Entomology Commons^™

Mosquito-Borne Diseases In Mississippi, Ryan J. Rodriguez

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Life Cycle:
Egg Must be exposed to water to hatch
Larvae Live in aquatic habitats
Pupa Stay near the surface of water to breath
Adults: Only females feed on blood; Males feed on nectar

Public Health •Besides being a nuisance, they cause numerous health hazards to humans (and other animals) •In some cases, they may cause severe allergic reactions •Diseases they transmit: •Eastern Equine Encephalitis •Japanese Encephalitis •La Crosse Encephalitis •St. Louis Encephalitis •West Nile Virus •Western Equine Encephalitis •Dengue Fever •Malaria •Rift Valley Fever •Yellow Fever

Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Mississippi and its Vectors •Chikungunya Virus •Aedes species •Eastern Equine …

Parental Rna Interference Of Genes Involved In Embryonic Development Of The Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera Leconte, Chitvan Khajuria, Ana María Vélez, Murugesan Rangasamy, Haichuan Wang, Elane Fishilevich, Meghan L.F. Frey, Newton Portilho Carneiro, Premchand Gandra, Kenneth E. Narva, Blair D. Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

RNA interference (RNAi) is being developed as a potential tool for insect pest management and one of the most likely target pest species for transgenic plants that express double stranded RNA (dsRNA) is the western corn rootworm. Thus far, most genes proposed as targets for RNAi in rootworm cause lethality in the larval stage. In this study, we describe RNAi mediated knockdown of two developmental genes, hunchback (hb) and brahma (brm), in the western corn rootworm delivered via dsRNA fed to adult females. dsRNA feeding caused a significant decrease in hb and brm transcripts in the adult females. Although …

Nueva Técnica De Microscopía Electrónica De Barrido Para El Estudio De Coccoidea (Insecta: Hemiptera), Andrea Saracho Bottero, Lucía E. Claps

Insecta Mundi

Se presenta un protocolo para preparar material de Coccoidea (Insecta: Hemiptera) para realizar observaciones con microscopía electrónica de barrido. Esta técnica consiste en muestras conservadas en alcohol 96°, limpiadas con xilol y acetona y llevadas directamente a la etapa de hidratación y una posterior deshidratación, en alcohol, omitiendo la fi jación en formaldehído gluteraldehído y la posfijación en tetróxido de osmio. Se destaca la importancia de la limpieza del material y la correcta realización de punto crítico, en la etapa de desecación.

A new protocol to prepare material of Coccoidea (Insecta: Hemiptera) for observation with scanning electron microscopy is presented. …

The Trichoptera Of Panama. Ii. Ten New Species Of Microcaddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae), Steven C. Harris, Brian J. Armitage

Insecta Mundi

In the Republic of Panama, the family Hydroptilidae (Insecta: Trichoptera) is currently represented by 82 species distributed among 14 genera. In this publication we provide descriptions and illustrations for 10 new species of hydroptilids in the subfamily Hydroptilinae: Tribe Leucotrichiini—Zumatrichia teribe and Z. zegla; Tribe Neotrichiini—Neotrichia pamelae and N. parabullata; and, Tribe Ochrotrichiini—Metrichia nowaczyki, M. sencilla, Nothotrichia panama, Ochrotrichia abrelata, O. nimmoi, and O. pulgara. The genus Nothotrichia is recorded from Panama for the first time.

A Revision Of The Biting Midges In The Culicoides (Monoculicoides) Nubeculosus-Stigma Complex In North America With The Description Of A New Species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), William L. Grogan Jr., Timothy J. Lysyk

Insecta Mundi

This revision of the Nearctic biting midges in the Culicoides (Monoculicoides) nubeculosus-stigma complex recognizes four species: C. grandensis Grogan and Phillips, C. riethi Kieffer, C. stigma (Meigen) and C. shemanchuki, new species, from Alberta, Canada and North Dakota, USA. Culicoides stigma is recorded for the first time in the Nearctic region from Alberta, Canada. Culicoides gigas Root and Hoffman is a junior synonym of Culicoides riethi Kieffer (new synonym). A key is provided for the recognition of both sexes of the four North American species in the Culicoides (Monoculicoides) nubeculosus-stigma complex.

