Entomology Commons^™

Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) Of The Mpala Research Centre And Environs, Laikipia District, Kenya, Robert D. Gordon, Patrice Bordat, Giovanni Dellacasa, Marco Dellacasa

Insecta Mundi

The dung beetle fauna of the subfamily Aphodiinae occurring in the Laikipia District of Kenya was surveyed. In total, 14 genera and 29 species were found and these taxa are placed in identification keys. Known generic distributions are provided and species collection data listed.

Hesperiidae Of Rondônia, Brazil: Taxonomic Comments On ‘Night’ Skippers, With Descriptions Of New Genera And Species (Lepidoptera: Eudaminae), George T. Austin

Insecta Mundi

Nineteen species of crepuscular and perhaps nocturnal eudamine skippers (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) included in Evans’ (1952) group “D” genera Bungalotis Watson, Salatis Evans, Sarmientoia Berg, Dyscophellus Godman and Salvin, and Nascus Watson occur in the Cacaulândia area of central Rondônia, Brazil. Their relative abundance and phenology there are given. Taxonomic comments and comparisons with published information are made. Bungalotis lactos Evans, 1952, new status, is considered a species separate from Bungalotis borax Evans, 1952. New genera Nicephellus and Euriphellus are proposed for Eudamus nicephorus Hewitson, 1876, and Papilio euribates Stoll, 1782, respectively, removing both from Dyscophellus and creating new combinations. Discophellus …

A New Species Of Cephaloleia Chevrolat, 1837 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) From Dominica, C. L. Staines

Insecta Mundi

A new species of Cephaloleia, C. simplex from Dominica, is described and illustrated. The species of Cephaloleia known from the Caribbean are reviewed and a key to those species is presented.

Nebline, March 2008

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Eat Smart: How to Fill Up, Not Out!
Foods Which Help You Feel Full
Portion Control Tips
East Campus Walking Tour
All-America Selections for 2008
Easter Lily Care
Colony Collapse Disorder: Recent Loss of Hives a Mystery
Beginning Beekeeping 2-Day Workshop
Drain Flies
Voles
Rental Arrangements Changing with the Times Part 1 — Traditional Leases
Biosolids Improves Soil and Cuts Production Costs: Workshop March 3
Chemigation Training and Testing, March 6
Pioneer Farm Family Award Applications Due May 1
So You’re Considering an Orchard
Establishing a Commercial Vineyard
Plant Propagation: Grafting
Tiny Bites Total Big Calories!
Easy Deviled Eggs Recipe …

A New Lestodiplosine (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Preying On The Avocado Lace Bug, Pseudacysta Perseae (Heteroptera: Tingidae) In Southern Florida, Raymond J. Gagne, Jorge E. Pena, Flor E. Acevedo

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

A species new to science, Tingidoletes praelonga Gagné (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), was recently discovered preying on the avocado lace bug, Pseudacysta perseae (Heidemann) (Heteroptera: Tingidae), in Florida, USA. A new genus is described to receive the new species.

Geographic Variation In Adult Survival And Reproductive Tactics Of The Mosquito Aedes Albopictus, Paul T. Leisnham, L M. Sala, Steven A. Juliano

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Climate differences across latitude can result in seasonal constraints and selection on life history characters. Since Aedes albopictus (Skuse) invaded North America in the mid-1980s, it has spread across a range of approximate to 14 degrees latitude and populations in the north experience complete adult mortality due to cold winter temperatures that are absent in the south. Life table experiments were conducted to test for differences in the adult survival and reproductive schedules of Ae. albopictus females from two populations from the northern (Bloomington, IN [BL] and Manassas, VA [VA]; approximate to 39 degrees N) and southern (Tampa, FL and …

The Meaning Of Predatory Specialization As Illustrated By Aelurillus M-Nigrum, An Ant-Eating Jumping Spider (Araneae: Salticidae) From Azerbaijan, Elchin F. Huseynov, Robert R. Jackson, Fiona R. Cross

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The distinctions between a predator's diet, its prey-choice behaviour and its preference are illustrated in a study of Aelurillus m-nigrum Kulczyn'ski, a salticid spider from Azerbaijan. The natural diet of A. m-nigrum was determined from records of individuals feeding in the field (N = 58). Ten arthropod orders were represented. Nine were from the class Insecta (Coleoptera, Collembola, Diptera, Heteroptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Psocoptera) and one from the class Arachnida (Araneae). Of 50 insects among the prey, 21 (42%) were Hymenoptera, with ants (family Formicidae) alone accounting for 31% of all prey records. Although the majority (69%) of the …

