Life Sciences Commons^™

Hilltopping By Males Of Eupeodes Volucris (Diptera: Syrphidae), G. P. Waldbauer

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Hilltopping, station taking, territoriality, and possibly lek formation are com­bined to form the mate-locating strategy of Eupeodes volucris.

Typocerus Deceptus In Southern Illinois (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), William T. Mcdowell

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The lepturine cerambycid Typocerus deceptus is reported from southern Illinois for the first time. It was collected in association with T. v. velutinus near, or in oak- hickory forest stands on Hydrangea arborescens, a new host plant record.

First Scarab Host For Strongygaster Triangulifer (Diptera: Tachinidae): The Dung Beetle, Aphodius Fimetarius (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Foster Forbes Purrington, Daniel M. Pavuk, Rupert P. Herd, Benjamin R. Stinner

The Great Lakes Entomologist

We report Strongygaster (=Hyalomyodes ) triangulifer as a solitary primary parasite of the adult introduced dung beetle, Aphodius fimetarius. This is the first record of this tachinid fly parastizing scarabs

Terrestrial Isopod (Crustacea, Isopoda) Species Recorded From The Great Lakes Region, J. Jass, B. Klausmeier

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Twenty species of isopods have been recorded from the Great Lakes region. Synonymic notes and citations are presented to aid in further research on the isopod fauna of this region.

Additional Observations On Tachypompilus Ferrugineus With Emphasis On Male Behavior (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), Frank E. Kurczewski

The Great Lakes Entomologist

An aggregation of 11 males and 5 females of Tachypompilus ferrugineus was studied during August and September 1989 at a 2 m-high cemetery monument i Syracuse, NY. Male perching behavior and male-male and male-female interactions are described. Male-male interactions included acceptance, perching in close proximity, wing fanning, circling, following, and flight chases. Overt territoriality was not demonstrated by individual males, although several wasps each maintained a few or several stations. Despite noticeable size variation among wasps, there was no dominant-subordinate hierarchy. Male attachment to the cemetery monument waned as the season progressed due to mortality, increased floral feeding, and decreased …

Natural History Of The Common Sooty Wing Skipper, Pholisora Catullus (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), In Central Illinois, William C. Capman

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The common sooty wing skipper, Pholisora catullus, has three broods each year in east-central Illinois. Adults are active for only a few hours at mid-day_ Wing color is a rough indicator of age in the field, changing from black to brown over 5 days. These skippers have adult lifespans of about 1 week in the field. Females mate early on their first morning of adult life, and some females mate more than once in their lifetime. Females can lay up to 32 eggs daily, and appear to be able to detect host plants visually over a distance of up …

New Host Plants For Adult Systena Hudsonias (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) From Southwestern Virginia, Charles E. Williams

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Adults of the flea beetle, Systena hudsonias, were observed feeding on Ambro- sia trifida and eight previously unrecorded host plants in southwestern Virginia. New host plant records for S. hudsonias include: Arctium minus, Aster nova­ angliae, Chrysanthemum maximum, Eupatorium fistulosum, Helianthus annuus, Rudbeckia hirta (Asteraceae), Mentha spicata (Lamiaceae), and Verbena urticifoiia (Verbenaceae).

New Foodplant And Oviposition Records For The Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio Glaucus Canadensis In Alaska (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), J. Mark Scriber, Matthew P. Ayres

The Great Lakes Entomologist

(excerpt)

The eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly Papilio glaucus L., is the most polyphag­ous of all swallowtails (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) in the world (Scriber 1984). With a geographic range extending from Florida westward into Texas and north to the Brooks Mountain range in Alaska, and eastward across all of forested Canada, it may also have the largest distribution of any of 563 species of swallowtail butterflies in the world.

Bilateral Differentiation Of Color And Morphology In The Larval And Pupal Stages Of Papilio Glaucus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), J. Mark Scriber, Robert H. Hagen

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A sharply delineated, bilateral differentiation of color patterns and morphology were observed in a final (5th) instar larva of a subspecies backcross of a female Papilio glaucus glaucus with a hybrid male (P. g. glaucus x P. g. canadensis). Color and morphological differences were detectable in the pupa as well. In addition, a bilateral size difference was evident in both the pupa and the resulting adult butterfly. Such observations within a single living individual attest to the bilateral independence (also evident in perfect gynandromorphs) and general flexibility of the developmental control in this species of Lepidoptera.

