Digital Commons Network^™

New Species, New Records And Synonymy Of Mexican Corthylus Erichson, 1834 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), Thomas H. Atkinson

Insecta Mundi

Ten new species of Corthylus Erichson (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are described from Mexico: Corthylus spinosulus, new species, C. cristatus, new species, C. cristatulus, new species, C. granu­locristatus, new species, C. poblanus, new species, C. ibarrai, new species, C. latisetosus, new species, C. burgosi, new species, C. granulosus, new species, and C. microcorthyloides, new species. Corthylus uniseptis Schedl, 1961 is synonymized with C. parvulus Blandford, 1904, new synonymy. Additional distribution …

Taxonomic Revision Of The Western Hemisphere Checkered Beetle Genus Axina Kirby (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), Weston Opitz

Insecta Mundi

The New World genus Axina Kirby (Coleoptera: Cleridae) is revised for the first time. Thirty-two new species are described: Axina acutipennis, A. adelosa, A. atmis, A. bahia, A. bella, A. brunnea, A. chiasta, A. furcula, A. heveli, A. ignota, A. klisis, A. latilinea, A. lobispinula, A. luzia, A. macilenta, A. megaspina, A. minas, A. ochra, A. oligocheia, A. ordinis, A. …

A New Genus And 37 New Noctuoid Species From Peninsular Florida And The Keys (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea), J. T. Troubridge

Insecta Mundi

A new genus, Janzena (Erebidae), and 37 new species of Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) are described from Florida as well as two species elevated from synonymy to species status. Bleptina biformata, Bleptina ex­tincta, Bleptina flavivena, Bleptina verticalis, Lascoria coma, Janzena pyraliformis, Sigela sordes, Sigela minuta, Sigela incisa, Sigela subincisa, Sigela rosea, Sigela lynx, Dyspyralis ocala, Metalectra nigrior, Metalectra dixoni, Melipotis florida, Doryodes acta, Doryodes unica, Doryodes fulva, Toxonprucha killamae, Zale lafontainei, Zale vargoi, Zale clandestina, Athyrma fakahatchee, Antiblemma perva, Antiblemma carolae, …

Notes On The Taxonomy And Distribution Of Xylocopa Coronata Smith, 1860, A Large Carpenter Bee From Maluku, Indonesia (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae), Jonathan R. Mawdsley

Insecta Mundi

The recently rediscovered female holotype of Xylocopa coronata Smith, 1860, (Hymenoptera: Apidae) collected by Alfred Russel Wallace at the type locality of “Kaisaa” (= modern-day Kaioa, Maluku, Indonesia) is illustrated for the first time. Dorsal and lateral images of males and females of X. coronata and a map showing the known distribution of the species are provided. Females of this species exhibit geographic color variation in dorsal pubescence patterns and wing iridescence. At the present time, two subspecies are recognized: X. coronata combinata Ritsema from the island of Obi, Maluku, Indonesia, and X. coronata coro­nata Smith from …

A New Species Of The Spittlebug Genus Clastoptera Germar (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Clastopteridae) On Florida Oaks, Vinton Thompson, Susan E. Halbert, Mark Rothschild

Insecta Mundi

Over the past decade, a previously unrecorded spittlebug of the genus Clastoptera Germar (Hemip­tera: Cercopoidea: Clastopteridae) has been observed in abundance on oaks (Quercus L. spp., Fagaceae) in several Florida counties. We describe this spittlebug as a new species, Clastoptera querci Thompson, Halbert and Rothschild, new species, provide information on its life history, host plants and distribution, and place it in the context of other members of the genus. Clastoptera spp. can transmit Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al., a bacterial pathogen that causes bacterial leaf scorch associated with oak decline. Thus C. querci should be monitored as a …

Review Of Species Of Anelaphus Linsley And Its New Synonym Gymnopsyra Linsley From The United States And Canada With Description Of A New Species, Synonymies, Distributional Notes And An Illustrated Identification Key (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Elaphidiini), Steven W. Lingafelter

Insecta Mundi

A review and illustrated key to Anelaphus Linsley, 1936 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Elaphidiini) of the United States and Canada is provided, along with taxonomic and distributional notes. Gymnopsyra Linsley, 1937, is a new synonym of Anelaphus. Gymnopsyra chemsaki Linsley, 1963 is a new synonym of Gymnopsyra magnipunctatus (Knull, 1934). Anelaphus hoferi (Knull, 1934) and Anelaphus tuckeri (Casey, 1924) are new synonyms of Anelaphus simile (Schaeffer, 1908). Anelaphus parallelus (Newman, 1840), An­elaphus rusticus (LeConte, 1850), and Anelaphus davisi Skiles, 1985 are new synonyms of Anelaphus villosus (Fabricius, 1792). Anelaphus aspera (Knull, 1962), Anelaphus bupalpa (Chemsak, 1991), and Anelaphus mag­nipunctatus (Knull, 1934) …

