Entomology Commons^™

A Remarkable New Species Of Megaceras From Peru (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Oryctini). The ‘‘Dim Effect’’: Nature Mimicking Art, Brett C. Ratcliffe

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

Megaceras briansaltini Ratcliffe, new species, is described from Peru. A description, diagnosis, and illustrations are provided, and the new species is compared with M. morpheus Burmeister, with which it shares similarities.

Disproportionate Relative Importance Of A Terrestrial Beetle Family (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) As A Prey Source For Central Appalachian Brook Trout, Ryan M. Utz, Brett C. Ratcliffe, Brett T. Moore, Kyle J. Hartman

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

Brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and other salmonids in Appalachia typically inhabit headwater watersheds, where food resources may limit growth. We monitored the feeding trends of a brook trout population in central Appalachia over the course of 2 years to determine variation in feeding intensity and important prey items. One terrestrial beetle family, Scarabaeidae, provided a disproportionate amount of energy during the only time of year when brook trout were feeding substantially above maintenance ration. Scarab beetles contributed 39.6% of all energy consumed during May and June of both years, though the number of fish with one or more scarabaeids present …

Population Dynamics Of Soybean Aphid And Biotic Mortality At The Edge Of Its Range, Tierney R. Brosius, Leon G. Higley, Thomas E. Hunt

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, was introduced to north central North America from Asia in 2000, and it has become a major pest of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. Understanding how natural enemies impact aphid populations in the field is an important component in developing a comprehensive management plan. We examined the impact of naturally occurring predators in the Þeld by using exclusion cages during July-August 2004 and 2005. Field cages of different mesh diameters were used to exclude different sizes of natural enemies from aphid-infested plots. Plots were surveyed twice weekly for A. glycines and natural enemies. Densities …

Bird Movement Predicts Buggy Creek Virus Infection In Insect Vectors, Charles R. Brown, Mary Bomberger Brown, Amy T. Moore, Nicholas Komar

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Predicting the spatial foci of zoonotic diseases is a major challenge for epidemiologists and disease ecologists. Migratory birds are often thought to be responsible for introducing some aviozoonotic pathogens such as West Nile and avian influenza viruses to a local area, but most information on how bird movement correlates with virus prevalence is anecdotal or indirect. We report that the prevalence of Buggy Creek virus (BCRV) infection in cimicid swallow bugs (Oeciacus vicarius), the principal invertebrate vector for this virus, was directly associated with the likelihood of movement by cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota), an amplifying host …

Ecological Correlates Of Buggy Creek Virus Infection In Oeciacus Vicarius, Southwestern Nebraska, 2004, Amy T. Moore, Eric A. Edwards, Mary Bomberger Brown, Nicholas Komar, Charles R. Brown

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Buggy Creek virus (family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, BCRV) is an alphavirus within the western equine encephalitis virus complex whose primary vector is the swallow bug, Oeciacus vicarius Horvath (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), an ectoparasite of the colonially nesting cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, that is also a frequent host for the virus.We investigated ecological correlates of BCRV infection in 100-bug pools at 14 different swallow colony sites in southwestern Nebraska from summer 2004, by using plaque assay on Vero cells to identify cytopathic virus and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to identify noncytopathic viral RNA. We found 26.7% of swallow bug pools …

Vouchering Dna-Barcoded Specimens: Test Of A Nondestructive Extraction Protocol For Terrestrial Arthropods, Daniel L. Rowley, Jonathan A. Coddington, Michael W. Gates, Allen L. Norrbom, Ronald A. Ochoa, Natalia J. Vandenberg, Matthew H. Greenstone

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Morphology-based keys support accurate identification of many taxa. However, identification can be difficult for taxa that are either not well studied, very small, members of cryptic species complexes, or represented by immature stages. For such cases, DNA barcodes may provide diagnostic characters. Ecologists and evolutionary biologists deposit museum vouchers to document the species studied in their research. If DNA barcodes are to be used for identification, then both the DNA and the specimen from which it was extracted should be vouchered. We describe a protocol for the nondestructive extraction of DNA from terrestrial arthropods, using as examples members of the …

Five New Species Of Longhorned Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) From The Dominican Republic In Genera Ataxia Haldeman, Atimiola Bates, Drycothaea Thomson, Eburia Lepeletier & Audinet-Serville, And Hormathus Gahan, Steven Lingafelter, Eugenio Nearns

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Five new species of longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from the Dominican Republic are diagnosed, described, and illustrated: Ataxia hovorei, Atimiola rickstanleyi, Drycothaea indistincta, Eburia pseudostigma, and Hormathus giesberti. In addition, Hormathus Gahan 1890 is transferred from Tillomorphini Lacordaire into Ibidionini Thomson, Division V; Trinoplon Zayas 1975 is a new synonym of Hormathus; and Hormathus bicolor (Zayas 1975) is a new combination. A key to the three species of Hormathus is provided.