Interaction Of Introgression From Papilio Glaucus Canadensis And Diapause In Producing "Spring Form" Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies, P. Glaucus (Lepidoptera: Palilionidae), J. Mark Scriber

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The small early "spring form" of the eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly, Papilio glaucus has been described from Massachusetts and Illinois in the north, southward all the way into North Carolina. The wing size, shape, patterns, and color all resemble the northern subspecies, P.g. canadensis. The possibility was explored that the "spring form" could in fact be a reflection of genetic introgression from the northern subspecies into P.g. glaucus populations with laboratory hybrid and back­ cross studies between P.g. glaucus and P.g. canadensis under controlled environments on common foodplants. In addition, morphometric multivariate discriminant analyses of 18 wing characters showed …

Two New Aberrant Forms Of Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly From The Great Lakes Hybrid/Transition Zone (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), J, Mark Scriber

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Two aberrant forms of the tiger swallowtail butterfly. Papilio glaucus, are described. Both of these aberration types (one in a male, the other in females) are believed to be previously unreported and both are from the Great Lakes hybrid zone and plant transition zone (41 ° _44°N latitude). It is, therefore, possible that genetic introgression from the northern tiger swallowtail P. glaucus canadensis may have been involved in some way with these abnormalities.

Seasonal Flight Patterns Of Hemiptera (Excluding Miridae) In A Southern Illinois Black Walnut Plantation, J. E. Mcpherson, B. C. Weber

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The seasonal flight patterns of 99 species and subspecies of Hemiptera collected in window traps in a southern Illinois black walnut plantation are compared with similar data from a North Carolina black walnut plantation. Flying height distributions and seasonal flight activities of Corythucha juglandis, Orius insidiosus, Piesma cinerea, Acanthocephala terminalis, Alydus eurinus, Sehirus cinctus cinctus, Acrosternum hilare, Brochymena quadripustutata, Euschistus servus, and Euschistus variolarius are considered in detail.

Eastern Range Extension Of Leptoglossus Occidentalis With A Key To Leptoglossus Species Of America North Of Mexico (Heteroptera: Coreidae), J. E. Mcpherson, R. J. Packauskas, S. J. Taylor, M. F. O'Brien

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Leptoglossus occidentalis is reported for the first time from Illinois and Michigan, and confirmed for Indiana. A key to the species of Leptoglossus occurring in America north of Mexico is presented.

Parasitoids Of Chionaspis Pinifoliae (Homoptera: Diaspididae) In Iowa, Daniel J. Burden, Elwood R. Hart

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Three parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae: Aphelininae), Aphytis diaspidis, Coccobius varicornis, and Marietta pulchella, were recovered from field collections of the pine needle scale, Chionaspis pinifoliae, on Pinus sylvestris in central Iowa. Parasitoid mean time (± SEM) to emergence from overwintered scale mummies occurred at 46.6 (4.6) and 23.9 (1.3) days for C. varicornis and M. pulchella, respectively, using a 16L:8D photoperiod and a corresponding temperature regime of 22°C and 18°C. Growing-season parasitism level on field-collected female C. pinifoliae was 15%; parasitoid community composition was 86% A. diaspidis, 12% C. varicornis, and 2% M. pulchella.

Gyrinidae Of Wisconsin, With A Key To Adults Of Both Sexes And Notes On Distribution And Habitat, William L. Hilsenhoff

The Great Lakes Entomologist

More than 25,000 adult gyrinids that include 24 species were studied from all areas of Wisconsin. Dineutus discolor, Gyrinus aeneolus, G. analis, G. bifarius, and G. marginellus are lotic; D. assimilis, G. aquiris, G. confinis, and G. dichrous apparently breed in both lotie and lentic habitats; and the remaining species probably breed primarily in deep ponds or littoral areas of lakes and impoundments. Most collections were from streams in late summer and autumn because adults of almost all lentic species fly to streams to overwinter and these overwintering aggregations were easily collected. A key to adults of Wisconsin species …

Aggregation Behavior Of A Willow Flea Beetle, Altica Subplicata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Catherine E. Bach, Deborah S. Carr

The Great Lakes Entomologist

This study examined the aggregation behavior of a specialist insect herbivore, Altica subplicata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), on its host plant, Salix cordata. Mark-recapture experiments were conducted in patches of S. cordata growing along the shores of Lake Huron. Beetles aggregated on individual host plants, but did not aggregate in larger areas containing many host plants. Plants colonized by marked beetles had significantly higher abundances of unmarked beetles than did plants that were not colonized by marked beetles.