Host Plants And Host Plant Preference Studies For Bactrocera Invadens (Diptera: Tephritidae) In Kenya, A New Invasive Fruit Fly Species In Africa, Ivan Rwomushana, Sunday Ekesi, Ian Gordon, Callistus K.P.O. Ogol

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta & White (Diptera: Tephritidae), an invasive fruit fly species of Asian origin, was detected in Kenya in 2003, and is now well established in several parts of the country. We assessed the host range of this major quarantine pest in Kenya by collecting a wide range of cultivated and wild host plants from December 2004 to April 2006. Fruit were collected from 90 plant species representing 40 families from the Coast, Eastern, and Rift Valley provinces of the country where the fly population had been observed to occur in large numbers and where fruit and vegetable …

Development And Reproductive Potential Of Diamondback Moth Plutella Xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) On Cultivated And Wild Crucifer Species In Kenya, R. Kahuthia-Gathu, B. Löhr, H. M. Poehling

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The development, survival and reproductive potential of diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) were studied at 25 ± 1°C in the laboratory in response to two cultivated Brassica oleracea cultivars (cabbage B. oleracea var. capitata and kale B. oleracea var. acephala) and four wild crucifer species Erucastrum arabicum, Raphanus raphanistrum, Rorippa nudiuscula and Rorippa micrantha. Rorippa micrantha was the most preferred species in oviposition choice tests, while cabbage and kale were least preferred. First instar larval mining period differed significantly between plant species with the longest period recorded on cabbage (3.0 days) and the shortest on R. micrantha (0.4 days). Pupal …

Release And Establishment Of Cotesia Flavipes For Biological Control Of Maize Stemborers In Zimbabwe, P. Chinwada, F. Schulthess, W. A. Overholt, P. Jowah, C. O. Omwega

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Five populations of the crambid stemborer Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) and one of the noctuid borer Busseola fusca (Fuller) from Zimbabwe were evaluated for their suitability for immature development of the exotic braconid larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes Cameron. Successful parasitoid development occurred only on C. partellus but parasitism as well as egg-to-adult development time did not vary among the five populations. Smallest parasitoid broods, and sex ratios as the proportion of female offspring, however, were produced with C. partellus from the Muzarabani area of Zimbabwe. Co. flavipes became successfully established in five out of eight locations, where it had been released …

Necrotic Ring Spot, Kent Evans, Jaydee Gunnell, Erin Frank

All Current Publications

Necrotic Ring Spot (NRS) is a fungal disease that primarily affects the roots of turfgrasses. The disease occurs on turfgrasses worldwide. Many turf species can serve as host to the disease. In Utah, the disease primarily affects Kentucky and annual bluegrass turf, although it can occur on tall fescue grass as well. O

Crop Updates 2008 - Lupins, Pulses And Oilseeds, Mark Seymour, Robert Johnson, Ian Pritchard, Raj Malik, Wayne Parker, Martin Harries, Robert French, Jo Walker, Laurie Maiolo, Leigh Smith, Alan Harris, Rod Hunter, Tanveer Khan, Jenny Garlinge, Pooran Gaur, Kambot Siddique, Heather Clarke, Neil Turner, William Macleod, Stuart Morgan, Wendy Vance, Philip Chambers, Chris Veitch, Tony Leonforte, Rodger Beermier, Moin U. Salam, Jenny Davidson, Jean Galloway, Pip Payne, Tess Humphries, Art Diggle, Harmohinder Dhammu, Michael Materne, Kerry Regan, Mohammad Amjad, Andy Sutherland, Pat Fels, Glen Riethmuller, Wallace Cowling, Milton Saunders, Eliot Jones, Chris Newman, John Duff, David Sermon, Svetlana Micic, Anthony Dore, Geoff Strickland, Blakely Paynter, Vince Lambert, Chris Roberts

Crop Updates

This session covers twenty six papers from different authors:

Regional Roundup

1. SOUTH EAST AGRICULTURAL REGION, Mark Seymour Department of Agriculture and Food, and Robert Johnson CBH Group, Esperance

2. CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL REGION, Ian Pritchard, Department of Agriculture and Food

3. GREAT SOUTHERN AND LAKES REGION, Raj Malik, Department of Agriculture and Food

4. NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL REGION, Wayne Parker and Martin Harries, Department of Agriculture and Food

