Entomology Commons^™

Characterization Of Olfactory Sensilla Of Stomoxys Calcitrans And Electrophysiological Responses To Odorant Compounds Associated With Hosts And Oviposition Media, K. Tangtrakulwanich, Han Chen, Frederick P. Baxendale, Gary J. Brewer, J. J. Zhu

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans L. (Diptera: Muscidae), are economically important biting flies that have caused billions of dollars in losses in the livestock industry. Field monitoring studies have indicated that olfaction plays an important role in host location. To further our understanding of stable fly olfaction, we examined the antennal morphology of adults using scanning electron microscopy techniques. Four major types of sensillum were found and classified as: (a) basiconic sensilla; (b) trichoid sensilla with three subtypes; (c) clavate sensilla, and (d) coeloconic sensilla. No significant differences between male and female flies in abundances (total numbers) of these sensillum types …

Field Introgression Of Diabrotica Barberi And Diabrotica Longicornis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Based On Genetic And Morphological Characters, Laura A. Campbell, Thomas L. Clark, Pete L. Clark, Lance Meinke, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Diabrotica barberi Smith & Lawrence and Diabrotica longicornis (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are considered to be sister species, and it has been proposed that the two species may hybridize under field conditions. The objective of this study was to examine genetic and morphological characters of D. barberi and D. longicornis for evidence of field introgression. Both species were collected from sympatric and allopatric areas. Amplified fragment length polymorphisms and morphological characters (color and head capsule width) were used to examine variation within and among populations of D. barberi and D. longicornis. Relatively little of the overall …

Genetic Variation And Inheritance Of Diapause Induction In Two Distinct Voltine Ecotypes Of Ostrinia Nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Cengis Ikten, Steven R. Skoda, Thomas E. Hunt, Jaime Molina-Ochoa, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), displays a larval diapause in response to short photoperiods and is adapted to a variety of local conditions throughout North America. Hence, the effective photoperiod inducing larval diapause will differ among geographic ecotypes. This study considers the inheritance of photoperiodic larval diapause induction by hybridization and backcrossing two latitudinally distinct ecotypes of the European corn borer collected between 41° N, 96° W and 48° N, 96° W and under a range of photoperiods representative of their respective locations: from 14:10 to 16:8 (L:D) h. The ecotype adapted to a bivoltine habitat (southeastern …

Dose–Response Relationships Of Clothianidin, Imidacloprid, And Thiamethoxam To Blissus Occiduus (Hemiptera: Blissidae), M. D. Stamm, Frederick P. Baxendale, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Blair D. Siegfried, Erin E. Blankenship, Roch E. Gaussoin

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The western chinch bug, Blissus occiduus Barber (Hemiptera: Blissidae), has emerged as a serious pest of buffalograss, Buchloë dactyloides (Nuttall) Engelmann. In general, neonicotinoid insecticides effectively control a variety of turfgrass insects, particularly phloem-feeding pests. However, because of well documented inconsistencies in control, these compounds are generally not recommended for chinch bugs. This study was designed to document the contact and systemic toxicity of three neonicotinoid insecticides (clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam) to B. occiduus. In contact bioassays, thiamethoxam was ~20-fold less toxic than clothianidin or imidacloprid to B. occiduus nymphs and three-fold more toxic to adults. In adult systemic …

Comparative Susceptibility Of Ostrinia Furnacalis, Ostrinia Nubilalis, And Diatraea Saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) To Bacillus Thuringiensis Cry1 Toxins, S. Y. Tan, B. F. Cayabyab, E. P. Alcantara, Y. B. Ibrahim, Fangneng Huang, Erin E. Blankenship, Blair D. Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Transgenic corn hybrids that express toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are highly effective against the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), and the closely related Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée). Since the registration of Bt corn hybrids in the U.S. in 1996, there has been a great deal of information generated on O. nubilalis. However, relatively little information exists for O. furnacalis. To help determine whether the information generated for O. nubilalis can be leveraged for decisions regarding the use of transgenic Bt corn against O. furnacalis, experiments were designed to determine whether the pattern of sensitivity …

Contact And Fumigant Toxicity Of A Botanical-Based Feeding Deterrent Of The Stable Fly, Stomoxys Calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae), Junwei J. Zhu, Andrew Y. Li, Sara Pritchard, Khanobporn Tangtrakulwanich, Frederick P. Baxendale, Gary Brewer

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), has been considered one of the most serious biting flies of confined and pastured livestock. The economic losses caused by the stable fly to the cattle industry in the United States exceed $2 billion annually. Current practices for managing stable flies using insecticides provide only marginal control. Insecticide resistance has also been recently reported in stable flies. The present study reports the use of plant-based insecticides, for example, essential oils, as alternatives for managing this fly pest. The toxicity of several plant essential oils and selected ingredient compounds was evaluated by contact and fumigant …

