Entomology Commons^™

Checking The Checkered Taxonomy Of Plötz's Checkered Skippers (Hesperiidae: Pyrgini), Jing Zhang, Qing Cong, John M. Burns, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

We present an analysis of the names proposed by Carl Plötz in 1884 for the New World species in the genus Pyrgus Hübner, [1819] facilitated by the genomic sequencing of extant primary type specimens comparatively with a larger sample of more recently collected specimens of these species and their relatives. The changes to nomenclature suggested here are only caused by the identity of primary type specimens as revealed by their phenotypes or though genomic sequencing. All neotypes are designated to stabilize nomenclature in agreement with the current usage of these names, which in unison agrees best with the information available …

Genomic Dna Sequencing Reveals Two New North American Species Of Staphylus (Hesperiidae: Pyrginae: Carcharodini), Jing Zhang

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Two new skipper butterfly (Hesperiidae) species are described from the United States: Staphylus floridus Grishin, sp. n. (type locality in Florida, Volusia County) and Staphylus ecos Grishin, sp. n. (type locality in Texas, Brewster County). They are cryptic and hence escaped recognition. They differ from their sister species by the relative size and morphology of genitalia and by genotype—including and beyond the COI barcode—thus, suggesting genetic isolation that argues for their species-level status. A lectotype is designated for Helias ascalaphus Staudinger, 1876. Staphylus opites (Godman & Salvin, 1896), stat. rest. is a species-level taxon and not a synonym of Staphylus …

First Record Of Ancognatha Erythrodera (Blanchard, 1846) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) In The Altiplano Of Chile, José Mondaca, Sergio Rothmann

Insecta Mundi

The presence of Ancognatha erythrodera (Blanchard, 1846) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is confirmed for the first time in Chile based on male and female specimens collected in the extreme north of the country. This is the second species of Ancognatha Erichson, 1847 recorded in Chile. Morphological characters, illustrations of male genitalia, male and female habitus photographs of this species, and additional records in Argentina and Bolivia are provided. A map with the collection sites and montane habitats photograph in Chile are included.

The Dynastinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) that occur in Chile were comprehensively revised by Ratcliffe et al. (2021), who recorded nine species …

Using Community Science To Assess The Effect Of Wing Pattern And Weather On Butterfly Behavior, Abbigail Merrill

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Signaling in insects is used as communication and for attraction of mates. The physical appearance of the insect as well as conditions such as weather can play a role in visual signaling, by influencing the wavelengths of light available, and subsequent signal detection. We do not know, however, whether signals butterflies present broadly correlate with how they behave. In this study, we looked at the wing patterns and behavior of butterflies in Northwest Arkansas over a 3.5-year period to assess the relationship between wing pattern, weather, and behavior. We used observational data collected by hundreds of University of Arkansas students …

Native And Non-Native Ant Impacts On Soil Microbes, Hannah A. Stewart

Biology Theses

Organisms produce chemical weapons for defense, but target organisms can develop resistance. In their introduced range, non-native species may bring “novel weapons” against which native organisms have not co-evolved resistance. The invasive European fire ant (Myrmica rubra) may have brought antimicrobial secretions to the Northeastern United States that are novel weapons against native fungal and bacterial soil organisms. I hypothesized that M. rubra would better inhibit seed pathogens resulting in greater emergence of native myrmecochorous Viola sororia seeds and, as a side effect, more strongly inhibit arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi than a native seed dispersing ant (Aphaenogaster picea …

Using Ai To Examine Nocturnal Moth Pollination, Conor Moriarty

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The importance of insect-mediated agriculture cannot be understated especially in the wake of pollinator population declines. Most research of insect-mediated pollination is focused on diurnal pollinators like the honeybee (Apis mellifera). Deepening our understanding of how other pollinators, such as nocturnal pollinators, can benefit agriculture and ecosystems will be very important as honeybee populations decline. I explored nocturnal moth interactions with flowering apple flowers during their pollination season to better understand how these nocturnal pollinators interact with the plants. To accomplish this, I used a University of Arkansas farm area with a dedicated apple orchard. I gathered my raw data …

Risk-Prone And Risk-Averse Foraging Strategies Enable Niche Partitioning By Two Diurnal Orb-Weaving Spider Species, Mitchell D. Long