On Speciation And Hybridization Among Closely Related Species: Establishing An Experimental Breeding Lineage Between Two Species Of Automeris Hübner Moths (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) And Implications For Taxonomy, Andrei Sourakov, Cassandra Doll, Alyssa M. Quinn, Lei Xiao, Eric Anderson

Insecta Mundi

Many species of plants and a few species of animals are believed to have resulted from hybridization of parental species, and the ability of species to occasionally hybridize in captivity and in nature is even more widespread. In the present study, we describe a hybridization experiment conducted in the laboratory between the sexually dimorphic Automeris io (Fabricius), a widespread, variable species ranging from Canada to Costa Rica, and its congener A. louisiana (Ferguson and Brou), a more local, sexually monomorphic species (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). The A. louisiana populations occur in a highly specialized habitat—the coastal marshland along the Gulf of Mexico …

Systematic Status Of The Chilean Genus Carlota Arias-Bohart, 2014 (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Agrypninae: Agrypnini), Elizabeth T. Arias-Bohart

Insecta Mundi

The click beetle genus Carlota Arias-Bohart (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Agrypninae: Agrypnini) was considered as a junior synonym of Candanius Hayek recently. However, there are deep morphological differences between these genera which justify the validity of Carlota. The morphology of this genus was re-examined in detail and based on the short and shallow antennal grooves, strongly serrate antennae from antennomeres 3 through 10, subquadrate pronotum with four distinct subcircular depressions, and straight prosternal process not bent dorsally, I resurrect the genus Carlota from synonymy.

Designación Del Lectotipo De Ectinogonia Costata (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Y Descripción De Una Nueva Especie De Ectinogonia (Ectinogonia) Spinola De Chile, Cristian Pineda, José Mondaca

Insecta Mundi

El tipo primario de Psiloptera costata Fairmaire, actualmente en Ectinogonia Spinola (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), fue descubierto y se designa lectotipo. Como la descripción original es incompleta, la especie es brevemente redescrita e ilustrada en función del lectotipo. Adicionalmente, con base en ejemplares de Ectinogonia Spinola recolectados en planicies litorales de las regiones de Atacama y Coquimbo, se describe una nueva especie del desierto costero de Chile, E. gigantea Pineda y Mondaca, nueva especie. Se presentan caracteres diagnósticos, fotografías de los adultos y de los órganos genitales del macho y la hembra, junto a observaciones sobre el hábitat, historia natural, …

The Psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) Of Florida: Newly Established And Rarely Collected Taxa And Checklist, Susan E. Halbert, Daniel Burckhardt

Insecta Mundi

Psyllids are an economically important group of insects. Several species are serious emerging pests with regulatory significance. About 20 adventive species have been discovered in Florida in the past 20 years, including several pests. Additionally, five species new to science have been found. We provide an annotated checklist of Florida species with taxonomic information and identification tools, including keys to Florida genera and known species. Seventy species of Psylloidea currently are reported from Florida. Forty-one are native to Florida, with 12 endemic to the state. Twenty are adventive, the majority being from the Neotropics. One was introduced deliberately for biological …

Host-Use Patterns Of Canopy-Inhabiting Click Beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) In A Lowland Rainforest In Southern Venezuela, Susan Kirmse, Paul J. Johnson

Insecta Mundi

The arboreal click beetle fauna (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in a lowland tropical rainforest in south­ern Venezuela was observed and collected by means of a tower crane for a full year. The evaluation of the elaterid assemblage is part of a general survey of Coleoptera associated with several canopy trees. The Elat­eridae represented the tenth most species-rich beetle family in the canopy of the crane plot and was therefore selected for a detailed analysis of host-use patterns. In total, 20 species of Elateridae with 402 adult indi­viduals were sampled, including seven singletons. Species were either flower visiting (Aeolus Eschscholtz and Cosmesus …

Apiomerus Cazieri Berniker And Szerlip (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) Predaceous On Trichodes Ornatus Say (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), Jacques Rifkind

Insecta Mundi

The assassin bug Apiomerus cazieri Berniker and Szerlip (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) was observed to prey on the clerid beetle Trichodes ornatus Say (Coleoptera: Cleridae). This observation is the first recorded instance of Trichodes Herbst as a prey insect, and the second record for reduviid predation on Cleridae.