Biology Department Newsletter, No.1, Sacred Heart University

Biology Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Williams Believes Insects Can Teach Us A Lot, Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Buffalograss Leaf Pubescence And Its Effect On Resistance To Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), Jennifer M. Johnson-Cicalese, Frederick P. Baxendale, Terrance P. Riordan, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Lisa Baird

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Considerable progress has been made in improving the turfgrass characteristics of buffalograss, Buchloë dactyloides (Nutt) Engelm, a native North American grass species with low maintenance requirements (Riordan et al., 1993). Two mealybugs, Tridiscus sporoboli (Cockerell) and Trionymus sp. (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) have emerged as buffalograss pests (Baxendale et al., 1994). Mealybugs have been associated with buffalograss stands throughout Nebraska (Baxendale et al., 1994), as well as in Texas and Arizona. Unfortunately, the Pseudococcidae are poorly described and species identification requires extensive specimen preparation (Ferris, 1950, 1953). Buffalograss mealybugs have an oblong, pale purple-grey, membranous body, ranging in length from 0.2 …

Phenology Of Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Larvae In Round Bale Hay Feeding Sites In Eastern Nebraska, David B. Taylor, Dennis R. Berkebile

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The temporal and spatial patterns of adult stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), emergence from six sites where large round baled hay had been provided to pasture cattle as winter feed were studied using emergence traps. The substrate at these sites, consisting of waste hay mixed with bovine manure and urine, provided an excellent developmental habitat for immature stable flies. Stable flies were the most frequently collected fly emerging from these sites with a yearly average of 1,581 emerging per square meter. Stable fly emergence from these sites began in early May (235 annual accumulated Day-Degree 10°C [DD₁₀]), peaked …

A Single Major Qtl Controls Expression Of Larval Cry1f Resistance Trait In Ostrinia Nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) And Is Independent Of Midgut Receptor Genes, Brad S. Coates, Douglas V. Sumerford, Miriam D. Lopez, Haichuan Wang, Lisa M. Fraser, Jeremy A. Kroemer, Terrence Spencer, Kyung S. Kim, Craig A. Abel, Richard L. Hellmich, Blair D. Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is an introduced crop pest in North America that causes major damage to corn and reduces yield of food, feed, and biofuel materials. The Cry1F toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) expressed in transgenic hybrid corn is highly toxic to O. nubilalis larvae and effective in minimizing feeding damage. A laboratory colony of O. nubilalis was selected for high levels of Cry1F resistance ([12,000-fold compared to susceptible larvae) and is capable of survival on transgenic hybrid corn. Genetic linkage maps with segregating AFLP markers show that the Cry1F resistance trait is controlled by …

Identification Of A Novel Aminopeptidase P-Like Gene (Onapp) Possibly Involved In Bt Toxicity And Resistance In A Major Corn Pest (Ostrinia Nubilalis), Chitvan Khajuria, Lawrent L. Buschman, Ming-Shun Chen, Blair D. Siegfried, Kun Yan Zhu

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Studies to understand the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) resistance mechanism in European corn borer (ECB, Ostrinia nubilalis) suggest that resistance may be due to changes in the midgut-specific Bt toxin receptor. In this study, we identified 10 aminopeptidase-like genes, which have previously been identified as putative Bt toxin receptors in other insects and examined their expression in relation to Cry1Ab toxicity and resistance. Expression analysis for the 10 aminopeptidase-like genes revealed that most of these genes were expressed predominantly in the larval midgut, but there was no difference in the expression of these genes in Cry1Ab resistant and susceptible strains. …

Environmental Impact And Cost Benefit Analysis Of Biological Control Application, Jaime Molina-Ochoa, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The implications and interactions of the application of biological control agents in the environment, as well as the risks included by the introduction of exotic natural enemies are briefly reviewed. Description of the role of resistance or quality of the host plant to insect pests, and their interaction with biocontrol agents is provided. A need to increase applications or find new alternatives and environmental impact towards non target insects, and the real cost of its use against the benefits is discussed.

Ixodes Affinis (Acari: Ixodidae) In Southeastern Virginia And Implications For The Spread Of Borrelia Burgdorferi, The Agent Of Lyme Disease, Robyn M. Nadolny, Chelsea L. Wright, Wayne L. Hynes, Daniel E. Sonenshine, Holly Gaff

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Ixodes affinis Neumann is a hard-bodied (ixodid) tick known to be a competent vector for Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, and agents of other human diseases (Keirans et al. 1999). Ixodes affinis has been reported in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina and throughout coastal North Carolina (Clark et al. 1998, Harrison et al. 2010). Harrison et al. (2010) indicated that I. affinis was established throughout the coastal plain of North Carolina up to the Virginia border and suggested that I. affinis might occur in Virginia.

