Entomology Commons^™

Some Factors Affecting Male Back Space Availability In The Water Bug Belostoma Flumineum Say, Amanda M. Vandenburgh

Masters Theses

Various factors affecting the availability of male back space in the giant water bug, Belostoma flumineum Say, are described herein and interpreted in a manner consistent with natural selection theory. Newly emerged males are observed to breed and accept eggs sooner than newly emerged females develop an egg clutch: furthermore, newly emerged males were shown to contain motile sperm on the day of adult emergence. Newly emerged females did not contain any mature eggs until approximately six days old. It was also found that newly emerged females manufacture eggs at a linear rate of 4.8 eggs per day. Egg length …

Regurgitation By The Face Fly, Musca Autumnalis Degeer, Russell E. Coleman

Masters Theses

Face flies normally began regurgitating within 10 minutes after feeding, and continued for periods of up to 240 minutes. Almost 100 percent of flies fed a concentrated (4.8%) solution of trypticase-soy broth were observed regurgitating. The deposition of droplets onto a substrate was almost never observed, indicating that the regurgitation is not analogous to vomiting. The droplet exuded contained from five to ten percent of the food consumed, with the crop the source of the fluid. The crop is also the most likely destination of the regurgitated materiel. The purpose of this phenomenon is still not clear. However, the fluid …

A Trophic Analysis Of Three Species Of Elmidae From Polecat And Riley Creeks, Coles County, Ill., Robert D. Davis Jr.

Masters Theses

The food habits of Stenelmis sexlineata, Stenelmis vittipennis, Stenelmis crenata, and larval Stenelmis were studied in Polecat and Riley Creeks, Coles County, Illinois. Rock Scrapings were taken and compared with the gut analyses of the larval and adult beetles. These beetles were found to be scraper/collectors and detritivore/herbivores, generally scraping surfaces of rocks. Detritus, green algae, and diatoms were found to be the major categories present in both the rock scrapings and the gut analyses. The cellular contents of diatoms (chloroplasts and other cytoplasmic inclusions) were digested by the beetles. No conclusions regarding feeding preferences are made, …

A Population Study Of The Cave Beetle Neaphaenops Tellkampfi (Coleoptera, Carabidae) In Mushroom Cave, Hart County, Kentucky, Robert E. Bon Durant Sr.

Masters Theses

A two year census of the cave beetle Neaphaenops tellkampfi (Coleoptera, Carabidae) was conducted in Mushroom Cave, Hart County, Kentucky. Three methods were used to estimate populations of this beetle. A rise in population in certain areas of the cave was shown to occur in Mid-winter. The population as reported is felt to represent a portion of a much larger population which migrates toward the cave entrance beacuse of food shortages in winter with a summer movement back into deep cave habitat when the eggs of Hadenoecus subterraneus are plentiful.

Viability Of Pre-Adult Stages In Drosophila Melanogaster, Khadijeh Shakerifar

Masters Theses

The pre-adult viability of four pure strains and two hybrid strains was determined for Drosophila melanogaster. The data fail to show significant mortality and the ratios of the duration of the three different stages remained approximately constant. There are many factors which have been found to affect survivorship; one factor is density. As density of population within a limited and closed universe increases, the rate of mortality would increase and viability would generally decrease. However, our densities were well within the range having no effect on viability. Under the conditions these experiments were performed, no genetic or environmental factors …

Interrelationships Of Hypera Postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) And Bathyplectes Curculionis (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) In Illinois With Emphasis On Host-Parasite Densities, Distribution Of Parasites Within Available Hosts And Estimates Of Percent Parasitism, Robert John Barney

Masters Theses

In an attempt to better understand the host-parasite relationship of the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), all life stages of the parasite were monitored throughout the spring. Sampling was conducted on a degree day basis from early March to late May in an alfalfa field in Mason County, Illinois.

Dissections of host alfalfa weevil larvae revealed 2nd and 3rd host instars were preferred larvae for oviposition. Peak parasite densities were found to precede peak total host larval densities, but coincided with peak densities of the preferred 2nd and 3rd instars. Larger host …

Seasonal Diversities Of Lotic And Lentic Benthic Insect Populations, Jerry E. Bindel

Masters Theses

The benthic insect populations from Lake Charleston and the Embarras River above and below Lake Charleston were examined twice monthly for seasonal differences in number of organisms, number of taxa and species diversity from October 13, 1976 to February 16, 1977. The water quality parameters of alkalinity, carbon dioxide, dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature were also examined for each site to determine if any parameter showed a sufficient deviation as to exert an influence on the benthic insect populations. Low dissolved oxygen and high carbon dioxide values were noted and occurred at times corresponding to lower numbers of taxa and …

A Faunal Study Of Illinois Silphidae (Coleoptera), Brian Baldwin

Masters Theses

A faunal study of the family Silphidae in Illinois was made through examination of over 1400 specimens. A brief history of the taxonomy of the family and a description of silphid ecology was presented. Keys to the tribes, genera, and species of adult Silphidae occurring in Illinois were divised. Four genera and sixteen species of silphids are described, supplemented with drawings and distribution maps.

