Entomology Commons^™

Asymmetric Interspecific Competition Between Specialist Herbivores That Feed On Tamarisk In Western Colorado, Nina P. Louden

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Four closely related species of leaf beetles (Diorhabda spp.; Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) have been introduced into the western United States as biocontrol agents for the invasive Eurasian shrub tamarisk (Tamarix spp.; Violales: Tamaricaceae). These beetles have since continued to spread and establish throughout the western United States. Another exotic insect, the tamarisk leafhopper (Opsius stactogalus, Fieber; Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), had previously become established in these areas and now shares tamarisk as a host plant with the beetles. To assess more carefully the potential for interactions between leafhoppers and beetles, field censuses and cage studies were conducted to determine …

Lilac-Ash Borer, Ryan S. Davis, Taun Beddes, Jay B. Karren

All Current Publications

The lilac-ash borer (Podosesia syringae), belongs to a group of insects known as the clear-winged moths. The wings of most sesiid moths in have at least partially transparent wings (devoid of the colored scales that coat most moth and butterfly wings).

Cockroaches, Ryan S. Davis

All Current Publications

Cockroaches are one of the most difficult structural pests to eradicate because of their ability to hide, rapid reproduction, and resistance to and avoidance of many commonly used insecticide sprays and baits. Using an integrated pest management (IPM) program can greatly increase the possibility of successful control. There are 4 cockroach species that commonly infest structures in Utah, each with a specific biology; identify invading cockroaches before you develop an IPM plan. Proper identification of any pest will allow you to understand its biology, and use it against itself!

Bed Bugs: For Homeowners, Ryan S. Davis, Erin W. Hodgson, Jay B. Karren, Alan H. Roe

All Current Publications

Bed bugs are notorious around the world for their impact on humans and have been recognized as important pests for hundreds of years. Infestations were common before World War II, but heavy insecticide use eliminated most bed bugs in North America for almost 30 years.

Bed Bugs: For Pest Control Operators, Ryan S. Davis

All Current Publications

Over the past decade reports of bed bug infestations (Cimicidae: Cimex lectularius) throughout North America and abroad have been on the rise. Accordingly, bed bug submissions to the Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab have also been increasing.

Dothistroma Needle Blight, Erin Frank, Kent Evans

All Current Publications

A landscape design should meet the needs of the people who will use and maintain the area while incorporating the site’s existing environmental conditions into the design. Water is a limiting resource in Utah, so designing the landscape to efficiently use water is important. Conserving water in the landscape can be accomplished by selecting low water use plants, designing and scheduling irrigation systems efficiently, grouping plants according to their water requirements, and using hardscaping materials (patios, stone paths, decks, etc.) appropriately to reduce the area requiring irrigation.

Iris Yellow Spot Virus In Onions, Kent Evans, Erin Frank

All Current Publications

Before deciding to take any pest control action, be sure you have correctly identified the pest (insect, mite, disease, weed, vertebrate, etc.). Proper pest identification is essential for determining if control is necessary and for selection of the best suited control options.

Take-All Patch In Turf, Erin Frank, Kent Evans

All Current Publications

Subterranean termites are social insects with a caste system, and belong to the order Isoptera and family Termititae. These termites are closely related to drywood (Kalotermitidae) and dampwood (Termopsidae) termites.

Reproductive Tactics Of Aphidophagous Lady Beetles: Comparison Of A Native Species And An Invasive Species That Is Displacing It, Yukie Kajita

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has been introduced to North America in recent decades, raising concerns of adverse impacts on native lady beetles, including the congeneric C. transversoguttata richardsoni (Brown). The central focus of my dissertation is to understand the importance of reproduction, in particular, in promoting invasion of C. septempunctata and its replacement of native lady beetles in alfalfa fields of western North America.

Studies were conducted to compare reproductive tactics of the invasive C. septempunctata and the native C. transversoguttata, by addressing: 1) maximum rate of reproduction of overwintered lady beetles, 2) population dynamics of the invasive …

Diets Of Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) In Utah Alfalfa Fields, Lynette Nicole Davidson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Aphidophagous lady beetles rely on multiple sources of food in their environment. Alfalfa fields provide both aphids and many alternate foods, such as other arthropod prey, pollen, and fungi. Alfalfa fields (Medicago sativa L.) in Utah have low aphid densities, which may require lady beetles to consume alternative sources of food. Many methods can be used to determine these diets; frass analysis is used here to compare the diets of the introduced species Coccinella septempunctata L. with two native species, C. transversoguttata richardsoni Brown and Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville, that occur in the Utah alfalfa habitat.