Tapeworms Of Elasmobranchs (Part Iii) A Monograph On The Phyllobothriidae (Platyhelminthes, Cestoda), Timothy R. Ruhnke

Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum

This monograph aims to provide information on the taxonomic status of all genera associated with the tetraphyllidean family Phyllobothriidae. Full treatments of the three valid species of the type genus, Phyllobothrium, in addition to the 47 valid species of Clistobothrium, Crossobothrium, Marsupiobothrium, Monorygma, Nandocestus, Orectolobicestus, Orygmatobothrium, Paraorygmatobothrium, Ruhnkecestus, and Scyphophyllidium are provided, as is a taxonomic history of the family. Of the valid genera historically associated with the family, only Phyllobothrium is considered to be an unambiguous member of the family. The genera Bibursibothrium, Calyptrobothrium, Cardiobothrium, Clistobothrium, Crossobothrium, Doliobothrium, Flexibothrium, Marsupiobothrium, Monorygma, Nandocestus, Orectolobicestus, Orygmatobothrium, Paraorygmatobothrium, Ruhnkecestus, Scyphophyllidium …

Evaluation Of Species Distribution Model Algorithms For Fine-Scale Container-Breeding Mosquito Risk Prediction, C. Khatchikian, Florencia Sangermano, D. Kendell, T. Livdahl

Geography

The present work evaluates the use of species distribution model (SDM) algorithms to classify high densities of small container-breeding Aedes mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) on a fine scale in the Bermuda Islands. Weekly ovitrap data collected by the Department of Health, Bermuda for the years 2006 and 2007 were used for the models. The models evaluated included the algorithms Bioclim, Domain, GARP (genetic algorithm for rule-set prediction), logistic regression and MaxEnt (maximum entropy). Models were evaluated according to performance and robustness. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate each model's performance, and robustness was assessed according …

Male Field Crickets Infested By Parasitoid Flies Express Phenotypes That May Benefit The Parasitoids, Oliver M. Beckers, William E. Wagner

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Parasites can cause changes in the phenotypes of their hosts that may benefit the parasite, the host, or both. To understand the evolutionary dynamics of host–parasite interactions it is necessary to first examine the effect of parasitic infestation on the host phenotype and whether the host or parasite benefits from these changes. The fly Ormia ochracea parasitizes the variable field cricket, Gryllus lineaticeps, and it uses male song to locate hosts for its lethal larvae. Adult flies preferentially orient to male songs with faster and longer chirps. We tested the effect of larval infestation on two types of host traits. …

The World Of Bees, Louise I. Lynch

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

The World of Bees is an interactive children’s museum exhibit created to convey the diversity of bees, the significant role of bees in nature and to humans and the need for their conservation. It presents aspects of bee evolution, anatomy, species diversity, life history, ecology, agricultural significance, and pollination role. The World of Bees promotes preservation of bees through beekeeping, gardening and environmental stewardship.

Virtual tour of the exhibit at: http://vimeo.com/34493111 or attached below.

Nebline, January 2011

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: Tightening Your Belt in Tough Times

Farm Views

Horticulture

Food & Fitness

Home & Family Living

Environmental Focus

Urban Agriculture

4-H & Youth

Community Focus

Extension Calendar

Nutrition Education Program

Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs

and other extension news and events

Annual Report Special Pullout Section

Hexapod Herald - Vol. 23, No. 1, January 2011

Hexapod Herald and Other Entomology Department Newsletters

Welcome

Congratulations

Publications

Grants

Meet and Off-Campus Student

Travel

Faculty News

Student News

This N' That

Calendar of Events

Interactions Of Transgenic Bacillus Thuringiensis Insecticidal Crops With Spiders (Araneae), Julie A. Peterson, Jonathan Lundgren, James D. Harwood

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Genetically modified crops expressing insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have dramatically increased in acreage since their introduction in the mid-1990’s. Although the insecticidal mechanisms of Bt target specific pests, concerns persist regarding direct and indirect effects on non-target organisms. In the field, spiders may be exposed to Bt toxins via multiple routes, including phytophagy and pollenivory, consumption of Bt-containing prey, and soil exudates in the detrital food web. Beyond direct toxicity, Bt crops may also have indirect impacts, including pleiotropic and preymediated effects. Here, we comprehensively review the literature and use meta-analyses to reveal that foliar spider abundance is …