Determination Of The Ld-50 Level For 2,4-D On Wild Type Culex Pipiens Mosquito Larvae In Illinois, William H. Ettinger

Masters Theses

The LD-50 levels for 2,4-D and Ronnel were determined and compared on the larvae of Culex pipiens Linneaus mosquitoes. The World Health Organization technique for the 24 hour bioassay was employed. Ronnel served as an indicator of susceptibility to pesticides and it was found that 2,4-D is toxic to mosquito larvae with an LD-50 level of 1.95 p.p.m. It was also found that a concentration of 20 p.p.m. ethanol or greater causes lethality in the larvae.

Comparative Study Of The Photopositive Coleoptera Of The Embarras River Floodplain And Upland Ridge, Ann Decker

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Cytogenetics Of The Salivary Gland Chromosomes Of Three Wild Type Strains Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Rosemary Ann Harris

Masters Theses

This investigation involves the cytogenetics of three strains of field-collected, wild-type Illinois Drosophila melanogaster. These three strains were collected from Charleston, Channahon, and Olney, Illinois, in 1967.

The purpose of this study was to compare cytogenetically these three strains and to determine if there exists differences among them. First, the chromosomes themselves were studied for the purpose of identifying the four chromosomes of D. melanogaster by their characteristic banding patterns. Then, the chromosomes of the three strains were examined for chromosomal aberrations, principally inversions. The cytogenetics of the chromosomes of the three strains were then compared and contrasted.

Photographs …

Comparative Morphology Of The External Male Genitalia Of Gymnetis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Bhatti A. Rashid

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

An Experimental Study Of The Food Plant Preferences Of The Black Cutworm, Agrotis Ypsilon (Hufnagel), Alan C. York

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Histochemical Study Of The Ovary Of The Milkweed Bug Oncopeltus Fasciatus (Dallas), With Special Reference To The "Intermediate" Cell, Khian Kioe Liem

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Check-List And Keys To The Primitive Sub-Families Of Cerambycidae Of Illinois, Michael Jon Corn

Masters Theses

The long-horned beetles, family Cerambycidae, form a large, colorful, often-collected and well-known group. However, the drab, more primitive subfamilies, Parandrinae, Prioninae, Aseminae, and Spondylinae, are much less well-known although they often appear in collections.

In this paper, the author has attempted to list those species of primitive cerambycids which occur or are likely to occur within the State of Illinois. Keys, illustrations, descriptions, and distribution maps have been developed to aid in identification. The list and keys should be applicable to any midwestern state with the addition or deletion of a few species.

Competition And Natural Selection Among Laboratory And Naturally Occurring Populations Of Drosophila Melanogaster, John M. Connor

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Study Of The Life History And Habits Of The Dogwood Borer, Thamnosphecia Scitula (Harris) In Tennessee, Charles David Pless

Masters Theses

[From the Introduction] [Abbreviated]

The purpose of this study has been to make known the biology of this insect in Tennessee so that more effective control measures might be developed.

An Ecological Study Of The Cockroach Habitats Of Two Garbage Disposal Areas In Knox County, Tennessee, Harry E. Williams

Masters Theses

Statement of the Problem: This study was made to determine the adaptations to a new environment and the ecological niches in the community that are occupied by cockroaches in two garbage disposal dump areas. The community of this study is the entire area of two garbage disposal dumps. This research is a comprehensive study of the garbage disposal community, including an analysis of its components (physical and biotic), dynamics and seasonal aspects.

Two garbage disposal dump areas were studied. One area is used by Knox County and is under the direction of the County Health Department. The other area is …

The Armyworm, Pseudaletia Unipuncta (Haworth), And Its Natural Enemies, Samuel Glover Breeland

Masters Theses

The purpose of this dissertation is to report findings on the fundamental biology of the army worm, Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth), based on a two-season study in Tennessee (1956-57).

Data were obtained from a combination of direct field observations, detailed insectary colony readings, extensive light trap operations, and several controlled laboratory experiments.

Background material for the study is presented and includes a review of the literature, both the general and systematic histories of the species, geographical distribution, and known host plants.

The general life-history is given for Tennessee along with a general description of the various life history stages and detailed …