A Checklist Of Natural Enemies Of Diaphorina Citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) In The Department Of Valle Del Cauca, Colombia And The World, Takumasa Kondo, Guillermo González F., Catherine Tauber, Yoan Camilo Guzmán Sarmiento, Andrés Felipe Vinasco Mondragon, Dimitri Forero

Insecta Mundi

In recent years, populations of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), have increased in rural citrus orchards and urban backyard gardens. In order to find biological control options for D. citri, a search for natural enemies was conducted in the department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. The collections were carried out in citrus orchards in rural areas and house gardens and street trees in urban areas. Natural enemies were collected from D. citri found on Citrus spp. and Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack (Rutaceae). A total of 16 species of natural enemies of D. citri distributed in …

Natural History Of The Tortoise Beetle, Discomorpha (Discomorpha) Biplagiata (Guérin) (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Omocerini), R. Wills Flowers, Caroline S. Chaboo

Insecta Mundi

The first natural history account of Discomorpha (Discomorpha) biplagiata (Guérin) (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Omocerini) from Ecuador is presented. Larvae and adults feed on the leaves and stems of Cordia hebeclada Johnst. (Boraginaceae), the first documented host plant for the species. Oviposition and pupation also occur on this host. Young larvae suffered heavy predation, especially from Ectatomma sp. (Formicidae: Ponerinae) and Oplomus nr. marginalis (Pentatomidae: Asopinae).

Se presenta la primera cuenta de la historia natural para Discomorpha (Discomorpha) biplagiata (Guérin) de Ecuador. Las larvas y los adultos se alimentan de las hojas y tallos de Cordia hebeclada Johnst. (Boraginaceae), su primera planta …

The Beetles Of The Lesser Antilles (Insecta, Coleoptera): Diversity And Distributions, Stewart B. Peck

Insecta Mundi

The island arc of the Lesser Antilles lies at the eastern margin of the Caribbean Sea in the Western Hemisphere, and stretches from the eastern end of the islands of the Greater Antilles (at the Virgin Islands), south to a position near the continental islands of Trinidad and Tobago at the north eastern corner of South America. The islands are a part of the West Indian Islands biodiversity “hotspot” and have been available for terrestrial colonization for about the past 15 million years. This is a status report on present knowledge of the beetle faunas of these islands, which is …

New Species And New Country Records For Vietnamese Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera), Tatiana I. Arefina-Armitage, Brian J. Armitage

Insecta Mundi

Identification of caddisfly specimens (Insecta: Trichoptera) from Vietnam collected by or for the Royal Ontario Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin revealed nine new species in a variety of families and genera. New species include: Philopotamidae—Dolophilodes carpenteri and Wormaldia montuosa; Stenopsychidae—Stenopsyche siniaevi; Polycentropodidae—Nyctiophylax hatinh; Psychomyiidae—Eoneureclipsis afonini; Hydropsychidae—Maesaipsyche lappa; Glossosomatidae—Agapetus darlingi and Agapetus grimaldi; and, Molannidae—Molannodes sapa. In addition, new records for 11 species and two genera (Georgium and Tagalopsyche) of caddisflies from Vietnam …

The Enigmatic Milliped Genus Pandirodesmus Silvestri 1932 And Description Of A New Species From Tobago Represented By Males (Polydesmida: Leptodesmidea: Chelodesmidae: Chelodesminae: Pandirodesmini), Rowland M. Shelley, Jamie M. Smith

Insecta Mundi

Pandirodesmus rutherfordi, n. sp., represented by 18 individuals including eight adult males, occurs in secondary forests near Charlotteville and Speyside, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago. Along with the type and second species, P. disparipes Silvestri, from Guyana and known only from females, the segmental legs of P. rutherfordi alternate between long (anterior pairs) and short (posterior ones), spiracular openings are on straw-like tubules, and ozopores are located on paramedian metatergal spines. These features appear to be adaptations for biotopes of loose sand, detritus, or frass, and 17 specimens, including the six juveniles, exhibit coatings of “sand grains” that are loosely …

Notas Sobre La Identifi Cación Y Distribución De Centris Testacea Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Anthophila; Apidae), Julio A. Genaro

Insecta Mundi

Information about the range of distribution of Centris (Centris) testacea Lepeletier has not been historically accurate. Range of distribution and identifi cation of the species is clarifi ed. Images of both sexes as well as male terminalia are presented. Centris testacea is a good species, with no synonym names. According to the available information, C. testacea should be considered endemic to the Greater Antillean island of Hispaniola.