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Niche partitioning is a major component in understanding community ecology and how ecologically similar species coexist. Temporal and spatial partitioning and differences in foraging strategy, including sensitivity to risk (variance), likely contribute to partitioning as well. Here, we approach this partitioning with fine resolution to investigate differences in overall strategy between two species of diurnal, orb-weaving spiders, Verrucosa arenata and Micrathena gracilis (Araneae: Araneidae), that share similar spatial positioning, temporal foraging window, and prey. Through field observation, we found that V. arenata individuals appear to increase spatial and temporal sampling to compensate for an overall risk-prone strategy that depends on …

Effect Of Larval Experience On Learning Mate Preference In Bicyclus Anynana, Taryn Tibbs

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Phenotypic traits are shaped by the interaction of an organism's genes and the environment they experience. The plasticity of phenotypic traits is particularly responsive to developmental environments which can shape adult traits, such as expressed behaviors like mate choice and the ability to learn preferences. The Lepidoptera species Bicyclus anynana has been shown to learn mate preference based on social interaction following emergence from the chrysalis, however if and how the social complexity of the larval experience affects this ability to learn is less understood. Here I test the effects of isolation during the larval period on a female’s ability …

A New Genus For Stromatium Chilensis Cerda, 1968 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Hesperophanini) From Chile, José Mondaca, Marcos Beéche

Insecta Mundi

Stromatium chilensis Cerda, 1968, an endemic species from Chile, is placed in Malcho Mondaca and Beéche, new genus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Hesperophanini). The new genus is compared with Stromatium Audinet-Serville, included in a previous key to Hesperophanini, and a diagnosis and illustrations of the species are provided.

Stromatium chilensis Cerda, 1968, especie endémica de Chile, es ubicada en Malcho Mondaca y Beéche, nuevo género (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Hesperophanini). El nuevo género es comparado con Stromatium Audinet-Serville, e incluido en la clave anterior de Hesperophanini. Se aporta una diagnosis e ilustraciones de la especie.

The genus Stromatium Audinet-Serville, 1834, considered …

Descripción De Dos Especies Nuevas De Mesoplia Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Apidae) Para Cuba Y Las Bahamas, Con Notas Sobre Taxonomía Y Distribución Del Género En Las Antillas, Julio A. Genaro, Dayron Breto

Insecta Mundi

Se describen e ilustran dos especies nuevas de Mesoplia Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Api­dae) para las Antillas: M. bahamensis Genaro y Breto, nueva especie, conocida solamente del cayo Castaway, Las Bahamas y M. cubensis Genaro y Breto, nueva especie, bien distribuida en toda Cuba e Isla de La Juven­tud. Mesoplia cubensis nueva especie fue una especie multivoltina, que se relacionó con el área de nidos de especies de Centris Fabricius (Apidae), su posible hospedero. Se presentan las características taxonómicas diferenciales y la distribución de las otras cuatro especies antillanas conocidas: Mesoplia sp., no descrita, M. azurea (Lepeletier y Serville), …

Additional New And Unusual Host Records For Western Hemisphere Spider Wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), Frank E. Kurczewski, Rick C. West, Cecilia Waichert, James P. Pitts

Insecta Mundi

We present 112 new and unusual host records for 63 species and subspecies of Pompilidae (Hy­menoptera) from the Western Hemisphere in modified taxonomic order according to the Synoptic Catalog of Hymenoptera (Krombein 1979). These records supplement those reported in a recent study by Kurcze­wski et al. (2020b). New and atypical genus and species host records are given for the genera Calopompilus Ashmead, Herbstellus Wahis, Pepsis Fabricius, Priocnessus Banks, Entypus Dahlbom, Pompilocalus Roig-Alsina, Sphictostethus Kohl, Priocnemis Schiødte, Caliadurgus Fabricius, Epipompilus Kohl, Auplopus Spinola, Ageniella Banks, Eragenia Banks, Agenioideus Ashmead, Sericopompilus Howard, Poecilopompilus Ashmead, Tachypompilus Ashmead, and Priochilus (Fabricius). New host …

New Species And New Combinations In Afrotropical Eucosmocydia Diakonoff, 1988 (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae), John W. Brown, Jozef Razowski, Leif Aarvik, Alicia E. Timm, Robert S. Copeland

Insecta Mundi

Eight new species of Eucosmocydia Diakonoff are described and illustrated from the Afrotropical region: E. pappeana Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Kenya); E. deinbolliana Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Kenya); E. ugandensis Aarvik, new species (TL: Uganda); E. lecaniodiscana Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Kenya); E. nigeriana Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Nigeria); E. pan­coviana Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Kenya); E. kirimiriana Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Kenya); and E. macabensis Brown and Razowski, new species (TL: Mauritius). Three additional species are transferred to the genus: E. hymenosa …