LUPINS

5. Cropping lupins in wide rows in Western Australia, Martin Harries and Bob French, Department of Agriculture and Food

6. The effect of sowing time and radish density …

Crop Updates 2008 - Farming Systems, John De Majnik, Paul Meibusch, Vince Logan, Louise Barton, Wahid Biswas, Daniel Carter, Nicolyn Short, Jodie Bowling, Glen Riethmuller, James Fisher, Moin Salam, Stephen Davies, Jim Dixon, Dennis Van Gool, Alison Slade, Bob Gilkes, Megan Abrahams, Caroline Peek, Daniel Gardiner, Kari-Lee Falconer, David Hall, Jeromy Lemon, Harvey Jones, Yvette Oliver, Tania Butler, Michael Robertson, Stephen Carr, Chris Gazey, David York, Joel Andrews, Michael Simeoni, G. Peter Mangano, Svetlana Micic, Dave Gartner, Adam Clune, Matthew Morell, Adam Umbers, Angelo Loi, Brad Nutt, Clinton Revell, Geoff Kew, Vivien Vanstone, Ali Bhatti, Ming Pei You, Imma Farre, Bill Bowden, Henry Smolinski, Jane Speijers, John Bruce, David Mccarthy, Gary Lang, David Rees, Rob Grima, John Young, Ross Kingwell, Chris Oldham, Derk Bakker, Ian Foster, David Beard, Wen Chen, Richard Bell, Ross Brennan, Art Diggle, Reg Lunt, Qifu Ma, Zed Rengel, Tim Hilder, Dusty Severtson, Shahajahan Miyan, Sam Clune, Barb Sage, Tenielle Martin, Chris Newman, Neal Dalgliesh, Caroline Peak, Andrew Blake, Megan Ryan, Richard Bennett, Tim Colmer, D. Real, Jiyan Pang, Lori Kroiss, Dion Nicol, Tammy Edmonds-Tibbett, Ron Mctaggart, Sean Kelly, Helen Hunter

Crop Updates

This session covers thirty nine papers from different authors:

PLENARY

1. Developments in grain end use, Dr John de Majnik, New Grain Products, GRDC, Mr Paul Meibusch, New Farm Products and Services, GRDC, Mr Vince Logan, New Products Executive Manager, GRDC

PRESENTATIONS

2. Global warming potential of wheat production in Western Australia: A life cycle assessment, Louise Barton1, Wahid Biswas2 and Daniel Carter3, 1School of Earth & Geographical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 2Centre of Excellence in Cleaner Production, Division of Science and Engineering, Curtin University of Technology, 3Department of Agriculture and …

Nebline, February 2008

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Take Steps to Help Protect Your Property from Theft
Census of Agriculture FAQ’s
Forage Calendar
Computerized Farm Financial Recordkeeping Workshop, Feb. 16
Private Pesticide Applicator Trainings
Environmental Reasons Why Fruit Trees Fail to Bear
Establishing a Vineyard
Renovate Windbreaks to Improve Effectiveness
$tretch Your Food Dollar with Soup
Quick Chili Recipe
Almost Homemade Chicken Rice Soup Recipe
Find It Fast: Filing Food Appliance and Other Kitchen Gear Instruction Manuals
See “Red” on Valentine’s Day
Presidents’ Notes—Bonnie’s Bits
Household Hints: Keeping Comforters Clean and Cozy
FCE News & Events
Elderly Can Reap Computer Benefits
America Saves Week
Elderly Can Reap Computer …

Hexapod Herald - Vol. 20, No. 1, February 2008

Hexapod Herald and Other Entomology Department Newsletters

Contents:
Congratulations
Welcome
Publications
Grants
Student News
From the Office
Travel
Blasts from the Pasts

Tachinid Collecting In Southwest New Mexico And Arizona During The 2007 Nads Field Meeting, John O. Stireman Iii

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The 2007 field meeting of the North American Dipterists Society (NADS) was held August 13–16 in southwestern New Mexico, centered in Silver City (at Western New Mexico University), and the surrounding Gila National Forest. This was the first NADS meeting that I have been able to attend, and I think I can speak for all in saying it was enjoyable, productive, and interesting; an overall success. A more detailed account and evaluation of this meeting is available in the 2007 Fly Times article (O’Hara 2007).

