Entomology Commons^™

Neochetina Species And Arthropod Communities In Water-Hyacinth Rafts In South Carolina, Benjamin Powell

All Theses

Arthropod communities inhabiting feral water-hyacinth rafts were surveyed monthly in South Carolina's Coastal Plain from March 2005 through February 2006. Special attention was given to the chevroned waterhyacinth weevil [Neochetina bruchi (Hustache)], the mottled waterhyacinth weevil [N. eichhorniae (Warner)] (both Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and the waterhyacinth moth [Niphograpta albiguttalis (Warren)] (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), which were imported into North America to control water-hyacinth. Communities of arthropods are compared among sites, flow regimes (lentic, lotic, and tidal), and months of the year. The arthropod communities in waterhyacinth rafts in South Carolina are more diverse than previously reported. Rafts in each of …

Phylogeny And Classification Of Hydropsychidae Subfamilies And Genera Of The World (Insecta: Trichoptera), Christy Geraci

All Dissertations

The family Hydropsychidae is nearly ubiquitous in streams and rivers, with over 1600 described species worldwide. Hydropsychidae is ecologically important and its larvae play key roles as indicators of water quality. Conflicting morphological characters have obscured the evolutionary history of the subfamilies, and the wide diversity of phallic morphology among Hydropsyche sensu lato species has created unstable classification systems that have been disputed among authors. My research used five nuclear ribosomal and mitochondrial COI fragments to infer a molecular phylogeny for Hydropsychidae subfamilies and genera, focusing particularly on the Hydropsychinae and the Hydropsyche sensu lato lineage. The monophyly of four …

Nesting And Foraging Characteristics Of The Black Carpenter Ant Camponotus Pennsylvanicus (Degeer) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Donald Oswalt

All Dissertations

Potential nesting sites of Camponotus pennsylvanicus (DeGeer) were investigated in South Carolina to determine if nesting sites features could be characterized by habitat features for black carpenter ant nests. Environmental data from forested plots showed large-scale habitat features such as vegetation density and canopy cover were not useful as indicators for the presence or absence of nests. Small-scale individual nest characteristics such as diameter at breast height of trees, log length, tree defect type or tree species were better indicators of occupied nests. In my study, C. pennsylvanicus preferred mature hardwood (Quercus spp.) trees approximately 30 cm in diameter and …

The Effect Of Selection For Desiccation Resistance On Cold Tolerance Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Brent J. Sinclair, Sean Nelson, Theresa L. Nilson, Stephen P. Roberts, Allen G. Gibbs

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Low Temperature and Desiccation Stress Are Thought to Be Mechanistically Similar in Insects, and Several Studies Indicate that There is a Degree of Cross-Tolerance between Them, such that Increased Cold Tolerance Results in Greater Desiccation Tolerance and Vice Versa. This Assertion is Tested at an Evolutionary Scale by Examining Basal Cold Tolerance, Rapid Cold-Hardening (RCH) and Chill Coma Recovery in Replicate Populations of Drosophila Melanogaster Selected for Desiccation Resistance (With Controls for Both Selection and Concomitant Starvation) for over 50 Generations. All of the Populations Display a RCH Response, and There is No Effect of Selection Regime on RCH or …

Spatial Distribution Of Cocoon Nests And Egg Clusters Of The Silkmoth Anaphe Panda (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae) And Its Host Plant Bridelia Micrantha (Euphorbiaceae) In The Kakamega Forest Of Western Kenya, N. Mbahin, S. K. Raina, E. N. Kioko, J. M. Mueke

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

A study on the spatial distribution of the silkmoth Anaphe panda (Boisduval) cocoon nests, egg clusters and the host plant Bridelia micrantha (Hochst) Baill. was conducted in two different habitats of the Kakamega Forest of western Kenya: Ikuywa (indigenous forest) and Isecheno (mixed indigenous forest). The mean densities of cocoon nests, egg clusters and B. micrantha were significantly different in the two blocks and were not semi-randomly distributed in the two habitats. The host plants were underdispersed in the indigenous forest, whereas they were overdispersed in the mixed indigenous forest. The cocoon nests were overdispersed and the silkmoth egg clusters …

The Glossina Proteolytic Lectin (Gpl) Gene Is Expressed Only In Members Of Glossina Species, M. W. Burugu, B. N. Mbatia, E. O. Osir, E. U. Kenya, L. U. Abubakar