A New Genus Of Rhinotragini For Molorchus Laticornis Klug, 1825 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Robin O. S. Clarke, Amoret Spooner, Joachim Willers

Insecta Mundi

Klugiatragus gen. nov. is described for Epimelitta laticornis (Klug, 1825) because this species has closed procoxal cavities, a crucial diagnostic incompatible with Epimelitta Bates, 1870, which has open procoxal cavities. Both sexes of this species are illustrated.

Listado Actualizado De Diaspídidos Sobre Frutos Tropicales Y Primer Registro De Pseudaulacaspis Cockerelli (Cooley) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) Para La Argentina, Cristian Amún, Lucía E. Claps

Insecta Mundi

Resumen. En este trabajo se actualiza el conocimiento sobre la presencia de cochinillas protegidas en frutos tropicales en Argentina y se registra por primera vez a Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Cooley) para Argentina y Sudamérica. Se presentan tres asociaciones nuevas para el mundo: Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) / Musa paradisiaca L.; Hemiberlesia cyanophylli (Signoret) / M. paradisiaca y Acutaspis paulista (Hempel) / Persea americana Miller, y 10 asociaciones nuevas de diaspídido/fruto tropical para Argentina. Se cita por primera vez para este país, asociada a frutos tropicales, a A. paulista, Hemiberlesia palmae (Cockerell), Mycetaspis personata (Comstock) y P. cockerelli.

Abstract. This paper updates …

The Trichoptera Of Panama I. New Records For Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) From The Republic Of Panama, Brian J. Armitage, Steven C. Harris, Ralph W. Holzenthal

Insecta Mundi

The Republic of Panama currently has 245 recorded species of Trichoptera distributed among 13 families. Herein we add 32 new country records for Panama, including one new family (Limnephilidae) and one new genus (Limnephilus). We also provide the first collection information for Oxyethira maya Denning for Panama. These results are part of an ongoing effort to characterize the caddisfly fauna of Panama, and to evaluate that country’s major cuencas (water basins).

Una Especie Nueva Del Género Hempelicoccus Kozár Y Konczné Benedicty (Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) En La Argentina, Patricia González, María Begoña Riquelme Virgala, Agustina Ansa

Insecta Mundi

Hempelicoccus alba (Coccoidea: Eriococcidae), a new species for Argentina is described and illustrated. A key to the seven known species of Argentina is provided

Nueva Especie De Lycomedes Brème, 1844 (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Dynastinae) De Los Andes Colombianos Y Clave Para Identifi Cación De Las Especies, Luis Carlos Pardo- Locarno, Alfonso Villalobos Moreno, Román Stechauner Rohringer

Insecta Mundi

A new scarab species of the genus Lycomedes Brème, 1844 is described, totaling five species of the genus reported for Colombia. Lycomedes salazari was collected in an oak forest at the high Andean region of Santurbán in the municipality of California, Santander Department, Colombia. Besides inhabiting the highest altitude known for the genus, L. salazari has affi nities with L. buckleyi Waterhouse, 1880, but differs on the cephalic, thoracic and leg morphologies. Biological notes and an updated key for the adults of the genus are included.

Description Of A New Species Of Plesioclytus Giesbert (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) From Georgia, And Transfer Of The Genus To Plesioclytini Wappes And Skelley, New Tribe, James E. Wappes, Paul E. Skelley

Insecta Mundi

Plesioclytus morrisi Wappes and Skelley new species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from the Ohoopee dune system in central Georgia is described with comments on the biology of the new species. The taxonomic placement of Plesioclytus Giesbert in the tribe Clytini is questioned as key characters are found to differ from the current characters used to define the tribe in the New World, resulting in its transfer to the newly erected Plesioclytini Wappes and Skelley new tribe, defined herein. Habitat photos for the new species and habitus photos for it and P. relictus Giesbert are provided.

