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The Mayfly Newsletter, Donna Giberson

The Mayfly Newsletter

The Mayfly Newsletter is the official newsletter of the Permanent Committee of the International Conferences on Ephemeroptera.

A Battle Of Armies: Massive Attack Of Natural Enemies To The True Armyworm Mythimna Unipuncta (Haworth, 1809) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) In Forage Crops, Armando Falcon-Brindis, Raul T. Villanueva

Insecta Mundi

Understanding the interactions between plant-host-parasitoid plays a major role in insect pest management. Farmers in the southeastern United States rely on pasture systems for cattle milk and beef production, but the benefits of parasitoids and predators on major lepidopteran pests on pasture lands are still overlooked. Here, we aimed to identify and quantify the effect of parasitism on the true armyworm Mythimna unipuncta (Haworth, 1809) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) attacking teff grass Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter (Poaceae) and crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. (Poaceae) in western Kentucky. In early August of 2023, 547 larvae of M. unipuncta were collected from experimental …

The Distribution Of The Pentatomoidea In The Northeastern Quarter Of The United States (Hemiptera), J. E. Mcpherson

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The distributions of the pentatomoids occurring in the northeastern quarter of the United States as listed by Van Duzee in 1917 are updated.

Invertebrate Communities Associated With Three Early Phases Of A Prairie Restoration Project, Tracy R. Evans, Meredith J. Mahoney, E. D. Cashatt, Bryon W. Cross, Geert R. De Snoo, C. J.M. Musters

The Great Lakes Entomologist

While specific invertebrate groups have been studied in prairie restorations, there are few studies that look at terrestrial invertebrate assemblages. We surveyed invertebrates in three phases of plant restoration that were part of a larger restoration project. This cross-sectional study of invertebrate recovery at two, four and five years post-restoration shows there was no overall difference in invertebrate taxa richness and diversity between restoration phases. Overall abundance was greatest in the most recently restored area. Richness, diversity and abundance of six functional groups did not differ. The conclusion is that all phases are still characterized by pioneer invertebrate assemblages, and …

Parasitism By The Twisted-Winged Parasite Xenos Peckii (Strepsiptera), And Its Effects On The Ovary Development In Their Host Paper Wasp, Polistes Metricus (Hymenoptera), Alex K. Snyder

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Strepsiptera are generally described as parasitic castrators as they cause the reproductive death of the hosts. In southeast Georgia, only a handful of paper wasps are hosts for twisted-winged parasites. One such species, Polistes metricus, is parasitized by a twisted-winged parasite, Xenos peckii. Previous studies document that host survivorship at most developmental stages was not largely influenced by the presence of X. peckii. To determine if X. peckii can affect their host’s ability to survive and reproduce, we dissected P. metricus to determine ovary development and the presence of X. peckii parasites. Parasite presence had no effect on the host’s …

Analysis And Tritrophic Associations Of Bats, Bat Flies, And Laboulbeniales Microfungi In Kenya, Ally Willis

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Bats (Chiroptera) are host to diverse lineages of ectoparasitic arthropods including ticks, mites, fleas, bat bugs, and bat flies (Arthropoda). Streblidae and Nycteribiidae are families in the dipteran superfamily Hippoboscoidea, and these hematophagous ectoparasites and their host associations are relatively well studied in the American tropics but not as well in east Africa. One of the main properties of host-parasite systems is host specificity, with some Eastern Hemisphere species (Nycteribiidae) appearing to display a lower level. The morphology of bat flies may drive (or be the result of) niche partitioning on the landscape of the host. Streblid bat flies in …

Using Wasp Specimens In Taxonomic, Biogeographic, Evolution, And Informal Education Studies, Brenna Lynn Decker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Entomology collections hold an untapped wealth of information, from insect morphology, genetics, locality and association data, and potential for use in education. Especially with insects that generate initial fears, such as wasps, seeing insect specimens provides a safe environment to learn about their behaviors. Wasps are insects in the order Hymenoptera, along with ants and bees. The public may hold fears against wasps, due to their negative portrayal in various media, but they serve as integral components of a functional ecosystem. Even with their importance, many groups of wasps are still highly understudies. This dissertation aims to tackle this fear …