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Differentiation of bloodstream-form trypanosomes into procyclics in tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) is a crucial step in the establishment of midgut infections. A number of factors have been implicated in the transformation process, including enzymes and lectins or lectin-like molecules. Recently, Glossina proteolytic lectin (Gpl) gene, which encodes a protein with both lectin and trypsin activities has been shown to stimulate transformation of bloodstream-form trypanosomes into procyclics in vitro. Using RT-PCR, we show that the induction of Gpl gene expression by blood meal occurs only in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes Newstead, Glossina austeni Newstead, Glossina pallidipes Austen, and not in the Anopheles …

Semi-Captive Rearing Of The African Wild Silkmoth Gonometa Postica (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) On An Indigenous And A Non-Indigenous Host Plant In Kenya, Boniface M. Ngoka, Esther N. Kioko, Suresh K. Raina, Jones M. Mueke, David M. Kimbu

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The life cycle of the African wild silkmoth Gonometa postica Walker was studied between September 2000 and September 2001 in the Uasin Gishu District of western Kenya with Acacia mearnsii de Wild and Acacia hockii de Wild as host plants. The initial population of G. postica was set up from healthy live pupae in cocoons collected from host plants in the study area. Oviposition was carried out in net sleeves and small plastic cages. Moth emergence and oviposition were bimodal, occurring between September and October 2000 and between March and April 2001, respectively. Larvae were reared in semi-captivity by using …

The International Lepidoptera Survey Newsletter, December 2007, International Lepidoptera Survey, Kenneth E. Davenport, Ray E. Stanford, Robert L. Langston

International Lepidoptera Survey Newsletter

Contents (pages 1-66)

Title

Flight Periods of California Butterflies for “Resident Species,” Subspecies and Most Strays to the State (2007)

Authors

Kenneth E. Davenport, Ray E. Stanford and Robert L. Langston

Abstract

Normal flight periods and early/late records for resident species, subspecies and regular strays of butterflies of California are presented below.. Many subspecies or populations in the state are distinctive and may prove to merit species recognition by specialists in the future.

Simpler Mode Of Inheritance Of Transcriptional Variation In Male Drosophila Melanogaster, Marta Wayne, Marina Telonis-Scott, Lisa Bono, Lawrence G. Harshman, Artyom Kopp, Sergey V. Nuzhdin, Lauren Mcintyre

Lawrence G. Harshman Publications

Sexual selection drives faster evolution in males. The X chromosome is potentially an important target for sexual selection, because hemizygosity in males permits accumulation of alleles, causing tradeoffs in fitness between sexes. Hemizygosity of the X could cause fundamentally different modes of inheritance between the sexes, with more additive variation in males and more nonadditive variation in females. Indeed, we find that genetic variation for the transcriptome is primarily additive in males but nonadditive in females. As expected, these differences are more pronounced on the X chromosome than the autosomes, but autosomal loci are also affected, possibly because of X-linked …

A New Species Of Dialeurodes Cockerell (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) On Schefflera Forst And Forst In Florida, G. S. Hodges, J. W. Dooley

Insecta Mundi

Descriptions of pupal cases of Dialeurodes schefflerae, new species, as well as distribution records are presented. This species is known to occur in Florida, Hawaii and Puerto Rico appearing to feed only on species of Schefflera Forst and Forst. This restriction to plant hosts in the Asian genus Schefflera, along with its affinities with Dialeurodes agalmae Takahashi, Dialeurodes citri (Ashmead) and Dialeurodes kirkaldyi (Kotinsky), suggests it is an invasive species, probably endemic to the Asian region.

Nomenclatural Faux Pas For Speyeria Atlantis Greyi Moeck, 1950 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), James C. Dunford, George T. Austin

Insecta Mundi

Nomenclatural errors associated with the nymphalid butterfly, Speyeria atlantis greyi Moeck, have persisted in the literature and electronic databases. We present here a synonymy of the various combinations and misspellings associated with it and clearly indicate the correct name and spelling based on Moeck’s (1950) original description. Additionally, color images of the holotype and allotype specimens are published herein for the first time.