Phenology Of Zagryphus Zulaya Gauld (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tryphoninae) In A Montane Forest In Guatemala And A New Country Record For Z. Vegai Gauld, Jack C. Schuster, Gabriella Steele

Insecta Mundi

Ichneumonidae are incredibly diverse, yet there have been few Guatemalan ichneumonid studies. We studied the phenology of 215 specimens of Zagryphus zulaya Gauld (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tryphoninae), most captured in a light trap and two Malaise traps in a montane (1850m) forest from 2002 to 2014. One of the Malaise traps caught over 95% of the specimens. The results suggest that Z. zulaya is most abundant in May, June, July, and August, the rainy season. Zagryphus vegai Gauld is newly recorded from Guatemala; it was previously known only from Costa Rica. It was found at an altitude of 1850m, though its …

The Trichoptera Of Panama. Iii. Updated Species List For Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) In The Republic Of Panama, Brian J. Armitage, Steven C. Harris, Tatiana I. Arefina-Armitage, Aydeé Cornejo

Insecta Mundi

The fauna of Panama is species-rich due to its location and topography, and the resulting diversity of microclimates and habitats. The last summary of information about the caddisfly fauna (Insecta: Trichoptera) of Panama in 1992 noted 168 taxa in 13 families and 39 genera. Since then, and through 2014, a large number of publications, based on work by a dedicated cadre of individuals, have recorded a net gain of 78 species and six genera. In 2015, 17 new species to science and 38 new country records were added, including one new family and two new genera for the country; and, …

A New Species Of Drapetes Megerle (Coleoptera: Elateridae), With Taxonomic Summaries And A Key To The Species Of Northern North America, Paul J. Johnson

Insecta Mundi

Seven species of Drapetes Megerle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are recognized from northern North America. Drapetes chiricahua new species is described from southeastern Arizona and north-central New Mexico. Drapetes parallelus Van Dyke is a senior homonym of Drapetes paralellus Cobos by variant spelling, and a new synonym of Drapetes cylindricus Fall. Drapetes paralellus Cobos is replaced with Drapetes cobosi new name. Drapetes clarki Bonvouloir is not a North American species and is given a redesignated type locality in Brazil. Drapetes plagiatus (Boheman) is not a California species and is given a redesignated type locality in Panama. New state records are reported …

Redescripción De Megaplatypus Exaratus (Blandford 1896) Con Notas Sobre Su Distribución En México Y Centroamérica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae), Armando Burgos-Solorio, Thomas H. Atkinson

Insecta Mundi

New host and geographic records are given from Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica for Megaplatypus exaratus (Blandford), previously reported only from three localities in Guatemala. Like most Platypodinae it is polyphagous and breeding hosts are reported from five genera in four unrelated families. A redescription and updated diagnosis is included.

Se presentan nuevos registros geográfi cos y de hospederos de México, Guatemala, y Costa Rica para Megaplatypus exaratus (Blandford), previamente reportado de tres localidades en Guatemala. Al igual que la mayoría de Platypodinae es una especie polífaga y se reporta aquí de hospederos de cinco géneros en cuatro familias no …

Identificación De Las Especies Mexicanas Del Género Xyleborus Eichhoff, 1864 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), Mauricio Pérez Silva, Armando Equihua Martínez, Thomas H. Atkinson

Insecta Mundi

Xyleborus is one of the most diverse and abundant genera of ambrosia beetles, several species of which are considered important tropical pests. Given the current importance of this group, we present taxonomic keys for the 18 Mexican species of Xyleborus, using distinct external morphological features. A brief diagnosis and illustrations are included for each species.

Xyleborus es uno de los géneros más diversos y abundantes de coleópteros ambrosiales; algunas especies son consideradas plagas tropicales importantes. Debido a su importancia actual, se presenta una clave taxonómica enfocada a las 18 especies mexicanas del género Xyleborus, para lo cual se …

Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) Found On Dracaena And Ficus Plants (Asparagales: Asparagaceae, Rosales: Moraceae) From Southeastern Asia, Soo-Jung Suh, Khanxay Bombay

Insecta Mundi

A collaborative survey of the scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) found on dracaena and ficus plants in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam conducted in 2015 identified 49 species of scale insects belonging to 36 genera in six families (25 species on dracaena, 42 species on ficus). Of the species of scale insects that have been reported on dracaena and ficus plants in southeastern Asia in the ScaleNet database (Ben-Dov et al. 2015), 32% and 17% were species collected in this survey, respectively. Twenty-three species (47%) of scale insects have been intercepted at Korean ports of entry on imported dracaena and ficus …