A New Species And New Records For Two Other Exotic Species Of Dirrhagofarsus Fleutiaux, 1935 (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Melasinae: Dirhagini) In The United States, Robert L. Otto

Insecta Mundi

New records for a new species and other exotic Dirrhagofarsus Fleutiaux (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Melasinae: Dirhagini) species are reported from throughout much of the northeastern and southern areas of the United States. Dirrhagofarsus brevis, new species, is hereby described in this study. Two other exotic spe­cies, Dirrhagofarsus modestus (Fleutiaux) and Dirrhagofarsus unicolor (Hisamatsu), new country records, are redescribed and diagnosed as they were compared with other Dirrhagofarsus species present in the Nearctic region. All Dirrhagofarsus species in this study are imaged, highlighting essential character states to facilitate better diagnosis in conjunction to the new identification key provided in …

New Species, Synonymy, New Records, And Taxonomic Notes In American Cerambycidae (Coleoptera), Juan Pablo Botero, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Cotyclytus parumnotatus (Zajciw, 1963) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Clytini) is revalidated and a neotype is designated. Anatinomma Bates, 1892 (Cerambycinae: Hesperophanini) is reported as a neuter gender and two species-group names are corrected: A. brevicorne Fisher, 1944 and A. in­sulare Chemsak and Linsley, 1964; the latter is newly recorded from Honduras. Pachymerola vitticollis Bates, 1892 (Cerambycinae: Hyboderini) is recorded for the first time in the Mexican state of Jalisco, and chromatic variation is reported. Smodicum dinellii Bruch, 1911 (Cerambycinae: Smodicini) is recorded from Bolivia; and Corcovado bezarki Martins and Galileo, 2008 (Lamiinae: Hemilophini) is recorded from Belize. Parhip­popsis …

Identification Of A Potential Pathway Of The Exotic Black Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) In South Korea, Sohee Kim, Seon Woo Lee, Soo-Jung Suh

Insecta Mundi

The black weevil, Aclees taiwanensis Kôno (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the primary pests of fig trees in southeastern Asia and southern Europe. Thought to be of subtropical and tropical Asian origin, including China, the weevil was first found in southern areas of South Korea in July 2020. Subsequently, it was found in the following five cities: Haenam, Hampyeong, Jindo, Sinan, and Tongyeong (RDA 2020). Attempts to trace a possible pathway for the exotic black weevil suggested that this species probably followed pathways of illegal importation of infested plants from Taiwan and was unintentionally introduced into South Korea based on …

A New Species Of Celastrina From The Northwestern United States And Southwestern Canada With A Lectotype Designation Of Lycaena Pseudargiolus Var. Nigrescens Fletcher (Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae), Caitlin C. Labar, Jonathan P. Pelham, Norbert G. Kondla

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

A new western azure species, Celastrina asheri, is described from the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada. A lectotype is designated for Lycaena pseudargiolus var. nigrescens Fletcher, 1903 to secure the identity of that name. C. asheri broadly overlaps with the northeastern range of C. echo (W. H. Edwards, 1864) but is usually very distinct from that species. C. lucia (W. Kirby, 1837) is narrowly sympatric with C. asheri in British Columbia, the southwest corner of Alberta and along the Rocky Mountains in Montana. As far as is known, C. asheri uses only red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea …

Circadian Phase Shifts Effect Of Social Jetlag On Cellular Metabolism And Circadian Genes In Wildtype Flies, Olivia Kozub

Biology Student Scholarship

Olivia Kozub ’23
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Pamela Snodgrass-Belt, Biology

Drosophila, like humans, have circadian clocks which regulate behavioral and physiological systems within the body. This “biological clock” is synchronized to the environment via temperature and/or light cycles. Small fluctuations in day-length trigger a reset of circadian clocks daily. However, large disruptions can cause health and stress issues such as social jetlag. Social jetlag occurs when an individual’s biological clock clashes with the timing of one’s sleep schedule determined by social factors and the demands of the day.

Use Of Intramodal Odor Cues In Shelter Recognition By An Amblypygid, Nathan Bostelman

Honors Projects

Amblypygids are nocturnal arthropods which live in cluttered habitats and possess the ability to navigate home after displacements of up to ten meters. Homing amblypygids rely on olfactory and tactile information gathered by their antenniform legs to navigate successfully. Given that odor signals encountered in nature are complex and dynamic, navigation via olfaction presents unique challenges related to signal uncertainty. To understand how amblypygids perceive perceive complex odors and what they learn from them, individuals of the subtropical amblypygid P. marginemaculatus were trained to associate a blend of two odors with a shelter and tested on three treatments: the reinforced …

New State Records For 33 Species Of Nearctic False Click Beetles (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae), Robert L. Otto

Insecta Mundi

New state records for 33 species of Eucnemidae (Coleoptera) are reported from the eastern United States based on the examination and identifications of specimens from four institutional and personal collections over the past several years. Images of 12 eucnemid species are also provided.