Holotype Of Agathymus Escalantei Stallings, Turner, And Stallings, 1966 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Megathyminae), Bret M. Boyd

Insecta Mundi

Agathymus escalantei Stallings, Turner, and Stallings, 1966 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) is the only described species of Megathyminae known from a single collected individual. To date, the only images of this specimen are poor black and white illustrations published in the original description. This note presents the first color photographs of the holotype.

Habronyx Foerster (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Anomaloninae) In Andean And Neantarctic South America With Description Of New Species From Bolivia And Chile, Charles C. Porter

Insecta Mundi

Abstract:
Habronyx Foerster occurs in all regions except the Afrotropical and parasitizes lepidopterous larvae (Geometridae, Noctuidae, Saturniidae, Sphingidae, Psychidae). Habronyx albifrons (Spinola) inhabits neantartic Chile and southern Argentina. It is black with a white flagellar annulus and with a strong prepectal carina on the lower half of the mesopleuron. Habronyx albifrons is redescribed and descriptions are given of two new species which belong to a group of their own: Habronyx citrinus Porter, n. sp., from central Chile; and Habronyx punensis Porter, n. sp., from the high Andean steppe of Bolivia, where it attacks noctuid larvae on Chenopodium quinoa Willd. These …

The Type Of Copaeodes Chromis Skinner, 1919 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae), George T. Austin, Andrew D. Warren

Insecta Mundi

The holotype of Copaeodes chromis Skinner, 1919 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), housed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, is a typical specimen of Zariaspes mythecus Godman, 1900.

Ozodius, N. Gen., For The Australian Members Of The Genus Drepanocanthoides Schmidt (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae), Paul E. Skelley

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

The genus name Drepanocanthoides Schmidt has recently been applied to Australian and North American taxa, based on generic concepts following separate designations of different type species. Drepanocanthoides, type species Aphodius walshii Horn, is a Nearctic genus that is not congeneric with the Australian members. The new name Ozodius, n. gen., is here proposed for the Australian taxa, with Aphodius neglectus Schmidt designated as the type species. All Australian members of Drepanocanthoides are transferred to Ozodius.

Nomenclatural Changes In The Nearctic Ochodaeinae And Description Of Two New Genera (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Ochodaeidae), M J. Paulsen

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

Generic placement of Nearctic species of Ochodaeinae has lagged behind changes in generic concepts in the group. In order to place Nearctic species into the appropriate genus-level taxa, several nomenclatural changes are made. The new generic name Xenochodaeus is proposed for species with an elongate, subparallel sulcus on the propygidium and a longitudinally impressed mentum. The genus contains 6 species. Xenochodaeus americanus (Westwood), new combination, is valid and is removed from synonymy with X. musculus (Say), new combination. A neotype is designated for Odontaeus musculus. Ochodaeus opacus LeConte is synonymized under X. americanus. Other new combinations include Xenochodaeus …

New South American Taxa Of Odontolochini Stebnicka And Howden (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae), Paul E. Skelley

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

Recently discovered Neotropical taxa belonging in the tribe Odontolochini Stebnicka and Howden (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) are described. New genera are: Amerilochus, type species Amerilochus cinereus, new species; and Stebnickiella, type species Stebnickiella zosterixys, new species. Three additional new species are: Saprolochus lobatus, Saprolochus tridentatus, and Saprositellus kenodontus. Updated keys are presented to the New World genera of Odontolochini as well as keys to species in the genera Saprolochus Stebnicka and Galante and Saprositellus Balthasar. New country records are presented for Saprositellus ariquemes Stebnicka.

Hexapod Herald - Vol. 19, No. 5, November 2007

Hexapod Herald and Other Entomology Department Newsletters

Contents:
Congratulations
Welcome
Publications
Grants
Student News
Meet a Distance Student
Travel
Blasts from the Pasts
From the Office
An Entomological Halloween

Nebline, Nov./Dec. 2007

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Internet is Popular Way to Access Extension
When it Comes to Being Wired, Youth are Leading the Way
Storage Methods to Reduce Loss of Hay Quality
Grain Stubble Rental Rates
Organic Production
Winter Protection for Roses
Make a Holiday Wreath
Winter Gardening Activities for Kids of All Ages
Turkey Tips
Cheesy Turkey Lasagna Recipe
Mediterranean Diet Offers Healthy Benefits
FREE Seminar, “Making Many Meals Using a Few Ingredients”
Mediterranean Soup
President’s Notes — Alice’s Analysis
Household Hints: Caring for Fleece
The Holidays When There are No Close Family Ties
FCE News & Events
Holiday Safety Tips
Holiday Gifts Needed for …