Experimental manipulations of the number of beetles present on plants showed that colonization rates by marked beetles were higher on plants with conspecifics …

Late Summer-Fall Solitary Wasp Fauna Of Central New York (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae, Pompilidae, Sphecidae), Frank E. Kurczewski, Robert E. Acciavatti

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Eighty-one species of primarily ground-nesting solitary wasps belonging to the families Tiphiidae, Pompilidae and Sphecidae were observed, collected and identified from six sandy and gravelly study areas in Cayuga and Onondaga Counties, New York. The observations and collections were made 1 September-3 November 1966,1 September-l November 1967 and 13 September-29 October 1984, with some species (Ammophila urnaria, Diodontus franclemonti) nesting through the entire months of September and October. An attempt to associate extended flight season with overnight resting site, geographic distribution, taxonomic affinity and prey type is made, but only the association with prey type appears to have any validity.

The Lepidoptera Of Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve, Richland County, Ohio., Roy W. Rings, Eric H. Metzler

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A survey of the Lepidoptera occurring at Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve in Richland County, Ohio was conducted from 1986 to 1988. Sampling was done by ultraviolet light traps, mercury vapor light and ultraviolet light and collecting sheet, bait traps, sugaring and netting. A total of 419 species and forms was identified and tabulated. It was estimated that the actual number of species at this site is 655. Representative specimens have been deposited in the Insect Reference Collection at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State Univer- sity, Wooster, Ohio.

The Occurrence Of Ditylus Caeruleus In Michigan (Coleoptera: Oedemeridae), With Observations On Its Range, Daniel K. Young

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The oedemerid beetle, Ditylus caeruleus, is recorded for the first time from Mar- quette County, Michigan. Bionomical data associated with the specimens represent the first such information for this species. Eight additional new Michigan county records for the species are also reported, including the first specimens from the Lower Peninsula. The distributional range of caeruleus is highly correlated with the Great Lakes, the 81. Lawrence River, and coastal Maine. Implications of this distribution pattern relating to possible development of larvae in driftwood and the potential significance of rafting as a dispersal mechanism are also discussed.

The Plant-Feeding Gall Midges Of North America. Raymond J. Gagne. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, Ny 14850. 1989. 356 Pp. $45.00 (Cloth)., Louis F. Wilson

The Great Lakes Entomologist

(excerpt)

Every once in a while a reference book comes along that is a special pleasure to review. Such a tome is The Plant-Feeding Gall Midges of North America by Raymond J. Gagne. You can appreciate the scope of this book only by realizing that gall midges attack numerous families of gymnosperms and angiosperms; both monocots and dicots. Greatly needed by entomologists and botanists, Gagne's book not only updates Felt's and Barne's classic works of the forties and fifties, but it also supersedes them!

Spatial Distribution Of The Goldenrod Ball Gall Insects, John L. Confer

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The goldenrod ball gall fly, Eurosta solidaginis (Diptera: Tephritidae), is parasitized by two eurytomid wasps and preyed on by a mordellid beetle, and two bird species. The birds are known to prey most intensively near a forest edge. The proportion of fly larva parasitized and preyed on by insects was examined, and a decline in the proportional abundance of beetle larvae near the forest was noted. The possible role of birds as the selective force for this distribution is considered.

Residual Action Of Slow Release Systemic Insecticides On Rhopalosiphum Padi (Homoptera: Aphididae) On Wheat, J. E. Araya, J. E. Foster, M. M. Schreiber, R. E. Wing

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Slow release formulations of acephate and carbofuran encapsulated in pearl corn­ starch or corn flour granules were applied to the soil at seeding time of potted 'Caldwell' wheat in the laboratory. Dosages of these insecticides were adjusted to a standard of IO kg/ha of a 10"10 granular formulation of carbofuran. The residual action of these insecticide treatments against Rhopalosiphum padi were compared with those obtained with that of carbofuran 150 at corresponding dosages and foliar sprays of solutions of acephate (25"10 EC) at 0.2"10 and carbofuran (4F) at 1.25"10, applied 12 d after seedling emergence. The residual action of carbofuran …

Late Winter Foraging By Honeybees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) At Sapsucker Drill Holes, Charles E. Williams

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Observations of Apis mellifera foraging at sapsucker drill holes were made during February 1988 in southwestern Virginia. Foraging bouts were dependent upon temperature; more bees visited drill holes when ambient temperatures exceeded 10oC. Honeybees did not feed directly at drill holes but collected congealed sap from bark surfaces.

