Entomology Commons^™

Scout Crops For Aphids, Erin W. Hodgson

Integrated Crop Management News

Earlier this summer, I found aphids in V4 corn in central Iowa. This early establishment is unusual because most aphids that feed on corn have to migrate from the southern United States every summer. My lab also found soybean aphid in vegetative soybean at most of the Iowa State University Research Farms in June. Although they can overwinter in Iowa, larger colonies have not recently formed until after bloom. Pea aphids have also been reported in alfalfa in northeastern Iowa. All these aphid detections prompted me to summarize a few scouting reminders and treatment thresholds for aphids in field crops.

Start Scouting For Alfalfa Weevil With Updated Economic Thresholds, Erin W. Hodgson

Integrated Crop Management News

Even though it was an extremely cold winter, some alfalfa weevil adults are expected to survive. Adults will begin moving as soon as temperatures exceed 48°F and begin laying eggs in alfalfa. Alfalfa weevil eggs develop based on temperature, or accumulating degree days, and hatching can start around 200-300 degree days. Start scouting alfalfa fields south of Interstate 80 at 200 degree days and fields north of Interstate 80 at 250 degree days. Based on accumulated temperatures since January, weevils are active in southern Iowa now and scouting to monitor for larval activity should start in southwestern Iowa this ...

Predicted Mortality Of Bean Leaf Beetle Is Highest In 25 Years, Erin W. Hodgson, Adam J. Sisson

Integrated Crop Management News

Bean leaf beetle adults are susceptible to cold weather and most will die when the air temperature falls below -10°C. However, they have adapted to winter by protecting themselves under plant debris and loose soil. An overwintering survival model was developed by Lam and Pedigo from Iowa State University in 2000, and is helpful for predicting winter mortality based on accumulating subfreezing temperatures. Predicted mortality rates in Iowa were extremely high during the 2013-2014 winter and ranged from 89-99 percent (Fig. 1). Not surprisingly, central and northern Iowa experienced colder temperatures, and most of the bean leaf beetle adults ...

Short-Term, Mid-Term And Long-Term Effectiveness Of Silicosec® Against Cowpea Weevil, Adel Khashaveh

Adel Khashaveh

The insecticidal efficacy of SilicoSec®; a formulation of diatomaceous earth (DE); was evaluated against cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) in cowpea seed at three storage periods: 0, 3 and 6 months. The DE formulation was applied at three dose rates: 0.1, 0.5 and 1 g/kg. The experiments carried out at 25 °C and 55% RH and continuous darkness. The mortality of C. maculatus adults was recorded 72 h after exposure to DE-treated seeds. After mortality count, all insects (dead and alive) were removed from vials and the vials were kept under same condition for a further 35 days ...

Molecular Evolution Of Glycoside Hydrolase Genes In The Western Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera), Seong-Il Eyun, Haichuan Wang, Yannick Pauchet, Richard H. Ffrench-Constant, Andrew K. Benson, Arnubio Valencia-Jimenez, Etsuko Moriyama, Blair Siegfried

Faculty Publications: Department of Entomology

Cellulose is an important nutritional resource for a number of insect herbivores. Digestion of cellulose and other polysaccharides in plant-based diets requires several types of enzymes including a number of glycoside hydrolase (GH) families. In a previous study, we showed that a single GH45 gene is present in the midgut tissue of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). However, the presence of multiple enzymes was also suggested by the lack of a significant biological response when the expression of the gene was silenced by RNA interference. In order to clarify the repertoire of cellulose-degrading enzymes and related ...

An Updated And Annotated Checklist Of The Larger Butterflies (Papilionoidea) Of Trinidad, West Indies: Papilionidae, Pieridae And Nymphalidae, Matthew J. W. Cock

Insecta Mundi

A revised checklist for the butterfly families Papilionidae, Pieridae and Nymphalidae of Trinidad (Trinidad and Tobago) is presented, bringing nomenclature in line with modern usage, indicating synonyms from earlier lists and adding new records since the last checklist was published in 1970. Migrant and vagrant species are provisionally recognised, and records considered incorrect are discussed. The checklist includes 204 species: 15 Papilionidae, 29 Pieridae and 160 Nymphalidae. The only taxonomic change is to treat Hamadryas feronia insularis (Fruhstorfer) as a synonym of H. f. feronia (Linnaeus), syn. nov., and not as a synonym of H. feronia farinulenta (Fruhstorfer).