Recently, opportunities were presented to identify more than 880 Eucnemidae from four institutional and personal collections. Most of the specimens came from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and were collected during the national bark beetle surveys conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture. The survey has been instrumental in providing more state records of Eucnemidae …

How Social Behavior And Interactions Scale With Group Size In Drosophila Melanogaster, Leigh Paradis

Biology Student Scholarship

Leigh Paradis ’23
Majors: Biology and Neuroscience
Faculty Mentor: Dr. James Waters, Biology

The goal of this research project was to quantify interaction patterns in groups of fruit flies and determine if flies show evidence for a linear or non-linear effect of group size on their behavior. Specifically, I tested whether flies interact with each other at a constant rate, whether this depends on density or group size, and whether their interaction patterns correlate with overall energy use and metabolic rates. This research questions common assumptions about the differences between eusocial societies such as ants and bees and the solitary …

Non-Native Coccinellid Beetles And Land Use Abundance Patterns In The Quad Cities Region, Jack Hughes, Tierney Brosius, Michael Reisner

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Harmonia axyridis was introduced in 1916. This species of coccinellid beetle is considered a desirable species for agriculture practices because of its ability to control pests. There is increasing evidence that H. axyridis may be outcompeting native species which could be contributing to the decline of some species that are disappearing from the landscape. Harmonia axyridis has a large migration range of 2 Km enabling the species to affect a large area of land. Invasive species often increase in abundance in urban landscapes which may be the case with H. axyridis. During the summer of 2021 we investigated H. axyridis …

Notes On Eastern North American Lepidoptera, Harry Pavulaan, Annette Allor

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

New natural history elements and distribution records of several North American butterflies are reported. While diversity and distribution of butterflies in the eastern United States is commonly believed to be fully known, the findings presented here show that much is yet to be learned of our butterfly fauna.

Includes:

1. Pages 1-9

Celastrina ladon and C. neglecta (Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae) Are Distinct Species Differentiated Primarily by a Diagnostic Wing Scale Structure, Voltinism, and Host Tolerance of Cornus florida.by Harry Pavulaan (International Lepidoptera Survey)

Abstract. With continued confusion of the two species by naturalists, Celastrina neglecta (W. H. Edwards) is here …

Assessing The Influence Of Urban Greening On Urban Arthropods, Brendon Lawrence

Scholars Week

Green Heart is an urban greening experiment in Louisville, KY seeking to create new urban green spaces to ultimately increase air quality and improve human health. Changes in biodiversity in response to urban greening may influence human health via multiple hypothesized pathways including reducing harm (e.g. medicine provisioning), restoring capacities (e.g. reductions in stress), building capacities (e.g. increasing activity outdoors), and causing harm (e.g. zoonotic diseases). Arthropods are one component of diversity that may influence human health via each of these pathways. However, few studies have assessed the influence of Arthropod diversity on human health. Thus, the objective of our …

A Checklist Of The Hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) Of The Cayman Islands: With Implications For The Pollination Of The Ghost Orchid Dendrophylax Fawcettii Rolfe (Orchidaceae: Angraecinae) And Consideration Of Bat Predation, M. C. Rose-Smyth, R. R. Askew, P. A. Van B. Stafford, M. J. Simon, G. J. Gross, R. Rozycki

Insecta Mundi

This checklist synthesises historic collections of Sphingidae (Lepidoptera) made during the summer months in the Cayman Islands in 1938 and 1975 with modern records drawn from a variety of sources. We report observations and collections made in all seasons of the year and provide natural history and larval food details. Four species, Phryxus caicus (Cramer) in all three islands, plus Isognathus rimosa (Grote), Enyo lugubris (Linnaeus), and Eumorpha satellitia (Linnaeus) in Grand Cayman only, are here reported as new records, for a total of 25 sphingid species occurring in the Cayman Islands. Seven species are new records for Grand Cayman, …

Soybean Gall Midge (Resseliella Maxima Gagné): Insecticide Efficacy And Seasonal Larval Abundance, Vilma Maria Montenegro Castro