Core Neuropsychological Measures For Obesity And Diabetes Trials: Initial Report, Kimberlee D'Ardenne, Cary R. Savage, Dana Small, Uku Vainik, Luke E. Stoeckel

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Obesity and diabetes are known to be related to cognitive abilities. The Core Neuropsychological Measures for Obesity and Diabetes Trials Project aimed to identify the key cognitive and perceptual domains in which performance can influence treatment outcomes, including predicting, mediating, and moderating treatment outcome and to generate neuropsychological batteries comprised of well-validated, easy-to-administer tests that best measure these key domains. The ultimate goal is to facilitate inclusion of neuropsychological measures in clinical studies and trials so that we can gather more information on potential mediators of obesity and diabetes treatment outcomes. We will present the rationale for the project and …

Pollinator Assemblage And Pollen Load Differences On Sympatric Diploid And Tetraploid Cytotypes Of The Desert-Dominant Larrea Tridentata, Robert G. Laport, Robert L. Minckley, Diana Pilson

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

PREMISE: Whole-genome duplication (polyploidy) is an important force shaping flowering plant evolution. Ploidy-specific plant–pollinator interactions represent important community-level biotic interactions that can lead to nonrandom mating and the persistence of mixed-ploidy populations. METHODS: At a naturally occurring diploid–tetraploid contact zone of the autopolyploid desert shrub Larrea tridentata, we combined flower phenology analyses, collections of bees on plants of known cytotype, and flow cytometry analyses of bee-collected pollen loads to investigate whether (1) diploid and tetraploid plants have unique bee pollinator assemblages, (2) bee taxa exhibit ploidy-specific visitation and pollen collection biases, and (3) specialist and generalist bee taxa have ploidy-specific …

A Practical Guide To Mechanistic Systems Modeling In Biology Using A Logic-Based Approach, Anna Niarakis, Tomáš Helikar

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Mechanistic computational models enable the study of regulatory mechanisms implicated in various biological processes. These models provide a means to analyze the dynamics of the systems they describe, and to study and interrogate their properties, and provide insights about the emerging behavior of the system in the presence of single or combined perturbations. Aimed at those who are new to computational modeling, we present here a practical hands-on protocol breaking down the process of mechanistic modeling of biological systems in a succession of precise steps. The protocol provides a framework that includes defining the model scope, choosing validation criteria, selecting …

Registration Of ‘Ne10589’ (Husker Genetics Brand Ruth) Hard Red Winter Wheat, P. Stephen Baenziger, Robert Graybosch, Devin J. Rose, Lan Xu, Mary Guttieri, Teshome Regassa, Robert N. Klein, Greg R. Kruger, Dipak Santra, Gary Hergert, Stephen Wegulo, Y. Jin, J. Kolmer, Gary Hein, Jeff Bradshaw, M.-S. Chen, G. Bai, R. L. Bowden, Ibrahim El-Basyoni, A. Lorenz

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

With climate variation common in the U.S. Great Plains and particularly in Nebraska, wheat growers prefer broadly adapted cultivars. ‘NE10589’ (Reg. no. CV-1165, PI 675998) hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed cooperatively by the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA– ARS and released in January 2015 by the developing institutions. NE10589 was released primarily as a broadly adapted semi-dwarf cultivar for its superior performance under rainfed conditions throughout Nebraska and adjacent areas of the Great Plains. Its broad adaptation ensures that it will perform well under the typical environmental fluctuations that occur inNebraska. NE10589was selected …

Cautionary Tale Of Using Tris(Alkyl)Phosphine Reducing Agents With Nad+-Dependent Enzymes, Sagar M. Patel, Thomas G. Smith, Martha Morton, Kyle M. Stiers, Javier Seravalli, Stephen J. Mayclin, Thomas E. Edwards, John J. Tanner, Donald F. Becker

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Protein biochemistry protocols typically include disulfide bond reducing agents to guard against unwanted thiol oxidation and protein aggregation. Commonly used disulfide bond reducing agents include dithiothreitol, β-mercaptoethanol, glutathione, and the tris(alkyl)phosphine compounds tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) and tris(3-hydroxypropyl)phosphine (THPP). While studying the catalytic activity of the NAD(P)H-dependent enzyme Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase, we unexpectedly observed a rapid non-enzymatic chemical reaction between NAD⁺ and the reducing agents TCEP and THPP. The product of the reaction exhibits a maximum ultraviolet absorbance peak at 334 nm and forms with an apparent association rate constant of 231–491 M⁻¹ s⁻¹. The reaction is …