Marking Adult Colorado Potato Beetles, Leptinotarsa Decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Using Paper Labels, Michael A. Caprio, Deborah Miller, Edward Grafius

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The smooth elytra of adult Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, make this insect difficult to make efficiently for long-term field studies. Enamel paint marks fell off rapidly, and after 28 days, 25010 of marked beetles had lost all four original marks. Use of small paper labels glued to the elytra after an acetone wash and sanding pretreatment was the most effective method for long term marking of individual beetles. Mortality in labeled laboratory-reared and field-collected beetles did not increase when compared to unmarked beetles.

Survival And Longevity Of Otiorhynchus Ligustici (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) In Alfalfa Hay Bales In Eastern Ontario, D. G. Harcourt, K Bereza

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The alfalfa snout beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici, a pest of European origin, has recently spread into mainland Ontario. A two-year study showed that dispersing adults incorporated into bales of alfalfa during harvest can survive therein for up to 46 days of storage in a mow. Furthermore, they can remain fertile for most of this period. This has important implications with respect to the shipment of hay from infested areas.

Mass Rearing The Gypsy Moth Pupal Parasitoids Brachymeria Lasus And Brachymeria Intermedia (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) For Small-Scale Laboratory Studies, S. D. Stowell, H. C. Coppel

The Great Lakes Entomologist

An economical technique was developed for mass rearing the gypsy moth para- sitoids Brachymeria lasus and B. intermedia using a factitious host, the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: pyralidae). Percentages of host pupae producing adult B. lusus and B. intermedia were 72.2 and 67.5, respectively. Percentages of adult wax moths emerging from groups of pupae exposed to populations of B. lasus and B. intermedia were 3.4 and 9.8, respectively. Mean emergence times of males and females from parasitized pupae incubated at 29° C. were 12.1 days and 13.8 days for B. lasus and 11.9 days and 13.5 days for …

Distribution Of Pelecinus Polyturator In Wisconsin (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae), With Speculations Regarding Geographical Parthenogenesis, Daniel K. Young

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The geographical distribution of Pelecinus polyturator in Wisconsin is summarized. Only five males have been recorded; a recently collected male from the University of Wisconsin Field Station in Ozaukee County represents the first male collected in the state in over 40 years. Speculations on the possible significance and implications of geographical parthenogenesis relative to Pelecinus are offered.

Size, Shape, And Sequence-Dependent Immunogenicity Of Rna Nanoparticles, Sijin Guo, Hui Li, Mengshi Ma, Jian Fu, Yizhou Dong, Peixuan Guo

Center for Research on Environmental Disease Faculty Publications

RNA molecules have emerged as promising therapeutics. Like all other drugs, the safety profile and immune response are important criteria for drug evaluation. However, the literature on RNA immunogenicity has been controversial. Here, we used the approach of RNA nanotechnology to demonstrate that the immune response of RNA nanoparticles is size, shape, and sequence dependent. RNA triangle, square, pentagon, and tetrahedron with same shape but different sizes, or same size but different shapes were used as models to investigate the immune response. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by these RNA nanoarchitectures were assessed in macrophage-like cells and animals. It …

Economic Impact Of The Sugarcane Aphid Outbreak In South Texas, Samuel D. Zapata, Rebekka Dudensing, Danielle Sekula, Gabriela Esparza-Díaz, Raul Villanueva

Entomology Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to estimate the economic impact of the sugarcane aphid (SCA) outbreak in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), Texas. Local producers were surveyed to gather detailed information about crop production and pest control practices. Collected data were used to estimate the reduction in profit associated with the SCA infestation, as well as the monetary value of the prevented loss attributed to control efforts. Sorghum industry losses were then used to assess the overall economic impact of the SCA outbreak in the RGV economy.

Greenhouse Gas Methane And Nitrous Oxide Production And Mircobial Functioning Gene Characterization In Grasslands And The Influences By Grazing Land Management, Maura M. Purcell

Biology Theses

Methane and nitrous oxide gases are significantly more potent in their ability to create a greenhouse effect than CO₂. Grazing lands can either be a sink or source of GHG depending on management scenarios and climatic conditions. Management of grasslands can have a broad impact on the levels of GHG emissions, as grazing pressure, crop rotations, and levels and types of fertilization inputs can alter microbial communities and influence on GHG production. Methanogens and denitrifying microbial communities are two major groups associated with the production of GHGs. This study attempted to unravel the microbial and geochemical characteristics associated …