A New Species Of Derancistrus Audinet-Serville (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae) From The Dominican Republic With Notes On Other Species Of Prioninae From Hispaniola, Steven Lingafelter, Norman E. Woodley

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Derancistrus hovorei Lingafelter & Woodley, new species, is described from the Dominican Republic. A diagnosis is provided to discriminate it from morphologically similar taxa, in particular Derancistrodes vittatus (Olivier) and Derancistrus elegans (Palisot de Beauvois). Biological, distributional, and/or taxonomic notes are provided for other Hispaniolan Prioninae including Solenoptera dominicensis (Gahan), Elateropsis femoratus (Salle), Sarifer seabrai Fragoso & Monne, and Mecosarthron domingoensis (Fisher).

Redescription Of The Hispaniolan Ladybird Genus Bura Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) And Justification For Its Transfer From Coccidulinae To Sticholotidinae, Natalia J. Vandenberg, Daniel E. Perez-Gelabert

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

The Hispaniolan genus Bura Mulsant is removed from Coccidulinae and placed in Sticholotidinae. The characteristics which justify this transfer are discussed and an historical review of the classification of the Sticholotidinae is presented. Bura is diagnosed and redescribed, and its affinities to other Sticholotidini are discussed. Illustrations of key generic characters are provided.

A World Revision Of The Pycnostigminae (Cynipoidea: Figitidae) With Descriptions Of Seven New Species, Matthew L. Buffington, Simon Van Noort

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Pycnostigmus rostratus Cameron, 1905, is redescribed and four new species of Pycnostigmus are described: P. mastersonae Buffington & van Noort, new species; P. incognito Buffington & van Noort, new species; P. fossilensis Buffington & van Noort, new species; and P. hoerikwaggoensis Buffington & van Noort, new species. Pycnostigmus mastersonae is the only known species of Cynipoidea with a metallic sheen on the head and mesosoma. A redescription of Tylosema nigerrimum Kieffer, 1905, is provided as well as the description of two new species: Tylosema dayae Buffington & van Noort, new species and Tylosema ronquisti Buffington & …

Biology And Phylogeny Of The Cassidinae Gyllenhal Sensu Lato (Tortoise And Leaf-Mining Beetles) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Caroline S. Chaboo

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

A parsimony analysis was undertaken to test subfamily and tribal group concepts of Cassidinae (ca. 2000 genera, ca. 6000 species). An integrated account of their biology was synthesized from the primary literature. A detailed morphological study of adults, using Hemisphaerota palmarum Boheman as a model, formed the basis for evaluating characters previously utilized and for defining novel characters. The data matrix comprised 210 characters (from adults and immature stages, ecology and behavior), 6 outgroups, and 98 ingroup exemplar species (representing 94 genera and 39 of the 43 recognized cassidine tribes). Results support the monophyly of Cassidinae and place it as …

Zum Vorkommen Ausgewählter Bembidion-Arten In Der Mongolei (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Bembidiinae): 2. Beitrag Zur Carabidenfauna Der Mongolei, Peer Haro Schnitter

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

To the occurrence of some Bembidion-species in Mongolia (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Bembidiinae) - Second contribution to the carabid fauna of Mongolia.

The distribution of four Bembidion-species, Bembidion (Asioperyphus) infuscatum DEJEAN, 1831, B. (Asioperyphus) ovale MOTSCHULSKY, 1844, B. (Bracteon) conicolle MOTSCHULSKY, 1844 und B. (Bracteon) lapponicum ZETTERSTEDT, 1828, in Mongolia are discussed, and new data are given.