Effects Of Riparian Deforestation On Benthic Invertebrate Community And Leaf Processing In Atlantic Forest Streams, Monalisa Silva-Araujo, Eduardo F. Silva-Junior, Vinicius Neres-Lima, Rafael Feijo-Lima, Flavia Tromboni, Christine Lourenco-Amorim, Steven A. Thomas, Timothy P. Moulton

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Riparian deforestation may strongly affect stream functioning, with consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services. These effects can be assessed using bioindicators relating to biotic community structure and ecosystem functioning. We evaluated the effects of riparian deforestation on 1. measures of community structure using aquatic benthic invertebrates, and 2. an aspect of ecosystem functioning, aquatic leaf processing. We selected sites along gradients of riparian land use in four Atlantic rainforest streams and measured physical and chemical properties for their association with riparian deforestation. We sampled benthic invertebrates and calculated metrics of community structure at each site. We measured rates of leaf …

Flexible Coordinator And Switcher Hubs For Adaptive Task Control, Carrisa V. Cocuzza, Takuya Ito, Douglas H. Schultz, Dabielle D. Bassett, Michael W. Cole

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Functional connectivity (FC) studies have identified at least two large-scale neural systems that constitute cognitive control networks, the frontoparietal network (FPN) and cingulo-opercular network (CON). Control networks are thought to support goal-directed cognition and behavior. It was previously shown that the FPN flexibly shifts its global connectivity pattern according to task goal, consistent with a “flexible hub” mechanism for cognitive control. Our aim was to build on this finding to develop a functional cartography (a multimetric profile) of control networks in terms of dynamic network properties. We quantified network properties in (male and female) humans using a high-control-demand cognitive paradigm …

Dynamic Scaling Of The Generalized Complementary Relationship (Gcr) Improves Long-Term Tendency Estimates In Land Evaporation, Jozsef Szilagyi, Richard Crago, Ning Ma

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Most large-scale evapotranspiration (ET) estimation methods require detailed information of land use, land cover, and/or soil type on top of various atmospheric measurements. The complementary relationship of evaporation (CR) takes advantage of the inherent dynamic feedback mechanisms found in the soil−vegetation−atmosphere interface for its estimation of ET rates without the need of such biogeophysical data. ET estimates over the conterminous United States by a new, globally calibrated, static scaling (GCR-stat) of the generalized complementary relationship (GCR) of evaporation were compared to similar estimates of an existing, calibration-free version (GCR-dyn) of the GCR that employs a temporally varying dynamic scaling. Simplified …

Validating Tackle Mechanics In American Football: Improving Safety And Performance, Arthur C. Maerlender, Caitlin J. Masterson, Rex Norris, Adam Hinthorne

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Research has helped to understand the risks of injuries of tackling in American football and rugby; however, approaches to teaching and analysis are not well-documented. Shoulder-led tackling has been proposed as a safer approach to tackling even though data on the effectiveness for safety and defensive performance is limited. Additionally, some have argued that safety and effectiveness are incompatible. The purpose of the study was to validate a specific sequence of tackling actions as a tool for teaching safer and more effective tackling skills. Results suggested tackle scores help predict presence of head contact, and that higher tackle scores were …

Summer Field Report, June-July 2020, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

Overall, this was a fairly routine summer although birders in Nebraska know that “routine” still holds promise of a few happenings out of the ordinary. The summer season primarily examines new breeding records, range expansions, and changes in numbers, up or down. Mississippi Kites were conspicuous, a pair providing Scottsbluff’s first breeding record, but a repeating pair in Lincoln, Lancaster lost its nest in a windstorm. The first nesting record for Violet-Green Swallow for Sheridan, 7th nesting for White-winged Dove, and 9th for Short-eared Owl were all encouraging, as was an apparent family group of Northern Saw-whet Owls in Sioux. …

Robert Wolcott And The Art Of Nest Records, Thomas E. Labedz

Nebraska Bird Review

The autumn of 1894 was fortuitous for Nebraska ornithology because it is when Robert Henry Wolcott accepted an assistantship at the University of Nebraska, moving to Lincoln from the University of Michigan (Swenk 1935). Wolcott, from that point onward, made significant contributions to our knowledge of Nebraska birds (Bruner et al. 1903, Wolcott 1909, 1919), was a founding member of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union (NOU), and was editor for the first three Proceedings of the NOU from 1899-1902. His work expanded beyond local focus and he eventually authored a text on animal biology (Wolcott 1933). The topic of this paper, …

The Nebraska Bird Review, Volume 88 September 2020, Number 3

Nebraska Bird Review

Summer Field Report, June - July 2020, by W. Ross Silcock …94.

