Entomology Commons^™

Management Of Alien Invasive Insect Pest Species And Diseases Of Fruits And Vegetables: Experiences From East Africa, B. Nyambo, S. Sevgan, A. Chabi-Olaye, S. Ekesi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The East African region is currently struggling to cope with several alien invasive insect pest species (AIS): the diamondback moth (DBM), fruit flies, Liriomyza leafminers, thrips and spider mites to name just a few. These insect pests have wide host range, are difficult to control with synthetic pesticides, and most are of quarantine status. AIS are becoming frequent pests in horticulture production systems, threat to food security, market access and rural livelihoods. The impact of these pests is aggravated by variability in climatic conditions, few taxonomic expertise for accurate and timely identification of new species, inadequate knowledge on viable alternative …

Horticultural Pest Management And The African Economy: Successes, Challenges And Opportunities In A Changing Global Environment, S. Ekesi, A. Chabi-Olaye, S. Subramanian, C. Borgemeister

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

In many African countries, horticulture is the fastest growing agricultural sub-sector contributing significantly to national incomes. Diverse vegetables, fruits and spices are grown for domestic and export markets. Horticultural exports in Africa has increased by more than 50% in recent years and currently contributes >20% of agricultural exports by volume and income generation. Despite the growth, production has not kept pace with increasing demand due largely to biotic constraints attributed to arthropod pests. Agricultural research aimed at reducing insect pest damage can lead to increased horticultural production and improved rural livelihoods. icipe in collaboration with National Agricultural Research and Extension …

A New Genus Of Agathidinae With The Description Of A New Species Parasitic On Samea Multiplicalis (Guenée), Michael J. Sharkey, Katherine A. Parys, Stephanie Clutts

Entomology Faculty Publications

A new genus of Agathidinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), Neothlipsis, is proposed to include 10 species. Nine of these species were formerly included in the polyphyletic genus Therophilus Wesmael 1837, formerly referred to as Bassus. A new species, Neothlipsis parysae, parasitic on Samea multiplicalis (Guenée), is described. The ten described species transferred to Neothlipsis are:, Neothlipsis agathoides, comb. n. for Bassus agathoides Newton and Sharkey 2000; Neothlipsis agilis, comb. n. for Bassus agilis Cresson 1868; Neothlipsis brevicauda, comb. n. for Bassus brevicaudus Muesebeck 1932; Neothlipsis californica, comb. n. for Bassus californicus Muesebeck 1927; Neothlipsis cincta, comb. n. for Microdus …

Wolbachia Infections That Reduce Immature Insect Survival: Predicted Impacts On Population Replacement, Philip R. Crain, James W. Mains, Eunho Suh, Yunxin Huang, Philip H. Crowley, Stephen L. Dobson

Entomology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The evolutionary success of Wolbachia bacteria, infections of which are widespread in invertebrates, is largely attributed to an ability to manipulate host reproduction without imposing substantial fitness costs. Here, we describe a stage-structured model with deterministic immature lifestages and a stochastic adult female lifestage. Simulations were conducted to better understand Wolbachia invasions into uninfected host populations. The model includes conventional Wolbachia parameters (the level of cytoplasmic incompatibility, maternal inheritance, the relative fecundity of infected females, and the initial Wolbachia infection frequency) and a new parameter termed relative larval viability (RLV), which is the survival of infected larvae relative to …

New Records Of Carrion Beetles In Nebraska Reveal Increased Presence Of The American Burying Beetle, Nicrophorus Americanus Olivier (Coleoptera: Silphidae), Jessica Jurzenski, Daniel G. Snethen, Mathew L. Brust, W. Wyatt Hoback

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Surveys for the American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus Olivier (Silphidae), between 2001 and 2010 in Nebraska resulted in 11 new county records for this endangered species and 465 new county records for 14 other silphid species. A total of 5,212 American burying beetles were captured in more than 1,500 different locations. Using mark-recapture data, we estimated the population size of the American burying beetle (ABB) for six counties in the Sandhills. Blaine County (2003) had the largest population, with an estimated 56 ABBs per km² (1,338 ± 272 ABBs). The remaining estimates were between 2 and 36 ABBs per …

Review Of Damselflies Of Texas: A Field Guide. By John C. Abbott., Forrest L. Mitchell

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Well-produced field guides are always in demand, and Damselflies of Texas is one such. This compact, camera-bag-friendly compendium displays each of the 77 species known to occur, or that have been historically documented, in the state. The guide's first 50 pages are introductory and full of useful detail. There follows a large section devoted to species descriptions and a set of appendices.

Nebline, October 2011

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: What is Your Energy IQ?