Population Variation Of The Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda, In The Western Hemisphere, Pete L. Clark, Jaime Molina-Ochoa, Samuel Martinelli, Steven R. Skoda, David Isenhour, Donald J. Lee, Jeffrey T. Krumm, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), the fall armyworm is the most economically important maize pest in the western hemisphere. This research focused on the genetic variability of the maize host strain because there is a lack of information in this area of S. frugiperda research. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to assess the genetic variability of S. frugiperda over a large geographic area. Twenty populations were collected from the maize, one population was collected from princess tree, one population was collected from lemon tree, and one population was collected from bermudagrass. The 23 populations were from Mexico, …

Light-Induced Variability In Development Of Forensically Important Blow Fly Phormia Regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae), P. D. Nabity, Leon G. Higley, Tiffany Heng-Moss

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The use of the postmortem interval (PMI) in practical applications of forensic entomology is based upon developmental data of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) generated under controlled environmental conditions. Careful review of the published forensic entomology data sets showed that experimental (environmental) parameters differed between studies. Despite the differences in study design, there are no empirical data on the effect of photoperiod on blow fly development; yet, photoperiod has been shown to alter some insect development and behavior among noncalliphorids. Consequently, will differences in photoperiod alter the developmental times of calliphorids, and thereby alter PMI estimates? To answer this question, we …

A Novel Cadherin-Like Gene From Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Larval Midgut Tissue, A. Sayed, E. R. Nekl, H. A. A. Siquiera, H.-C. Wang, R. H. Ffrench-Constant, M. Bagley, Blair Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

A cadherin-like gene associated with larval midgut tissues was cloned from western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera : Coleoptera), an economically important agricultural pest in North America and Europe and the primary target pest species for corn hybrids expressing Cry3 toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The full-length cDNA (5371 bp in length) encodes an open reading frame for a 1688 amino acid polypeptide. The putative protein has similar architecture to cadherin-like proteins isolated from lepidopteran midguts that have been shown to bind to Cry1 Bt toxins and have been implicated in Bt resistance. The D. v. virgifera cadherin-like gene …

Nebline, January 2007

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

UNL College of Ag and Natural Resources Turns Talents into Rewarding Careers
Crop Protection Clinic, Jan. 22
Glyphosate-Resistant Marestail Confirmed in Nebraska
Upcoming Pesticide Applicator Trainings
Rethinking Shelterbelts
Salt Damage to Plants Determining Houseplant Problems
Girdling Roots on Trees
Winter Strategies for Wildlife
Where Do Insects Go in the Winter?
Lifelong Learning in Nutrition
Make-Ahead Frozen Beef “Crumbles” Recipe
Peanut Butter Banana Shake Recipe
Are You a “Lark” or an “Owl”? Cook Ahead Accordingly!
Play “FOOD” Ball Online!
President’s Notes — Alice’s Analysis
Household Hints
FCE News & Events
Teach Your Children Well
10 Ways to Save with Lighting
Strengthening …

Book Review Of Longicorn Beetles Of Japan By N. Ohbayashi And T. Nisato. 2007., Steven W. Lingafelter

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

This monumental book of 818 pages, edited by Nobuo Ohbayashi and Tatsuya Niisato, with contributions of 11 authors (M. Hasegawa, T. Kurihara, H. Makihara, T. Niisato, N. Ohbayashi, A. Saito, S. Saito, M. Sato , T. Shinkai, M. Takeda, and H. Tanabe), represents the pinnacle of quality that can be attained for a regional treatment of a taxon. The book contains 78 plates of 1,463 dorsal photographs of well-pinned beetles (averaging 3.5 cm in length), representing all Japanese species of Cerambycidae. There are also 318 live shots of Cerambycidae on host plants. Further, there is an illustrated key to adults, …

Notes On South American Dasyomma, With The Description Of A Remarkable New Species From Chile (Diptera: Athericidae), Norman E. Woodley

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

A new species of Dasyomma Macquart, D. chrysopilum sp. nov., is described from Chile (Malleco and Ñuble Provinces). This species differs from all other known species in having dense golden pilosity on the abdominal tergites of both sexes. Dasyomma basale Malloch is redescribed, with the female described for the first time.