In initial laboratory experiments …

Yellow Sac Spiders, Ryan S. Davis

All Current Publications

Most Utahn’s are familiar with the hobo spider (Tegenaria agrestis) and its potentially harmful bite. However, most Utahn’s don’t know that there is another spider commonly entering homes that may have a similar, but less toxic bite than the hobo—the yellow sac spider Chiracanthium inclusum).

Crickets, Erin W. Hodgson, Jessie Trina

All Current Publications

Crickets are closely related to grasshoppers and katydids, all belonging in the order Orthoptera. The family of “true crickets” is called Gryllidae, which includes more than 900 different species worldwide. In Utah, we have several species of field crickets and snowy tree crickets located throughout the state. True crickets are often confused with grasshoppers and katydids because they have similar body shapes and large hind legs for jumping.

Carpenter Bees, Erin W. Hodgson, Jessie Trina

All Current Publications

Carpenter bees are large, hairy bees in the genus Xylocopa and order Hymenoptera. There are over 500 species of carpenter bees distributed worldwide. In Utah, we have two common species, X. californica and X. tabaniformis. Carpenter bees in Utah are most likely found in Washington, Kane and Garfield counties, and are rarely found in Salt Lake and Utah counties.

Dermestid Beetles, Erin W. Hodgson, Katherine Coats, Alan H. Roe

All Current Publications

Dermestid beetles are in the family Dermestidae and order Coleoptera. These beetles are sometimes called larder beetles or carpet beetles. Adults range from 1 to 12 mm in length and have variable body coloration. In general, they are hairy, dark-colored, elongated, and have clubbed antennae. The larvae are light brown and can be up to 13 mm long. Many larvae have spines, called setae, on the back of the abdomen that are helpful with identification. Dermestid larvae and adults have chewing mouthparts.

Squash Bug, Diane Alston, James Barnhill

All Current Publications

Squash bug (Anasa tristis) is a “true bug” with piercingsucking mouthparts (Order Hemiptera) in the leaffooted bug family (Coreidae). It is common throughout the U.S. and found from Canada to Central America. Adults (Fig. 1) emit a foul odor when disturbed and may be called “stink bugs”; however, true stink bugs are in a different true bug family.

Beneficial Insects: Lacewings And Antilions, Erin W. Hodgson, Jessie Trina

All Current Publications

Lacewings and antlions are insects in the order Neuroptera. There are over 4,000 different species of lacewings and antlions throughout the world. In general, the adults have soft bodies, long antennae, and prominent eyes.

Fungus Gnats, Erin W. Hodgson, Brooke A. Lambert

All Current Publications

Fungus gnats are small, long-legged flies in the families Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae. The dark-winged fungus gnat, Bradysia spp. is one of the most common indoor pests. Adults fly over plants, but consume only liquids and are harmless to plants.

Pseudoscorpions, Erin W. Hodgson, Alan H. Roe, Brooke Lambert

All Current Publications

Pseudoscorpions, also known as false scorpions or book scorpions, are arachnids in the order Pseudoscorpionida. There are more than 3,300 different species of pseudoscorpions throughout the world, with the most dense populations found in the tropics and subtropics. They can be found throughout Utah.

Centipedes, Erin W. Hodgson, Paul Bingham, Alan H. Roe

All Current Publications

Centipedes are long, slender arthropods in the class Chilopoda. Centipede means “hundred feet” because they appear to have many legs. Insects, millipedes and arachnids are close relatives. Centipedes should be considered beneficial because they are exclusively predatory. They eat a wide variety of smaller invertebrates, including insects. However, centipedes may be considered a nuisance to homeowners when they are found inside.

Clothes Moths, Erin W. Hodgson, Jessie L. Trina, Alan H. Roe

All Current Publications

Clothes moths belong to a large group of small moths in the family Tineidae. There are two species of clothes moths that are of considerable economic importance. The webbing and the casemaking clothes moths are worldwide in distribution. The larvae of clothes moths can feed on and cause damage to fabrics, furs, feathers, wool, carpets, tapestries, drapes, piano felts, upholstered furniture, animal bristled brushes, hair, fish meal found in fish food, synthetics or fabrics, such as cotton, that have been blended with wool, skins, spices, stored tobacco, old clothing, scrap piles, leather, lint, dust, paper, linen, silk, stuffed animals, blankets, …

Fire Blight, Kent Evans, Erin Frank, Taun Beddes, Mike Pace

All Current Publications

The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, is a common defoliator of ornamental and fruit trees in Utah. Starting around late July, the caterpillars, webbing, and damage become noticeable, particularly in some of the canyons adjacent to populated areas (Little Cottonwood canyon, Logan canyon, Provo canyon, etc.).