Archaeoentomology: Arthropods And Humans, Current Works In Archaeoentomology, Paz Vigil

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

This paper presents a brief literature review, exploring human and insect interaction, and how such research aids the ongoing construction of the archaeological and entomological record. This field, a combined subset of both entomology and archaeology, is both complex and rich as well as young and still growing. This literature review is not meant to be an exhaustive or comprehensive exploration of this subject, but it will serve as part of a foundation for those interested in the topic or wanting to conduct further exploratory study in this field. The intent is to highlight the practical applications of Archaeoentomology, using …

Biology Of The Sineguelas Leaf Beetle, Podontia Quatuordecimpunctata (L.) (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), On Spondias Purpurea L. (Anacardiaceae) In The Philippines, Orlando A. Calcetas, Charles L. Staines, Caroline Simmrita Chaboo, Rachel Ann A. Anabo, Monalisa O. Recuenco

Insecta Mundi

Spondias purpurea L. (Anacardiaceae), native to the Neotropical region, is cultivated in the Phil­ippines for the edible fruits and the tree is economically significant. The adventive leaf beetle, Podontia quatuordecimpunctata (L.) (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), has become a major defoliating pest of the tree in the country. The Philippines government has initiated study of the pest, now locally called the sineguelas leaf beetle (SLB). This paper reports the results of a one-year field study on the biology of SLB on S. purpurea (red sineguelas), in Batangas City, Philippines. The SLB eggs hatch in 5–7 days. The larval period is 14–16 …

Beginner's Guide To Common Native Bees, Cody Zesiger, Elizabeth Cohen, Hannah Jarvis, Lori R. Spears, Ricardo Ramirez

All Current Publications

Utah is a superb place for beginning bee enthusiasts. Over 1,000 species of native bees exist in Utah (Cane, 2015). Southern Utah alone has approximately the same number of bee species as the entire eastern U.S. coast. There are many reasons for appreciating bees and encouraging their presence in the landscape. Specifically, bees are key to a sustainable environment as they are essential pollinators of food and fiber crops. Bees can also be appreciated for their striking diversity in color and size. This fact sheet highlights the different bee species that you may see in Utah.

Release Rates Of Typhlodromus Athiasae Porath And Swirski (Acari: Phytoseiidae) To Control The Two-Spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus Urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) On Apple Seedlings Under Greenhouse Conditions, معدلات إطلاق المفترس Typhlodromus Athiasae Porath And Swirski (Acari: Phytoseiidae) للسيطرة على الأكاروس الأحمر ذو البقعتين Tetranychus Urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) على غراس تفاح ضمن شروط البيوت البلاستيكية, Ibrahem Sakr, Majeda Mofleh, Abd-Ulnabi Basheer, Hamza Dahiah

Arab Journal of Arid Environments المجلة العربية للبيئات الجافة

A study was conducted at the Biological control studies and Research Centre -BCSRS (Damascus University /Syria) during 2013 - 2014. The effectiveness of the predatory mite Typhlodromus athiasae Porath and Swirski (Acari: Phytoseiidae) as a suppressive agent of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), was evaluated on apple seedlings at release rates 1:10, 1:20 1:40 predator:prey and no predaceous mites serving as control under greenhouse conditions. The ratio of 1:10 predator:prey reduced T. urticae populations significantly after one week of release with the highest density of T. athiasae occurring in 6th week, and kept them at low …

Systematics Of Eastern North American Podothrombium (Parasitengona: Podothrombiidae), Kelsey Lynn Cline