Life History Parameters Of Ceratitis Capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) Reared On Liquid Diets, Chiou Ling Chang, Carlos Caceres, Sunday Ekesi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

A liquid diet for rearing Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) was developed. Several yeast-based products were evaluated as diet ingredients, and a combination of whole cell yeast (LBI2240) and hydrolyzed yeast (such as FNILS65) in 1:1-3:1 ratio was selected for use in the study. Larvae reared in a liquid diet with LBI2240:FNILS65 ratios of either 1:1 or 3:1 resulted in the same pupal recovery as to those reared in the conventional mill fee- based control diet. Larvae reared in a liquid diet with whole cell yeast only yielded the lowest pupal production, whereas other parameters such as adult emergence, adult …

Beneficial Insects: Beetles, Erin W. Hodgson, Ron Patterson

All Current Publications

There are many beneficial beetles in Utah besides lady beetles or ladybugs. Beetles can significantly reduce common insect and weed problems and in some cases eliminate the need for chemical control. Examples of beneficial beetles include: ground beetles, rove beetles, tiger beetles and tortoise beetles. Many of these beetles are native to Utah, while others have been purposely introduced to help control damage from exotic insect and weed pests.

Beneficial Insects: Mantids, Erin W. Hodgson, Ron Patterson

All Current Publications

Mantids refer to an entire predatory group of insects in the order Mantodea. The term “mantis” or “praying mantis” actually refers to a particular genus of mantids. Therefore, only some mantids belong to the genus Mantis. There are about 2,000 species of mantids worldwide and at least 20 species in the U.S. Two mantid species dominate Utah gardens: European mantid and Chinese mantid.

Beneficial Insects: True Bugs, Erin W. Hodgson, Ron Patterson

All Current Publications

True bugs have piercing-sucking mouthparts and belong to the order Hemiptera and suborder Heteroptera. There are more than 38,000 species of true bugs, and are most closely related to aphids, cicadas, and leaf hoppers. Although some true bugs are considered pests, about one-third are predaceous. True bugs have forewings, or hemelytra, that cross over the back at rest, but sometimes the wings are reduced.

Effect Of Discriminative Plant-Sugar Feeding On The Survival And Fecundity Of Anopheles Gambiae, Hortance Manda, Louis C. Gouagna, Woodbridge A. Foster, Robert R. Jackson, John C. Beier, John I. Githure, Ahmed Hassanali

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background. A previous study showed for Anopheles gambiae s.s. a gradation of feeding preference on common plant species growing in a malaria holoendemic area in western Kenya. The present follow-up study determines whether there is a relationship between the mosquito's preferences and its survival and fecundity. Methods. Groups of mosquitoes were separately given ad libitum opportunity to feed on five of the more preferred plant species (Hamelia patens, Parthenium hysterophorus, Ricinus communis, Senna didymobotrya, and Tecoma stans) and one of the less preferred species (Lantana camara). The mosquitoes were monitored daily for survival. Sugar solution (glucose 6%) and water were …

The Butterfly Danaus Chrysippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) In Kenya Is Variably Infected With Respect To Genotype And Body Size By A Maternally Transmitted Male-Killing Endosymbiont (Spiroplasma), Jeremy K. Herren, Ian Gordon, Peter W.H. Holland, David Smith

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Female-biased sex ratios in Danaus chrysippus (Linnaeus) (family Nymphalidae, subfamily Danainae, tribe Danaini) populations are attributed to the action of an endosymbiotic 'male-killer' bacterium of the genus Spiroplasma. In stark contrast to the extensive geographic range of their host, the Spiroplasma appears to be restricted to East Africa, where four African D. chrysippus subspecies exist sympatrically and form a hybrid zone. In this study, specimens collected at three sample sites within the hybrid zone were screened for Spiroplasma infection. The findings demonstrate that, within the hybrid zone, the frequency of Spiroplasma infection varies both spatially and temporally. Host genotype at …

Book Review: Catalogue Of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 3. Scarabaeoidea, Scirtoidea, Dascilloidea, Buprestoidea, Byrrhoidea (Lobl, I. And A Smetana [Eds.] 2006), Brett C. Ratcliffe

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

If done with care and thoroughness, catalogs, as opposed to checklists, can be valuable tools for summarizing taxonomic, nomenclatural, distributional, and literature information about a given group. This volume of the Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera has been expertly brought to fruition and is a genuinely wonderful volume of what the editors call “structured knowledge.” Structure, hence enhanced information retrieval, is given to 250 years of discovery and documentation of Palaearctic beetles, thus providing us with a modern snapshot of biodiversity information for a broad geographic area.