A New Species Of Xylotrechus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Clytini) From Utah, Ronald L. Alten

Insecta Mundi

Xylotrechus rameyi, new species, (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is described from southern Utah. Comments on its biology including habitat, host plants and larval history are provided along with photographs of the holotype, allotype, the related species X. insignis LeConte, and the larval galleries and pupal chamber.

Pesticide Record Keeping App Now Available For Android, Kristine J. P. Schaefer

Integrated Crop Management News

The Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach Pesticide and Field Records app is now available to Android operating system phone and tablet users. The app, previously only available for iPads, was developed to help producers and agriculture businesses record and maintain pesticide application information. The free app allows users to link information to specific field locations using satellite mapping and document pesticide application information needed to comply with state and federal record keeping requirements. The app also features a product search option that lists Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) product registration numbers and identifies restricted use products.

No3 2013 Melon Variety Trial, Rebecca Brown

Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin

Descriptions of melon varieties, including disease ratings, trialed at the Gardiner Crop Research Farm of URI, Kingston, RI

No 1 2013 Eggplant Variety Trial, Rebecca Brown

Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin

Descriptions of eggplant varieties trialed at the Gardiner Crop Research Farm of URI, Kingston, RI

Deconstructing The Surrogate Species Concept: A Life History Approach To The Protection Of Ecosystem Services., John E. Banks, John D. Stark, Roger I. Vargas, Azmy S. Ackleh

John Banks

No abstract provided.

Corrigendum To ‘‘Insecticide Resistance In House Flies From The United States: Resistance Levels And Frequency Of Pyrethroid Resistance Alleles’’ [Pestic. Biochem. Physiol. 107 (2013) 377–384], Jeffrey G. Scott, Cheryl A. Leichter, Frank D. Rinkevich, Sarah A. Harris, Cathy Su, Lauren C. Aberegg, Roger D. Moon, Christopher J. Geden, Alec C. Gerry, David B. Taylor, Ronnie L. Byford, Wes Watson, Gregory Johnson, David Boxler, Ludek Zurek

David B. Taylor

Dr. Rinkevich’s name was improperly spelled due to a production error. The staff at Elsevier apologizes for this mistake.

A Morphological And Genetic Analysis Of Forensically Important Blow Flies, From Georgia: The Genus Lucilia, Katie S. Googe

University Honors Program Theses

Identification of Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to species is important for estimating postmortem intervals, because insect species develop at different rates. Three Blow fly species in Georgia; Lucilia coeruleiviridis, L. cuprina, and L. sericata are similar morphologically, making identification difficult. Furthermore, the status of L. cuprina is in doubt; this species may be a complex of true L. cuprina, and L. cuprina x L. sericata hybrids. The objective of this study was to survey the Georgia Blow fly community and validate the statuses of L. coeruleiviridis, L. cuprina, and L. sericata, through morphological and genetic analyses. For a representative sample ...

Changing Litter Resources Associated With Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Invasion Affect Benthic Communities In Headwater Streams, Christopher J. Strohm

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Hemlock woolly adelgid is an invasive herbivore causing extensive mortality of eastern hemlock, an important foundation species that provides stable conditions influencing biological communities. Hemlock is often found in riparian areas and following its decline, broadleaved species, including birch, beech, and rhododendron, will replace it. These plants differ from hemlock in patterns of canopy cover and leaf properties, which influence conditions and resources within streams.

My goal was to evaluate potential impacts of adelgid-induced alterations to riparian canopies and litter on benthic communities and litter breakdown in streams. I characterized benthic invertebrate communities, litter colonization and litter breakdown in streams ...

Impact Of Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus And Triticum Mosaic Virus On Transmission By Aceria Tosichella Keifer (Eriophyidae) And Virus Epidemiology In Wheat, Camila F. De Oliveira

Dissertations and Student Research in Entomology

The wheat curl mite (WCM), Aceria tosichella Keifer, transmits a complex of viruses, Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) and Wheat mosaic virus (WMoV), to wheat, Triticum aestivum, in the Great Plains. Co-infection of wheat by these viruses is frequently observed, increasing disease severity and yield loss.