Immersion Tolerance In Rangeland Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae), Mathew L. Brust, W. W. Hoback, Robert J. Wright

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Population fluctuations of short-horned grasshoppers have been linked to the interactions of numerous factors including precipitation, temperature, vegetative growth, latitude, and timing of rainfall events. In some areas, grasshopper populations decline with increased moisture, potentially as a result of direct mortality from raindrops, or from indirect factors including the increase of fungal pathogens. Grasshoppers may also become submerged by flooding events and suffer mortality from drowning. However grasshopper survival of immersion has not been quantified in controlled experiments. We tested nymph and adult survival of immersion of seven species of rangeland grasshoppers. Under laboratory conditions, the LT₅₀ of adult …

Cadaver Decomposition In Terrestrial Ecosystems, David O. Carter, David Yellowlees, Mark Tibbett

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

A dead mammal (i.e. cadaver) is a high quality resource (narrow carbon:nitrogen ratio, high water content) that releases an intense, localized pulse of carbon and nutrients into the soil upon decomposition. Despite the fact that as much as 5,000 kg of cadaver can be introduced to a square kilometer of terrestrial ecosystem each year, cadaver decomposition remains a neglected microsere. Here we review the processes associated with the introduction of cadaver-derived carbon and nutrients into soil from forensic and ecological settings to show that cadaver decomposition can have a greater, albeit localized, effect on below-ground ecology than plant and fecal …

Genome Scan Of Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera For Genetic Variation Associated With Crop Rotation Tolerance, Nicholas Miller, M. Ciosi, Thomas W. Sappington, S. T. Ratcliffe, J. L. Spencer, T. Guillemaud

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Crop rotation has been a valuable technique for control of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera for almost a century. However, during the last two decades, crop rotation has ceased to be effective in an expanding area of the US corn belt. This failure appears to be due to a change in the insect’s oviposition behaviour, which, in all probability, has an underlying genetic basis. A preliminary genome scan using 253 amplified fragment-length polymorphism (AFLP) markers sought to identify genetic variation associated with the circumvention of crop rotation. Samples of D. v. virgifera from east-central Illinois, where crop rotation is ineffective, were compared …

Substitution Of Conserved Cysteine Residues In Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus Hc-Pro Abolishes Virus Transmission By The Wheat Curl Mite, B. A. Young, Gary L. Hein, Roy C, French, Drake C. Stenger

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Substitutions in the amino-proximal region of wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) HC-Pro were evaluated for effects on transmission by the wheat curl mite (Aceria tosichella Keifer). Alanine substitution at cysteine residues 16, 46 and 49 abolished vector transmission. Although alanine substitution at Cys₂₀ had no effect, substitution with arginine reduced vector transmission efficiency. Random substitutions at other positions (Lys₇ to Asn, Asn₁₉ to Ile, and Arg₄5 to Lys) did not affect vector transmission. These results suggest that a zinc-fingerlike motif (His₁₃-X2-Cys₁₆-X29-Cys₄₆-X2-Cys₄₉) in WSMV HC-Pro is essential …

Economic Threshold For Soybean Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae), D. W. Ragsdale, B. P. Mccornack, R. C. Venette, B. D. Potter, I. V. Macrae, E. W. Hodgson, M. E. O'Neal, K. D. Johnson, R. J. O'Neil, C. D. Difonzo, Thomas E. Hunt, P. A. Glogoza, E. M. Cullen

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), reached damaging levels in 2003 and 2005 in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, in most northern U.S. states and Canadian provinces, and it has become one of the most important pests of soybean throughout the North Central region. A common experimental protocol was adopted by participants in six states who provided data from 19 yield-loss experiments conducted over a 3-yr period. Population doubling times for Þeld populations of soybean aphid averaged 6.8 d±0.8 d (mean±SEM). The average economic threshold (ET) over all control costs, market values, and yield was 273 ± 38 (mean …

Evaluation Of Warm-Season Turfgrasses For Resistance To The Chinch Bug, Blissus Occiduus, Thomas Eickhoff, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Frederick P. Baxendale

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The chinch bug, Blissus occiduus Barber, has been documented as a serious pest of buffalograss, Buchloë dactyloides (Nutall) Engelmann, and zoysiagrass, Zoysia japonica Steudel, turf grown in the Midwest. In addition to these two warm-season turfgrasses, several other warm-season grasses, including bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., may also be at risk of B. occiduus infestations. This research evaluated selected bermudagrass and zoysiagrass cultivars for resistance to B. occiduus. Eleven zoysiagrass and four bermudagrass cultivars were evaluated for resistance to B. occiduus using no-choice studies under greenhouse conditions. Based on turfgrass damage ratings, the zoysiagrasses ‘Diamond’, ‘Zoro’, and ‘Emerald’, and …

Utility Of Morphological And Molecular Techniques For Determination Of Paternity In Two Subspecies Of Diabrotica Undecimpunctata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Isaac O. Oyediran, Thomas L. Clark, Steven R. Skoda, Elvis A. Heinrichs