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Velvet mites of the genus Podothrombium Berlese, 1910 are found worldwide with only two described species known from North America, both occurring on the west coast. The present study describes five new species occurring in the east, from both larval and post-larval stages. Species hypotheses are supported with morphology and analysis of mitochondrial (barcoding region of COI) and nuclear genes (D2-3 expansion regions of 28S rDNA). Specimens are incorporated from the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD), allowing our dataset to span most of North America. Therefore, we were able to raise the number of Podothrombium in North America from …

A First Flight In North Carolina—But Not At Kitty Hawk, Robert J. Wright

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The southern corn billbug is a univoltine insect most common in the Coastal Plains region of North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and South Carolina. However, this insect can also be found in the midwestern U.S. (Van Duyn and Wright 1999). Early in the growing season, the adults can be found feeding at the base of corn plants—typically with their head pointed downward (Fig. 1)—by inserting their beak into the base of the plant. They can kill or stunt seedlings or injure the developing leaves inside the plant, causing twisted leaves as they emerge or a series of small holes across the …

The Promise Of A Multi-Disciplinary, Mixed-Methods Approach To Inform Insect Pest Management: Evidence From Wyoming Alfalfa, Randa Jabbour, Shiri Noy

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

From Aristotle To Wunderkammer: The Development Of Entomology And Insect Collections, Erica Fischer

Honors Projects

This project aimed to analyze the development of insect classification and the shift from the realm of the amateur naturalist to professional science. It looked to address questions regarding entomology as a developing science and how effectively it reflects larger changes in the field of biology and the development of natural history collections. This work was for a synthesis of time periods from the beginnings of classification in the ancient world through the 20th century, a more general timeline than is typically approached. The research needed for the completion of this paper was based on secondary source research in the …

Survival And Development Of Striacosta Albicosta (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Immature Stages On Dry Beans, Non-Bt, Cry1f, And Vip3a Maize, Débora G. Montezano, Thomas E. Hunt, Alexandre Specht, Priscila C. Luz, Julie A. Peterson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Striacosta albicosta is a crop pest that causes economic damage in the United States and Canada. Only maize and dry beans are shown to be suitable hosts, since larval development is incomplete on other hosts. The objective of this study was to describe the developmental parameters of immature stages of S. albicosta feeding on dry beans, non-Bt, Cry1F, and Vip3A maize. For Vip3A, mortality was 100% after 24 h. Larvae feeding on non-Bt maize had the highest larval survival (70.6%) compared to the other hosts. Maize expressing Cry1F had higher survival (31.3%) than dry beans (26.0%). Larvae feeding on dry …

Integrated Pest Management In The Academic Small Greenhouse Setting: A Case Study Using Solanum Spp. (Solanaceae)., Daniel S. Hayes, Ingrid E. Jordon-Thaden, Jason T. Cantley, Angela J. Mcdonnell, Christopher T. Martine

Faculty Journal Articles

Premise

Botanical faculty and staff at academic institutions are often tasked with establishing and/or caring for plant collections held in small greenhouse facilities. Once plants are in place, an especially acute challenge is managing plant pest/pathogen populations. Integrated pest management (IPM) approaches are an excellent option, but few examples exist in the literature of successful programs that have been developed in academic small greenhouse settings.

Methods and Results

Over several years, we developed an IPM program for two small research greenhouses on the campus of a primarily undergraduate institution where hundreds of plants have been grown for studies in the …

Life-History Parameters Of Striacosta Albicosta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Under Laboratory Conditions, Débora G. Montezano, Thomas E. Hunt, Alexandre Specht, Priscila M. C. Luz, Julie A. Peterson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Striacosta albicosta (Smith) is a key pest of maize and dry beans in North America. It has expanded its distribution from the western Great Plains of the United States to the Great Lakes region in the United States and Canada. There has been limited research on the baseline biological aspects of this insect under controlled conditions. The objective of this study was to detail the biological parameters of S. albicosta feeding on an artificial diet under laboratory conditions. Overall survival from neonate to adult at 26.6 ± 1°C was 36.72% and the total developmental time was approximately 110 d. Survival …