Robert Wolcott and the Art of Nest Records, by Thomas E. Labedz …112

2019 (31st) Report of the NOU Records Committee, by Mark A. Brogie …124

Subscription and Organization Information …135

Selection Signatures Across Seven Decades Of Hard Winter Wheat Breeding In The Great Plains Of The United States, Habtamu Ayalew, Mark E. Sorrells, Brett F. Carver, P. Stephen Baenziger, Xue-Feng Ma

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Classical plant breeding has been instrumental in changing the genetic makeup of crop plants for better ecological adaptation and improved quality. This paper provides insights of the genomic changes effected in hard winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through decades of breeding and selection in the Great Plains of the United States. Population structure and differentiation analyses were conducted on 185 wheat cultivars released from 1943 to 2013. Cultivars were grouped into four distinct clusters using discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC). One of the clusters was unique in that 15 out of the 18 individuals were recent releases (2000–2010), …

The 2017 Economic Impact Of The Nebraska Agricultural Production Complex, Eric Thompson, Bradley Lubben, Jeff Stokes

Bureau of Business Research Publications

Executive Summary

Nebraska is home to a large and diverse agricultural production complex involved in growing, processing, and transporting agricultural products as well as supplying agricultural producers. Included in this complex are: crop production, livestock production, agriculture-related manufacturing, transportation, and wholesaling, and agri-tourism.

This study has been conducted to provide a benchmark assessment of the economic impact of Nebraska agriculture on the state’s economy. The impact is estimated for 2017, the year of the most recently completed Census of Agriculture. That Census provides detailed information on production, employment, and other activity in crop and livestock production.

The study relies on …

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Paleontological Resources Management Plan (Public Version), Scott Kottkamp, Vincent L. Santucci, Justin S. Tweet, Jessica De Smet, Ellen Stark

United States National Park Service: Publications

Executive Summary

Since Agate Springs Ranch was founded by James H. Cook in 1887, exquisite examples of transitional Miocene mammalian fauna have been found along this stretch of the Niobrara River valley. Collectively these paleontological discoveries, along with the existing archeological and historical Native American collection, were the basis for establishing Agate Fossil Beds National Monument (AGFO) as a unit of the National Park System (NPS). The fossil remains from the Harrison and Anderson Ranch formations span a short, but important, time period within the Miocene Epoch. AGFO has provided science with an intimate look into North American mammalian evolution …

Theories - A Powerful Tool For Science, Lawrence C. Scharmann

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

Scientific theories are often mischaracterized by non-scientists, journalists, etc., as being merely someone’s guesses; guesses that would be more appropriately labeled as conjecture or speculation. Others mistakenly equate theory and hypothesis. Still others incorrectly assert that scientific laws (which refer to a limited set of remarkably repeatable observational data) are ‘stronger’ than theories. In the practice of science, however, laws are narrowly confined and limited in application, whereas theories are broad in scope and widely applied. Simply stated, theories are scientists’ most powerful tools.

Evaluating The Effect Of Non-Thermal Processing And Enzymatic Hydrolysis In Modulating The Antioxidant Activity Of Nebraskan Great Northern Beans, Madhurima Bandyopadhyay

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Great Northern Beans (GNB), a major pulse crop of Nebraska, are a rich source of dietary proteins and has the potential to release peptides with beneficial biological properties upon enzymatic hydrolysis. Thermal processing, such as boiling, is the most common way to process beans; it makes the beans palatable and also improves the accessibility of the proteolytic enzymes. Heat treatments destroy the naturally present essential bioactive components in beans like phytochemicals and could be prevented using an alternative non-thermal process. High Pressure processing (HPP), a non-thermal process and the most used alternative to thermal processing, can influence the storage proteins …

Development Of A Minority Stress Preventive Intervention For Sexual And Gender Minority Youth And Young Adults, Natalie Holt

Department of Psychology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Mental health disparities amongst sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals are spurred by exposure to minority stressors and sustained by mediators of problems with emotion regulation, social support, and cognitive processes. Emerging clinical research suggests empirically supported behavioral health treatments can be culturally adapted to address these mental health disparities, however less work has focused on the prevention of symptoms. The present study developed a brief preventive intervention targeting mediators of the minority stress model for SGM youth and young adults aged 17 to 26. Focus groups with 8 SGM participants informed development to ensure the content and delivery of …