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

An experiment was conducted to determine the paternity of F 1 progeny using morphological and molecular methods in Diabrotica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) subspecies: Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber, also known as spotted cucumber beetle, and D. undecimpunctata undecimpunctata Mannerheim, also known as western cucumber spotted beetle. Results from crosses that involved the females of D. u. howardi and the males of D. u. undecimpunctata had all F, progeny with phenotypes as the male parent. Similarly, in all the crosses that involved the females of D. u. undecimpunctata and the males of the D. u. howardi, all the F₁ progeny had …

Abundance And Diversity Of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods Of Pest Management Importance In Commercial Bt And Non-Bt Cotton Fields, J. B. Torres, J. R. Ruberson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The modified population dynamics of pests targeted by the Cry1Ac toxin in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic cotton (Bt cotton) and possible reduced insecticide use in these transgenic varieties may exert a variety of effects on ground-dwelling predator communities. A survey of ground-dwelling arthropods was carried out weekly each of 3 years (during the cropping season) in commercial Bt and non-Bt cotton fields. Sixty-five taxa of ground-dwelling arthropods (carabids, cicindelines, staphylinids, dermapterans, heteropterans and araneids) of importance for cotton pest management were recorded in the survey. Species abundance and dynamics across seasons were evaluated with univariate analysis of variance for higher …

Categories Of Resistance, Antibiosis And Tolerance, To Biotype I Greenbug (Schizaphis Graminum (Rondani) Homoptera: Aphididae) In Four Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench. Poales:Gramineae) Hybrids, Mahmut Dogramaci, Z. B. Mayo, Robert J. Wright, John C. Reese

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Resistance categories (antibiosis and tolerance) of four sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) hybrids to biotype I greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), were determined in environmental growth chamber and field studies. Greenbug weight and fecundity were lower on ‘Cargill 607E’ compared with ‘Cargill 797’. Percentage of leaf damage area was significantly less on two resistant hybrids (Cargill 607E and Cargill 797) after a 14-d greenbug feeding period compared to two susceptible hybrids (‘Golden Harvest 510B’ and Garst 5715). In growth chamber studies on sorghum seedlings, ‘Cargill 607E’ and ‘Cargill 797’ reduced greenbug weight significantly compared with ‘Golden Harvest 510B’ and ‘Garst …

Genetic Structure And Molecular Variability Of Spodoptera Frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Collected In Maize And Cotton Fields In Brazil, S. Martinelli, P. L. Clark, M. I. Zucchi, M. C. Silva-Filho, John E. Foster, C. Omoto

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the genetic similarity and structure of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), populations associated with maize and cotton crops in Brazil using amplified fragment length polymorphisms. Mean genetic similarity among populations was 0.45. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean analysis dendrograms did not separate populations of S. frugiperda into clusters related to the host plant in which the insects were collected. No genetic variation was observed among maize and cotton populations of S. frugiperda, suggesting that the same populations are injuring both crops in Brazil. This research validates …

Lady Beetles Of Nebraska, Alexander P. Cunningham, James R. Brandle, Stephen D. Danielson, Thomas E. Hunt

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Lady beetles are some of the most noticeable and popular insects found in the garden and on the farm. This publication will help the farmer, gardener, or amateur naturalist to better understand and identify lady beetles found in Nebraska.

Lady beetles are in the family Caccinellidae, of which nearly all members are predators. Most lady beetles are recognizable by their black-on-red spotted pattern and hemispherical shape.

Physiological And Biochemical Responses Of Resistant And Susceptible Wheat To Injury By Russian Wheat Aphid, Lisa D. Franzen, Andrea R. Gutsche, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Leon G. Higley, Gautam Sarath, John D. Burd

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

We examined the physiological and biochemical responses of resistant (“Halt” and “Prairie Red”) and susceptible (“TAM 107”) wheat, Triticum aestivum L., to injury by the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko). Photosynthetic capacity was evaluated by measuring assimilation/ internal CO₂ (A/C_i) curves, chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll, and nonstructural carbohydrate content. Total protein and peroxidase specific activity also were determined. No significant differences were detected in chlorophyll concentration between aphid-infested and control TAM107 plants. The aphid-infested resistant cultivars had similar or significantly higher chlorophyll concentrations compared with their respective control plants. Measurements over time showed that infested Halt plants …