A Review Of New World Laemophloeus Dejean (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae): 3. Nearctic Species, Michael C. Thomas

Insecta Mundi

The nine Nearctic species of Laemophloeus Dejean (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae) are reviewed, keyed, and illustrated. One species, L. apache Thomas, n. sp., is described as new. Two previously described species are synonymized: L. californicus Casey (= L. biguttatus (Say), n. syn.) and L. woodruffi Thomas (= L. fervidus Casey, n. syn.). A neotype is designated for L. biguttatus (Say), and lectotypes are designated for L. terminalis Casey and L. fervidus Casey. A checklist of the described world species is provided.

Bolivian Cerambycinae: New Anthophilous Species (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), Robin O. S. Clarke

Insecta Mundi

New species of anthophilous Cerambycinae (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) are described from Bolivia: Molorchini, Merionoedopsis zamalloae sp. nov.; Heteropsini, Chrysoprasis azurearegina sp. nov., and C. maryhowardae sp. nov.; Rhopalophorini, Dihammaphora densiserrata sp. nov., D. dilmanappae sp. nov., D. espinotibia sp. nov., D. fosterorum sp. nov., D. paraperforata sp. nov., D. pilcomayoensis sp. nov., and Rhopalophora santacruzensis sp. nov. All species are illustrated and host flower records are provided.

Two New Species Of Corimbion Martins From Bolivia (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Neoibidionini), Antonio Santos-Silva, Maria Helena M. Galileo, James E. Wappes

Insecta Mundi

Two new species of Corimbion Martins, 1970 are described from Bolivia: Corimbion kuckartzi and Corimbion ledezmae. A previous key to the South American species of Corimbion (Martins 2009) is herein modified to include the new species. Dorsal, ventral and lateral habitus illustrations, as well as variation in color and dorsal pattern for C. kuckartzi, are also presented.

A New Species Of Paraberismyia Woodley (Diptera, Stratiomyidae, Beridinae) From Chiapas, Mexico, Norman E. Woodley

Insecta Mundi

A new species of Paraberismyia Woodley (Diptera, Stratiomyidae, Beridinae), P. imitator, n. sp., is described from Chiapas, Mexico. The new species is compared to previously described species and diagnostic notes are presented for separation of Paraberismyia from Berismyia Giglio-Tos.

Piophilidae Distribution In Consideration Of Forensic Applications, Electra Ragan

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Notes on Decomposition

Decomposition as understood by our ancestors has mystical overtones with foggy roots; the reasons behind the beliefs are not readily understood from a twenty-first-century westerner’s perspective. Gases that built up inside the deceased and oozing fluids from the membranes were explained away as flesh-eating vampires after a night’s feasting (they were bloated and full). Freshly culled meat became a source to maggots and flies as it aged, transferring its “life force” from one being into another (Sachs 2001). A mere century or two ago, Louis Pasteur would be the first westerner to directly link “moulds, mucors and …

Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda) Control By Rnai As A Plausible Component To Integrated Pest Management Practices, Jonathan W. Robeson

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) control through RNAi machinery as a novel mode of action is a weapon sought after by the agricultural community to squelch the growing problem of S. frugiperda resistance to pesticides and transgenic crops. Significant gains in the understanding of RNAi cellular interactions and insect gene silencing are represented to provide opportunities to influence further research of S. frugiperda RNAi. This composition highlights the intracellular action of dsRNA, successful RNAi attempts on insect pests, the biological difficulty of S. frugiperda and how RNAi success against S. frugiperda would be highly advantageous in the quest to …

Butterflies Of The Suusamyr Valley, Kyrgyzstan (Lepidoptera, Diurna), Amadeus Dekastle

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Abstract: This list of butterflies of the Suusamyr Valley contains 20 species. Each species is listed with the scientific name, common name (if applicable), flight times, elevation, habitat, food plants, and life cycle. In addition to their natural history, each species has an included distribution map.

Introduction: Although the Suusamyr Valley is only 7-8 hours away by car from Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, this region is very poorly studied in regards to its ecology. Information on butterfly distributions in this region is lacking in most currently available resources. As a result, the data presented within provides new information …