Mesopredator Distribution, Abundance And Potential Competition With The American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus Americanus) At Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center, Karisa Fenton

Theses and Dissertations from 2019

The American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus, hereafter ABB) was listed as an endangered species in 1989 and many hypotheses have been developed to explain their rangewide decline. I investigated the carcass competition hypothesis that implicates increased competition between vertebrate scavengers and ABBs for appropriate-sized carcasses as a cause for ABB decline. Predators of medium size that occupy an intermediate trophic level (hereafter mesopredators) are potential competitors for carcasses. I used camera trapping to assess mesopredator abundances in nine different habitats at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center (FCJMTC) in western Arkansas because this area supports the largest known population of …

Composition Of The Survival Motor Neuron (Smn) Complex In Drosophila Melanogaster, A. Gregory Matera, Amanda C. Raimer, Casey A. Schmidt, Jo A. Kelly, Gaith N. Droby, David Baillat, Sara Ten Have, Angus I. Lamond, Eric J. Wagner, Kelsey M. Gray

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is caused by homozygous mutations in the human survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. SMN protein has a well-characterized role in the biogenesis of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs), core components of the spliceosome. SMN is part of an oligomeric complex with core binding partners, collectively called Gemins. Biochemical and cell biological studies demonstrate that certain Gemins are required for proper snRNP assembly and transport. However, the precise functions of most Gemins are unknown. To gain a deeper understanding of the SMN complex in the context of metazoan evolution, we investigated its composition in Drosophila …

The Effect Of Anthropogenic Environmental Modifications On Malaria Vectors In Amazonian Peru And Brazil, Catharine Prussing

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Malaria is the most deadly vector borne disease, causing substantial morbidity and hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide each year. In the Americas, the incidence of malaria has increased steadily since 2014. The factors driving continued malaria transmission are complex and highly variable across endemic areas. These factors include inadequate access and financial commitment to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and a failure to target interventions to heterogeneous malaria transmission patterns and vector populations. Nyssorhynchus darlingi (formerly Anopheles darlingi), the predominant malaria vector in Latin America, is known for behavioral, phenotypic, and genetic variability across its range, which allow it to …

Species And Cultural Management Of Earthworms On Golf Course Turf In Arkansas And Oklahoma, Paige Elizabeth Boyle

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As earthworms feed, they can egest soil and nutrient-rich aggregates (casts) on the soil surface. In low-cut turfgrass systems, such as golf course greens, tees, and fairways, surface casting can result in a muddy playing surface, ball roll issues, weed and pest invasion, reduced aesthetics, surface softening, and reduced photosynthesis. Because the use of pesticides for earthworm control is illegal in the U.S., earthworm casting must be managed through cultural practices. Sand topdressing is one method of earthworm control studied for use on golf courses, with the supposition being that the abrasive sand particles will deter the soft-bodied earthworms from …

A Review Of The Ambush Bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Phymatinae) Of Michigan: Identification And Additional Considerations For Two Common Eastern Species, Daniel R. Swanson

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A review of the two species of Phymatinae found in Michigan is presented, along with an identification key, distribution maps, and relevant literature. Also included are brief discussions concerning natural history, variation, distribution, past records, and two additional eastern species.

Pentatomoidea (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae, Scutelleridae) Associated With The Dioecious Shrub Florida Rosemary, Ceratiola Ericoides (Ericaceae), A. G. Wheeler Jr.