Comparison Of Five Allopatric Fruit Fly Parasitoid Populations (Psyttalia Species) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) From Coffee Fields Using Morphometric And Molecular Methods, M. K. Billah, S. W. Kimani-Njogu, R. A. Wharton, J. B. Woolley, D. Masiga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Morphometric studies of five allopatric parasitoid populations (genus Psyttalia Walker) from coffee plantations in Cameroon (Nkolbisson), Ghana (Tafo) and Kenya (Rurima, Ruiru and Shimba Hills) and one non-coffee population (from Muhaka, Kenya) were compared with individuals of Psyttalia concolor (Szépligeti), a species released in several biological control programmes in the Mediterranean Region since the 20th Century. Analyses of wing vein measurements showed the second submarginal cell of the fore wing and its adjoining veins had the heaviest principal component weights and served as the main contributing variables in the diagnostic differentiation of the populations. Two populations (Rurima and Ruiru) were …

Ecological And Biogeographical Observations On Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) From California, Usa, Ian Swift

Insecta Mundi

New ecological and biogeographical observations are presented for the following 32 species of Cerambycidae from California: Atimia confusa dorsalis LeConte, Anelaphus albofasciatus (Linell), Aneflus prolixus prolixus LeConte, Anoplocurius incompletus Linsley, Brothylus conspersus LeConte, Callidiellum virescens Chemsak and Linsley, Calloides lorquini (Buquet), Clytus chemsaki Hovore and Giesbert, Enaphalodes hispicornis (Linnaeus), Methia brevis Fall, Neaneflus fuchsi (Wickham), Neoclytus balteatus LeConte, Plectromerus dentipes (Olivier), Phymatodes decussatus decussatus (LeConte), Phymatodes decussatus australis Chemsak, Purpuricenus dimidiatus LeConte, Rosalia funebris Motschulsky, Schizax senex LeConte, Smodicum pacificum Linsley, Stenaspis solitaria (Say), Tragidion gracilipes Linsley, Brachysomida californica (LeConte), Brachysomida vittigera Linsley and Chemsak, Centrodera osburni Knull, Encyclops californica …

A Generic-Level Phylogenetic Review Of The Macrodactylini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), Kerry Katovich

Insecta Mundi

A revision of the generic classification of the tribe Macrodactylini is provided using morphological characters of adults. The revision is based on a taxonomic analysis of 80 genera historically placed in the tribe and a cladistic analysis of 32 genera conforming to the new tribal definition. Synapomorphies for the newly defined Macrodactylini include: the length of the fifth ventrite longer than the fourth ventrite when viewed ventrally, fifth ventrite lacking a complete suture between the tergite and sternite, and the metathoracic tibial spurs (if present) offset, allowing the metatarsus to move past them. Thirty-two genera constitute the newly defined Macrodactylini: …

A Remarkable New Species Of Zethus Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) From Costa Rica, Charles C. Porter

Insecta Mundi

Abstract:
Zethus stangei Porter, new species, is described from Costa Rica. It forms a species group of its own, unique in its grotesquely enlarged male mandibles and reduced clypeus, single mid tibial spur, and in having a medio-apical bulge on the second sternite. It was previously identified as Z. magretti Zavattari but reexamination of the type of this species shows that it actually belongs to the coeruleopennis species group.

Resumen:
Se describe a Zethus stangei Porter, especie nueva, de Costa Rica, cuyas características más notables la colocan en su propio grupo, siendo ellas las grandes y abultadas mandíbulas y el …

Review Of The Genus Microchilus Blanchard (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Geniatini), Mary Liz Jameson

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

The Brazilian scarab beetle genus Microchilus Blanchard (Rutelinae: Geniatini) is reviewed. Based on examination of type specimens, Microchilus beckeri Martínez is transferred to the genus Leucothyreus becoming L. beckeri (Martínez), new combination; Leucothyreus bucki Machatschke is a new junior synonym of L. beckeri (Martínez). Microchilus is limited to two species, M. beckeri (Martínez) and a new species, Microchilus rodmani Jameson, here described. Characters that circumscribe the genus, biology, and species distribution are discussed.

The Dynastinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Of The Bahamas With A Description Of A New Species Of Cyclocephala From Great Inagua Island, Brett C. Ratcliffe, Ronald D. Cave

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

The seven genera and 13 species of dynastine scarabs recorded from the Bahamas are reviewed. Two of those species are endemic, including Cyclocephala dolichotarsa Ratcliffe and Cave, new species, described from Great Inagua Island. Eleven species are also known to occur in the USA and/or Cuba. Six species are probably not established based on infrequency of collection.

