host range of L. oryzophilus is broader than previously thought. Effects of the presence of barnyardgrass, (Echinochloa crus-galli Beauv.), on rice stink bugs, Oebalus pugnax F., and L. oryzophilus populations in rice fields were investigated. Presence of barnyardgrass and the synchrony …


Effect Of Cotton Aphids, Aphis Gossypii (Glover), On Cotton Plant Development And Yield Components, Robert Hankins Jones Jan 2004

Effect Of Cotton Aphids, Aphis Gossypii (Glover), On Cotton Plant Development And Yield Components, Robert Hankins Jones

LSU Master's Theses

The effect of cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii (Glover), on cotton plant development and yield was studied during 2000 and 2001. Tests were conducted at the Macon Ridge Station (Winnsboro, Louisiana) in 2000 and 2001, and at the Northeast Research Station (St. Joseph, Louisiana) in 2001. Tests were performed in irrigated and non-irrigated regimes using individual plant comparisons, micro-plots, and whole plots. In both years and at both locations, cotton aphid densities induced chlorosis, and a downward cupping of leaves during the infestation period. The insecticides, pymetrozine and thiamethoxam, were applied to control natural infestations of cotton aphids. Although pymetrozine and …


Faunal Succession Of Necrophilous Insects Associated With High-Pofile Wildlife Carcasses In Louisiana, Erin Jean Grindley Watson Jan 2004

Faunal Succession Of Necrophilous Insects Associated With High-Pofile Wildlife Carcasses In Louisiana, Erin Jean Grindley Watson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The same entomological criteria used in estimating time of death for humans are applicable for deceased wildlife. Necrophilous insects associated with animal carcasses can provide wildlife law enforcement with valuable information necessary for postmortem interval estimation, and ultimately, to incriminate poachers. The purpose of this research was twofold: to establish species composition, faunal succession patterns, and species and life stage interactions of necrophilous insects associated with three wildlife species; and to identify new methods of evaluating succession patterns using statistical measures. Twenty-one large vertebrate carcasses were monitored throughout decomposition in a mixed flatwood forest in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA …


Abiotic And Biotic Factors Affecting The Distribution Of Solenopsis Invicta Buren, Brachymyrmex Sp., And Linepithema Humile (Mayr) In East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Jessica Lynn Rosson Jan 2004

Abiotic And Biotic Factors Affecting The Distribution Of Solenopsis Invicta Buren, Brachymyrmex Sp., And Linepithema Humile (Mayr) In East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Jessica Lynn Rosson

LSU Master's Theses

Ant populations and their distribution are affected by many circumstances. Abiotic factors such as weather, water availability, and soil characteristics may determine if a habitat is suitable for ants. Other factors such as level of disturbance, available food resources, reproductive biology, and natural enemies also contribute to defining ant distribution. Three ant species in East Baton Rouge parish, Louisiana were studied to determine what factors affected their distribution by measuring abiotic and biotic factors at sampling sites throughout the parish. These factors included weather, water availability, vegetation types, level of disturbance, and soil characteristics. Factors which predict abundance of Solenopsis …


Bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Production From Alternate Host Crops And Their Contribution To A Non-Bollgard Cotton Refuge, Edward Ashley Peters Jan 2004

Bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Production From Alternate Host Crops And Their Contribution To A Non-Bollgard Cotton Refuge, Edward Ashley Peters

LSU Master's Theses

The bollworm’s, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), inherent tolerance to the Bacillus thuringiensis toxin expressed in Bollgard® cotton and its ability to exploit numerous hosts has caused the Environmental Protection Agency to re-evalute the refuge component of the resistance management strategy. The goal of this project was to evaluate selected alternate host crops as supplemental non-cotton refuges for bollworm. The relative density, temporal occurrence, and life stage synchrony for bollworm larvae and adults was studied in Bollgard® cotton, Bollgard® cotton non-Bollgard® cotton, field corn, grain sorghum, and soybean. Native populations of bollworm larvae were monitored June to September during 2002 and 2003 …


Volatiles Associated With Formosan Subterranean Termites And Related Methods Development, Paul Mclaughlin Jan 2004

Volatiles Associated With Formosan Subterranean Termites And Related Methods Development, Paul Mclaughlin

LSU Master's Theses

An investigation was conducted to identify volatiles associated with active Formosan termites. Using a combined technique of short path thermal desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPTD-GC/MS), qualitative comparisons were made between compounds detected in treatments containing active Formosan termites versus those detected in controls without Formosan termites. Except for dimethyl disulfide, none of the compounds were consistently detected in the treatments but not the controls for the four termite groups tested. However, in each of the three groups that dimethyl disulfide was detected, dead termites that were decomposing along with active termites were present. Therefore, none of the compounds could be classified …


Interactions Of Insect Herbivory And Multiple Abiotic Stress Agents On Two Wetland Tree Species In Southeast Louisiana Swamps, Rebecca Faye Souther-Effler Jan 2004

Interactions Of Insect Herbivory And Multiple Abiotic Stress Agents On Two Wetland Tree Species In Southeast Louisiana Swamps, Rebecca Faye Souther-Effler

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Forested wetlands in Louisiana are hydrologically isolated from the Mississippi River, impounded by manmade structures, impacted by saltwater intrusion, and are sinking, resulting in more frequent flooding for longer periods. Additionally, defoliation of the two dominant trees, baldcypress (Taxodium distichum L. Rich) and water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica L.), occur frequently during spring. In Louisiana, the baldcypress leafroller, BCLR, (Archips goyerana Kruse) and the forest tent caterpillar, FTC, (Malacosoma disstria Hubner) defoliate up to 120,000ha of baldcypress-tupelo swamps. Restoration plans call for reintroducing Mississippi River water (diversions) to increase sediment elevation, promote natural regeneration, and enhance primary and secondary productivity. In …


Insect Pest Management Approaches Among Currently Recommended Sugarcane Varieties In Louisiana, Frederick R. Posey Jan 2004

Insect Pest Management Approaches Among Currently Recommended Sugarcane Varieties In Louisiana, Frederick R. Posey

LSU Master's Theses

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is responsible for more than 90% of the total insect damage to sugarcane in Louisiana. The decision to apply insecticides is complex and influenced by numerous variables. Included among these variables are insect infestation levels, varieties, weather conditions, production input levels, and environmental concerns. Predicting damage that may result from infestations occurring at a particular time of the crop production season is also important. The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of these variables on sugarcane borer populations and subsequent yield loss. Results from a two-year survey indicated a …


The Performance Of The Baldcypress Leafroller (Archips Goyerana Kruse, Lepidoptera: Torticidae) In Response To Fertilization, Thinning, And Genetic Variation In Host Baldcypress (Taxodium Distichum L. Richard), Crawford Wood Johnson Jan 2004

The Performance Of The Baldcypress Leafroller (Archips Goyerana Kruse, Lepidoptera: Torticidae) In Response To Fertilization, Thinning, And Genetic Variation In Host Baldcypress (Taxodium Distichum L. Richard), Crawford Wood Johnson

LSU Master's Theses

Mississippi River diversions into coastal Louisiana wetlands aim to provide nutrient inputs and slow the impacts resulting from saltwater intrusion. Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum L. Richard) exhibits significant intraspecific tolerance to salinity and is being developed for restoration projects. Two studies were conducted using five half-sibling families of baldcypress planted at two locations in southeast Louisiana to investigate the effects of nutrient additions, thinning, and phenology on the growth of the baldcypress leafroller (Archips goyerana Kruse, BCLR). In the Jeanfreau study, families were subjected to a control, low, and high level of fertilization simulating two-four years’ effects, respectively, from a Mississippi …