Current genetic work classifies WCM populations into two genotypes, Type 1 and Type 2. It has been shown that different mite genotypes are able to transmit viruses at varying rates. WCM-virus relations are very specific and can impact vector biology. In this study, the primary objective was to determine if ...

Toxic And Repellent Effects Of Pyrethroids Used In Orchards On The Honey Bee, Apis Mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Erin M. Ingram

Dissertations and Student Research in Entomology

Managed honey bee colonies provide valuable pollination services and are rented by fruit orchards to improve fruit quality and yield. The placement of colonies in this agricultural setting increases the possibility of exposure to pyrethroids used for broad-spectrum pest control in orchards. Although highly toxic to bees, pyrethroids are believed to pose a relatively low hazard due to their low application rates in the field as well as their contact repellent properties. Previous studies have noted a decrease in foraging visits following pyrethroid application possibly preventing bees from acquiring a lethal dose in the field.

This research quantified behaviors associated ...

Population Occurrence And Pathogen Prevalence Of Lone Star (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks Collected From Southeast Nebraska, Amanda C. Maegli

Dissertations and Student Research in Entomology

Lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.), has recently become established in Nebraska; therefore, local biology, ecology, and tick-borne disease risk are not known. Research was conducted to determine monthly questing activity, establishment, and pathogenic microorganisms associated with the lone star tick in Nebraska.

Lone star tick populations were collected from May through August, 2012 in six sites in southeast Nebraska using carbon dioxide (CO₂) traps. A total of 747 adults, 3,076 nymphs, and 1,289 larvae were collected. Total ticks collected and monthly activity were significantly different for each site.

A semi-randomized sample of 251 adult ticks were ...

Adult Mortality And Progeny Production Assessment Of Callosobruchus Maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) Exposed To Sayan®, Adel Khashaveh

Adel Khashaveh

The insecticidal efficacy of Sayan®, an Iranian formulation of diatomaceous earth, was evaluated against adults of Cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) on cowpea. Sayan® was applied at the dose rates of 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 g/kg. One kg of cowpea was treated with appropriate dose rate and after one day, four samples of 50 g of each were taken as replication. Twenty five adults were introduced into each replication. The number of dead adults was counted after 24 and 72 h exposure. After mortality count, all surviving insects were removed and the ...

National Park Service Cave Ecology Inventory And Monitoring Framework, Gretchen M. Baker, Steven J. Taylor, Shawn Thomas, Rick Olson, Kathy Lavoie, Marie Denn, Steven Thomas, Hazel Barton, Kurt Helf, Rene Ohms, Joel Despain, Jim Kennedy, David Larson

National Cave and Karst Management Symposium 2013

A team developed the Cave Ecology Inventory and Monitoring Framework for National Park Service (NPS) units. It contains information for NPS cave managers across the United States to determine how to inventory and monitor cave ecology. Due to the wide geographical scope of NPS caves and their many different types, the document does not prescribe exact protocols. Instead, it provides guidance for what types of inventory and monitoring are possible, a framework for deciding how to prioritize inventory and monitoring activities, and references to specific protocols that are already in place at NPS cave parks.

Keywords: cave ecology, cave microbiology ...

Water Stress Strengthens Mutualism Among Ants, Trees, And Scale Insects, Elizabeth G. Pringle, Erol Akc¸Ay, Ted K. Raab, Rodolfo Dirzo, Deborah M. Gordon

Ted K. Raab

Abiotic environmental variables strongly affect the outcomes of species interactions. For example, mutualistic interactions between species are often stronger when resources are limited. The effect might be indirect: water stress on plants can lead to carbon stress, which could alter carbon-mediated plant mutualisms. In mutualistic ant–plant symbioses, plants host ant colonies that defend them against herbivores. Here we show that the partners’ investments in a widespread ant–plant symbiosis increase with water stress across 26 sites along a Mesoamerican precipitation gradient. At lower precipitation levels, Cordia alliodora trees invest more carbon in Azteca ants via phloem-feeding scale insects that ...