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Soybean gall midge, Resseliella maxima Gagné was recently identified as a new species injuring soybean in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Missouri. Resseliella maxima injury is caused by its three instars that feed on tissues within the soybean stem. Infested plants exhibit a darkening of the stem, disrupting nutrient flow within the plant and can lead to wilting or death of plants. Total yield losses can occur in the first 30 m of the field in heavily infested sites. The biology and behavior of this newly described insects is not well understood and management strategies for the management of …

Geographic Variation In Host Selection In The Spider Wasps Entypus Unifasciatus (Say) And Tachypompilus Ferrugineus (Say) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), Ii, Frank E. Kurczewski, Joseph W. Stoll, Rick C. West, Kelly C. Kissane, Paige R. Chesshire, Neil S. Cobb

Insecta Mundi

This paper is the sequel to a 20 year-long (2002–2021) study of geographic variation in host selec­tion in the common American spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) Entypus unifasciatus (Say) (Pepsini) and Tachypompilus ferrugineus (Say) (Pompilini) (rusty spider wasp). Geography and host spider family are strongly linked in both species when 3387 host spider locality records from the years 1918–2021 are mapped. Entypus unifasciatus lycosid host records are plentiful from 43–44° N in the United States and southern Ontario to northern Mexico. Tachypompilus ferrugineus lycosid host records are abundant from southern Ontario and New England southward to Mexico east of the Rocky …

First Record Of Agrilus Cliftoni Knull And Anthaxia Viridifrons Gory (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) In Wisconsin, Lawrence Barringer

Insecta Mundi

Two species of Coleoptera: Buprestidae are reported from Wisconsin for the first time: Agrilus cliftoni Knull and Anthaxia viridifrons Gory. Trapping, distribution information, and additional records are also discussed.

Jewel beetles such as emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire), continue to be of interest as estab­lished pests (USDA APHIS 2021). Survey programs allow for the detection of EAB as it continues to spread across North America while monitoring for other taxa not yet present in the eastern United States such as the goldspot­ted oak borer (Agrilus. auroguttatus Schaeffer) and oak splendor beetle Agrilus biguttatus Fabricius (CERIS …

Megalurothrips Usitatus Bagnall (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), First Record Of An Important New Pest In Honduras, Jesus Orozco

Insecta Mundi

Megalurothrips usitatus Bagnall (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), an invasive and highly destructive pest of beans, is recorded for the first time for Honduras. The species is illustrated to aid in its identification. Specimens were collected from Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean), Crotalaria juncea L. (sunn hemp), and Melampodium divaricatum (Rich.) DC (butter daisy).

Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L., (Fabaceae)), are a staple food source in Honduran cuisine, as they are eaten at least once daily by the majority of the population. This crop is a large part of the economy of the country and the only source of income for many …

A Segmented And Clawed Male Foreleg In A Newly Described Genus And Species Of Eumaeine Butterfly (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), Robert K. Robbins, Christophe Faynel, Jason P.W. Hall, Robert C. Busby

Insecta Mundi

Grishinata Robbins and Busby, new genus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Eumaeini), possesses a five-segmented foretarsus with a clawed pretarsus, a trait that differentiates it from all eumaeine genera except Theclopsis Godman and Salvin. Grishinata penny Busby, Hall, and Robbins, new species, differs from all species of Theclopsis (and most Eumaeini) in lacking male secondary sexual organs on the wings or in the abdomen. It is recorded from the eastern slope of the Andes in Ecuador and Peru. We cannot place Grishinata penny in an existing Eumaeini genus based upon its wing pattern, male foreleg structure, lack of male second­ary sexual organs, and …

Influence Of Soil Of Grape Phylloxera (Phylloxera Vitifolia) In Some Vineyards In Two Regions Massad And Rhasas In Alsweda Governorate/ Syria, دراسة تأثير خصائص التربة في حشرة فيلوكسيرا العنب الجذرية Phylloxera Vitifolia Fitch في بعض بساتين العنب التجارية في منطقتي مصاد ورساس في محافظة السويداء / سورية, Abdulnabi Basheer, Wajih Al-Kessis, Basel Al-Shadidi

Arab Journal of Arid Environments المجلة العربية للبيئات الجافة

The study was carried out during 2015, in order to evaluate the effect of soil properties in Grape Roots Phylloxera Phylloxera vitifoliae in commercial Grape fields in Al-Suwieda Governorate / Syria (Massad and Rhasas) grafted on B41 and Ruggeri 140 rootstocks. The study showed that phylloxera vitifoliae caused significant damage to the grape vine planted in a soil with high content of clay, negative correlation between the percentage of organic matter and the average population density, and a positive correlation with the death rate for different stages of the insect in two study sites were found. A negative correlation between …