Interspecific Hybridization Yields Strategy For South Pacific Filariasis Vector Elimination, Corey L. Brelsfoard, Yves Séchan, Stephen L. Dobson

Entomology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a leading cause of disability in South Pacific regions, where >96% of the 1.7 million population are at risk of LF infection. As part of current global campaign, mass drug administration (MDA) has effectively reduced lymphatic filiariasis prevalence, but mosquito vector biology can complicate the MDA strategy. In some regions, there is evidence that the goal of LF elimination cannot be attained via MDA alone. Obligate vector mosquitoes provide additional targets for breaking the LF transmission cycle, but existing methods are ineffective for controlling the primary vector throughout much of the South Pacific, Aedes polynesiensis. …

Genome-Wide Analysis Of The Interaction Between The Endosymbiotic Bacterium Wolbachia And Its Drosophila Host, Zhiyong Xi, Laurent Gavotte, Yan Xie, Stephen L. Dobson

Entomology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Intracellular Wolbachia bacteria are obligate, maternally-inherited, endosymbionts found frequently in insects and other invertebrates. The success of Wolbachia can be attributed in part to an ability to alter host reproduction via mechanisms including cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), parthenogenesis, feminization and male killing. Despite substantial scientific effort, the molecular mechanisms underlying the Wolbachia/host interaction are unknown.

RESULTS: Here, an in vitro Wolbachia infection was generated in the Drosophila S2 cell line, and transcription profiles of infected and uninfected cells were compared by microarray. Differentially-expressed patterns related to reproduction, immune response and heat stress response are observed, including multiple genes that have …

Experimental Inoculation Of House Sparrows (Passer Domesticus) With Buggy Creek Virus, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Amy T. Moore, Nicholas A. Panella, Eric A. Edwards, Mary Bomberger Brown, Nicholas Komar, Charles R. Brown

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

We performed experimental inoculations of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) with Buggy Creek virus (BCRV), a poorly known alphavirus (Togaviridae) vectored primarily by the swallow bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae: Oeciacus vicarius) that is an ectoparasite of the cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and house sparrow. Viremias were detected by plaque assay in two of six birds on days 1–3 postinoculation; viremia was highest on day 2. Viral RNA was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in blood of six of 12 birds ranging from day 1 to day 15 postinoculation. Infectious BCRV was detected in …

Donald Morgan Anderson 1930–2005, Raymond Gagne

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

‘‘By Golly’’ was Don’s strongest oath. He was a gentle, unassuming person, a conscientious scientist, and a dutiful colleague. Don passed away on his 75th birthday, Dec. 27, 2005, of congestive heart failure at a nursing home in western New York. He had retired in 1990 from his position as research entomologist in the Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA at the Natural History Museum in Washington, DC. Following his retirement he had worked every day of every other week at the museum, spending his alternate week in Hinsdale, New York. In Jan. 2002, while looking after his sister’s affairs in Wisconsin …

First Florida Records For Anovia Circumclusa (Gorham) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Noviini): A Natural Enemy Of Icerya Genistae Hempel (Hemiptera: Margarodidae), Juanita A. Forrester, Natalia J. Vandenberg

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Lady beetles in the tribe Noviini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are well-known control agents for scale insects. The tribe consists of ~ 80 species divided among three genera, and is represented on every continent except Antarctica. Anovia Casey is native to North and South America, Novius Mulsant is restricted to Australia, and Rodolia Mulsant, while native to Australia, has been widely introduced to other regions of the world.

Environmental Conditions Affect Sperm Competition Risk In Japanese Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Paul Switzer, Carissa Schoenick, Patrick Enstrom

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Males of many species guard their mates to prevent rivals from usurping paternity of the potential offspring. Environmental conditions, such as temperature, may affect a male’s ability to guard a female effectively and consequently the amount of sperm competition that occurs. We tested whether temperature and light affected mating behavior in laboratory experiments on the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, a species in which males guard females for minutes to many hours after mating. When tested in groups, under conditions of high temperature and high light, males guarded females for shorter periods of time and males and females both mated …

A New Chilean Species Of Cycloneda Crotch (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Coccinellinae: Coccinellini), Natalia J. Vandenberg, Guillermo González

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Cycloneda pretiosa, new species is described from Lago Pirihueico in southern Chile The species is diagnosed and compared with both related and superficially similar species. Habitus and genitalic characters are illustrated. Geographical and temporal data are given. The new species is assigned to the Cycloneda germainii species complex and integrated into the key to species of this group (González and Vandenberg, 2006).

A New Holcocera Clemens, 1863 (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae) Associated With Leguminous Plants From The Brazilian Cerrado, David Adamski, Cibele S. Ribeiro-Costa

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Holcocera cerradicola, n. sp., is described from the Brazilian cerrado in Parana´ . Adults were obtained from field-collected larvae from fruits of two leguminous plant species, Bauhinia holophylla Steud (Caesalpinioideae) and Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville (Mimosoideae). These observations represent the first documented association between Holcocerini and Leguminosae. A photograph of the holotype and illustrations of wing venation and male and female genitalia are provided.