Grasshoppers, Edward W. Evans, Erin Hodgson

All Current Publications

Grasshoppers are among the most conspicuous insects in Utah, and are viewed by many as also among the most injurious to our crops and rangelands. In any given year, thousands of acres may be sprayed throughout the state to reduce potential damage.

Human Parasites, Ryan S. Davis, Erin W. Hodgson

All Current Publications

Entomologists often get “bug” samples for identification, including those that accidentally infest residences. In the United States, we are fortunate to have very few arthropods (e.g., insects, spiders, mites, ticks, etc.) that actually infest or feed on humans.

Scorpions, Erin W. Hodgson, Alan H. Roe

All Current Publications

Scorpions are eight-legged carnivorous arthropods and belong to the class Arachnida. This class also includes ticks, spiders, and mites. There are approximately 1,300 species of scorpions worldwide and 75 species in the United States, but only 9 are recognized in Utah (Table 1). Scorpions are usually found in semiarid deserts. Most species that occur in the United States have been found in Arizona, parts of Texas, and central Oklahoma.

Snow Mold On Small Grains, Erin Frank, Kent Evans

All Current Publications

Shothole borers (Fig. 1) are bark beetles that may attack stressed or injured trees. They have a wide host range, including all fruit trees grown in Utah, quince, loquat, serviceberry, wild cherry, chokecherry, mountain ash, hawthorn and elm. In Utah, apple, cherry, pear, and hawthorn are preferred hosts.

Western Corn Rootworm, Erin Hodgson

All Current Publications

Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is one of the most devastating corn insect pests in the United States. In some years, corn rootworms can cause up to $1 billion in yield loss and control costs. In Utah, western corn rootworm has been detected in at least 13 counties (Fig. 1), but likely can be found throughout the state wherever corn is grown.

Ponderosa Pine Mortality And Bark Beetle-Host Dynamics Following Prescribed And Wildland Fires In The Northern Rocky Mountains, Usa, Ryan Stephen Davis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Ponderosa pine delayed mortality, and bark beetle attacks and emergence were monitored on 459 trees for 3 years following one prescribed fire in Idaho and one wildland fire in Montana. Resin flow volume (ml) was measured on 145 fire-injured ponderosa pine 2 and 3 years post-fire. Logistic regression was used to construct two predictive ponderosa pine mortality models, and two predictive bark beetle-attack models. Post-fire delayed tree mortality was greater with the presence of primary bark beetles independent of diameter at breast height (DBH) (cm), and was greater in smaller diameter trees most likely due to direct effects of fire-caused …

Carpenter Ants, Ryan S. Davis

All Current Publications

Carpenter ants in the genus Camponotus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are considered some of the most serious pests to wood structures worldwide. There are over 900 species of carpenter ants in the world, 50 in the United States and Canada, and 12 in Utah. In nature, carpenter ants are most abundant in forests and can be easily found under loose bark of dead trees, stumps, or fallen logs.

Coryneum Or Shothole Blight, Kent Evans, Erin Frank, Jaydee Gunnell, Mike Pace, Maggie Shao

All Current Publications

In Utah, there are typically three generations of corn earworm (CEW) each year. The first generation of adults either come from overwintering pupae (southern and central Utah), or migrate into northern Utah. The adult moth is tannish brown with a 1 1/2 inch wingspan. The front wings are marked with a distinct dark spot in the center and darker bands near the outer margins. The hind wings are lighter tan, with a dark band along the outer margins. The male moths have green eyes. Moth flight occurs primarily on warm, overcast evenings. Moth populations can be monitored using pheromone or …

Curly Top Of Tomato, Rick Heflebower, Chad Reid, Erin Frank, Kent Evans

All Current Publications

Crickets are closely related to grasshoppers and katydids, all belonging in the order Orthoptera. The family of “true crickets” is called Gryllidae, which includes more than 900 different species worldwide. In Utah, we have several species of field crickets and snowy tree crickets located throughout the state. True crickets are often confused with grasshoppers and katydids because they have similar body shapes and large hind legs for jumping.