This volume is the third in a massive undertaking, and the entire series, when …

Nebline, October 2007

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

How Healthy is Your Home?
Soybean Cyst Nematode Spreading in Nebraska
Maintain Grain Quality in Storage
Winterize Your Underground Sprinkler System
Prepare Fireplaces and Woodburning Stoves for Safe Use this Winter
Why Leaves Fall
Choose Decay Resistant Wood for Buildings, Fenceposts
Storing a Tractor
Drying Gourds
Start Garden Cleanup
Tree Planting and Landscape Improvement Funds Available
Grassland Center Sets Fall Lecture Schedule
President’s Notes — Alice’s Analysis
Household Hints
Control Anger Rather Than Suppress It
FCE News & Events
Respond Effectively to Misbehaving Children by Understanding the Problem
Filing Financial Records Saves Time
How Dish Size, Location Influence the Amount …

Comparison Of Mosquito Control Programs In Seven Urban Sites In Africa, The Middle East, And The Americas, Daniel E. Impoinvil, Sajjad Ahmad, Adriana Troyo, Joseph Keating, Andrew K. Githeko, Charles M. Mbogo, Lydiah Kibe, John I. Githure, Adel M. Gad, Ali N. Hassan, Laor Orshan, Alon Warburg, Olger Calderón-Arguedas, Victoria M. Sánchez-Loría, Rosanna Velit-Suarez, Dave D. Chadee, Robert J. Novak, John C. Beier

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Mosquito control programs at seven urban sites in Kenya, Egypt, Israel, Costa Rica, and Trinidad are described and compared. Site-specific urban and disease characteristics, organizational diagrams, and strengths, weaknesses, obstacles and threats (SWOT) analysis tools are used to provide a descriptive assessment of each mosquito control program, and provide a comparison of the factors affecting mosquito abatement. The information for SWOT analysis is collected from surveys, focus-group discussions, and personal communication. SWOT analysis identified various issues affecting the efficiency and sustainability of mosquito control operations. The main outcome of our work was the description and comparison of mosquito control operations …

Larvicidal Activity Of Piper Guineense And Spilanthes Mauritiana Crude-Powder Against Anopheles Gambiae And Culex Quinquefasciatus In Kilifi District, Kenya, Spala O. Ohaga, Isaiah O. Ndiege, Sammy S. Kubasu, John C. Beier, Charles M. Mbogo

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Field trials were conducted in Kilifi District, Kenya on the activity of Piper guineense and Spilanthes mauritiana powders against field populations of Anopheles gambiae s.l. and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. Pools containing mosquito larvae were sampled and larval populations determined before and after application of plant powders. Four doses, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g L-1, were used in the trials and larval mortality monitored after 24, 48 and 72 h. After 24 h, P. guineense powder at 0.5 g L-1 gave larval mortalities of 18.8 and 23.6% for An. gambiae s.l. and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectively. At 2.0 g L-1, mortalities …

Identification Of Insect-Selective And Mammal-Selective Toxins From Parabuthus Leiosoma Venom, John B. Ochola, Wilber Lwande, Thuku Thiong'o, Lucie Rogo, Rafael Herrmann, Eric Schepers, Richard Bagine, Paul Mungai, Isaiah O. Ndiege

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Venoms were collected from two scorpion species: Parabuthus leiosoma and Parabuthus pallidus from Kenya. Subcutaneous injection and oral toxicity tests of crude and pure fractions of scorpion venoms were done in Mus musculus (mice), Chilo partellus and Busseola fusca. The highest activity against C. partellus was found in P. leiosoma venom (LC50 0.689 mg/50 mg body weight). Bioassay-guided purification by a combination of cation-exchange (CE) and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) led to the isolation of three toxic peptides. A lepidopteran-selective toxin (P. leiosoma insect toxin, Plit) was isolated, and the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence (-KDGYPVDNANCKYE-) plus the molecular …