Life Sciences Commons^™

Learning Ability And Factors Influencing Nest Establishment Of The Solitary Bees Osmia Lignaria And Megachile Rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), Cory A. Vorel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Over the last several decades, the use of solitary bees as an alternative to honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) for pollination of commercial crops has increased, in part as a response to ongoing problems faced by commercial honey bee populations. Two solitary bee species have exhibited great commercial potential: the blue orchard bee, Osmia lignaria Say, and the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). However, growth of O. lignaria and M. rotundata populations is limited in commercial systems, mainly due to low establishment of females at provided nesting sites, possibly due to mortality, dispersal, or other causes. …

Host-Parasite Relationship Studies Of The Larval Alfalfa Weevil And The Ichneumonid Parasite Bathyplectes Curculionis (Thomson), Yeboa A. Duodu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The parasitic effects of the ichneumonid Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson) on the larval alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), were studied.

Results of experiments on the rates of parasitism of the four host larval instars indicated that the first three are either preferred by the parasite over the fourth instar larvae or are more susceptible to the parasite's attack. Survival of the younger weevil larvae after their exposure to female parasites was markedly poorer than that of unparasitized larvae. Premature death of host larvae was probably from both the puncturing by the parasite's ovipositor and the feeding and other activities of parasite …

A Study Of Insects Attacking Pinus Flexilis James Cones In Cache National Forest, Thomas Evan Nebeker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Six species of insects were found attacking limber pine cones from July 26, 1968, through October 4, 1969, in Cache National Forest. The three species considered of major importance are: Conophthorus flexilis Hopkins, Dioryctria abietella (D. & S.), and D. sp. near or disclusa Heinrich. The three minor species encountered are; Bradysia sp., Trogoderma parabile Beal, and Asynapta keeni (Foote). In addition to the major and minor cone pests three parasites, Apanteles sp. prob. starki Mason, Elacherus sp., and Hypopteromalus percussor Girault were found associated with the cone pests.

C. flexilis, which completely destroys the cone, was ranked as …

A Revision Of The Bee Genus Epeolus Latreille Of Western America North Of Mexico, Richard L. Brumley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Members of the genus Epeolus are small to medium-sized wasp-like bees which parasitize the colletid genus Colletes. Twenty-two species and two subgenera are recognized in this work.