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Florida rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides), an ericaceous shrub with needlelike leaves, is characteristic of Florida scrubs and certain other xeric plant communities of well-drained sands. The plant is dioecious, its inconspicuous male and female flowers borne on separate individuals. From 2003 to 2012 (mainly 2007–2012), rosemary was sampled periodically (with all months included at least once during the period) in sand ridges of peninsular Florida and two riverine dunes in southeastern Georgia. Branches of male and female plants were tapped separately into a beating net. Sampling during the final three years was female-plant-biased to facilitate work on fruit- and seed-feeding …

Description Of A New Species Of Atanycolus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) From Michigan Reared From The Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus Planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae), Paul M. Marsh, John S. Strazanac, Stephanie Y. Laurusonis

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A new species of Braconidae, Atanycolus cappaerti Marsh and Strazanac, is described from Michigan where it has been reared from emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), galleries in ash (Fraxi- nus spp.). Molecular evidence (analysis of fragments of the mitochondrial genes COI and 16S and the nuclear genes wingless and elongation factor 1-alpha) is presented to support the distinction of this new species from A. hicoriae Shenefelt that has been documented as a parasitoid of several ash borers.

Demonstration Of Sex Pheromones In Molanna Uniophila (Trichoptera: Molannidae), Platycentropus Radiatus, Pycnopsyche Indiana, And P. Subfasciata (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae), With An Assessment Of Interspecific Attraction Between Four Sympatric Pycnopsyche Species, David C. Houghton, Christine Lux, Megan Spahr

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Evidence for sex pheromones in the caddisflies Molanna uniophila Vorhies, Platycentropus radiatus (Say), Pycnopsyche indiana (Ross), and P. subfasciata (Say) is presented here for the first time based on field studies conducted in southern Michigan. For all species, numbers of males caught in pheromone traps baited with conspecific female extracts were higher than those caught in traps with male extracts, or those without extract. Four sympatric species of Pycnopsyche: P. guttifer (Walker), P. indiana, P. lepida (Hagen), and P. subfasciata exhibited no interspecific pheromonal attraction despite a common mating season and, in the case of P. indiana and P. lepida …

The Alien Hippodamia Variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Quickly Establishes Itself Throughout Wisconsin, Andrew H. Williams, Daniel K. Young

The Great Lakes Entomologist

(excerpt)

Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a Palaearctic species that was first reported to be established in the Nearctic near Montreal, Quebec, in 1984 (Gordon 1987). Since then, this small beetle has been expanding its range in North America, a process summarized by Gardiner and Parsons (2005). It was first reported from Michigan in 2005 (Gardiner and Parsons 2005) and from Ohio in 2007 (Pavuk et al. 2007).

Comparative Biology And Life Tables Of Trichogramma Brassicae And Trichogramma Cacoeciae With Ephestia Kuehniella As Host At Three Constant Temperatures, Nihal Ozder

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) have been successfully utilized for biocontrol of several lepidopteran pests world-wide. The age specific fecundity of Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko and Trichogramma cacoeciae Marchal using Ephestia kuehniell a Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) as host were determined at 20, 26, and 30 °C and 60-70 % R.H. in the laboratory. Both T. cacoeciae and T. brassicae demonstrate high parasitism ability and intrinsic rates of increase on E. kuehniella and had a similar response to increasing temperature.

Observations Of First Occurrence And Severity Of Potato Leafhopper, Empoasca Fabae (Harris), (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) In The North Central And Eastern United States., K. M. Maredia, M. E. Whalon, S. H. Gage, M. J. Kaeb

The Great Lakes Entomologist

This paper presents available data on the first occurrence dates and the damage severity of the potato leafhopper in the north central and north eastern United States collected during the past 47 years (1951-1997). The data were collected from a variety of sources including: potato leafhopper literature review; published reports; pest alerts; pest surveys; and delphi surveys. First occurrence and severity data show that the arrival time of potato leafhopper and subsequent damage severity varies substantially from year to year. A correlation analysis between date of first occurrence and severity of damage for Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, the north central region …

Feasibility Of Using Cryostored Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Eggs For Rearing Edovum Puttleri (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), R. F. W. Schroder

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cryostored eggs of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) eggs were suitable hosts for Edovum puttleri. Parasitism rates were low, however this study was first to show that rearing the parasite on eggs stored at ultra low temperatures (-70 0 C) is feasible. This method of storage will facilitate mass production of E. puttleri as well as prevent loss of the parasite in the event of a crash in the Colorado potato beetle colony.