Farm Views

Horticulture

Food & Fitness

Home & Family Living

Environmental Focus

Urban Agriculture

4-H & Youth

Community Focus

Extension Calendar

Nutrition Education Program

Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs

and other extension news and events

Controlling Slugs And Snails In Utah, Larry A. Sagers, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

Slugs and snails are rated by many gardeners as the worst garden pests. Considering their competition, this is a dubious honor. These pests are not insects but are mollusks that are more closely related to shellfish, such as mussels and clams.

Preventing Poisoning Of Pets When Using Slug And Snail Baits, Kerry A. Rood, Larry A. Sagers

All Current Publications

Slugs and snails are one of the most common garden pests in the State of Utah. Because they are so widespread and destructive, many different methods are used to keep the pests under control. Baits are frequently applied as a treatment, but using pesticides can create hazard for non-target wildlife and pets.

Establishing Lower Developmental Thresholds For A Common Blowfly: For Use In Estimating Elapsed Time Since Death Using Entomologyical Methods, Gail S. Anderson, Jodie-A. Warren

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Forensic entomology is a science used to estimate a post-mortem interval (PMI). Larvae develop at predictable rates and the time interval for this development can be used to estimate the PMI. Environmental temperatures are not constant and fluctuate with the photoperiod. In early and late insect seasons, temperatures can drop to below threshold temperatures where development essentially ceases. Threshold temperatures differ for different species and should be determined by raising insects at the extremely low temperatures. The lower threshold temperature for Protophormia terraenovae for egg hatch is 10.3°C ; for first instar larvae to molt to second instar larvae it …

Lytopylus Förster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Agathidinae) Species From Costa Rica, With An Emphasis On Specimens Reared From Caterpillars In Area De Conservación Guanacaste, Michael J. Sharkey, Stephanie Clutts, Erika M. Tucker, Daniel Janzen, Winnie Hallwachs, Tanya Dapkey, M. Alex Smith

Entomology Faculty Publications

Twelve species of Costa Rican Lytopylus are treated; these include all species reared from Lepidoptera caterpillars in Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica, over 32 years of caterpillar inventory, as well as two species recorded in the literature as occurring in Costa Rica. Ten new species are described, i.e., Lytopylus bradzlotnicki, Lytopylus colleenhitchcockae, Lytopylus gregburtoni, Lytopylus jessicadimauroae, Lytopylus jessiehillae, Lytopylus mingfangi, Lytopylus rebeccashapleyae, Lytopylus robpringlei, Lytopylus sandraberriosae, Lytopylus vaughntani. The following species are transferred to Lytopylus: Metriosoma flavicalcar Enderlein 1920 to Lytopylus flavicalcarcomb. n.; Bassus macadamiae Briceño and Sharkey 2000 to Lytopylus macadamiaecomb. n.; Metriosoma bicarinatum Enderlein 1920 to Lytopylus …

Two New Neotropical Species Of Telephanus Erichson Near T. Serratus Nevermann (Coleoptera: Silvanidae), Michael C. Thomas

Insecta Mundi

The Mesoamerican species of Telephanus distinguished by the presence eight lateral pronotal spines and long temples are reviewed. The group includes T. serratus Nevermann and two previously undescribed species that are described herein: T. bellus Thomas, new species, from Costa Rica, and the flightless T. monstrosus Thomas, new species, from Mexico.

New Taxa And Combinations In Onciderini Thomson, 1860 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae), Eugenio H. Nearns, Ian P. Swift

Insecta Mundi

Monneoncideres, a new genus of Onciderini Thomson, 1860 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) is described and illustrated. Six new species of Onciderini are also described and illustrated: Hesycha tavakiliani from Brazil; Lesbates milleri from Venezuela; Monneoncideres cristata from Ecuador and Peru; Neodillonia waltersi from Ecuador; Tibiosioma martinsi from Ecuador; and Trestonia wappesi from Panama. Keys to the known species of Lesbates Dillon and Dillon, 1945 and Tibiosioma Martins and Galilleo, 1990 are provided. The genus Ophthalmocydrus Aurivillius, 1925 (Onciderini) is transferred to Pteropliini (Lamiinae); and Xylomimus Bates, 1865 (Apomecynini) is transferred to Onciderini. The following new synonymies are proposed: Kuauna Martins …

Distribution Of The American Milliped Genus Boraria Chamberlin, 1943: Introductions Of B. Stricta (Brölemann, 1896) In New York And B. Infesta (Chamberlin, 1918) In Connecticut; Indigenous Occurrence Of B. Profuga (Causey, 1955) In Louisiana (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae)., Rowland M. Shelley, Chris T. Mcallister, Christopher M. Nagy, Mark E. Weckel, Roderick G. Christie, Paul Wilson, Allan Wilson

Insecta Mundi

The southern Appalachian millipeds Boraria stricta (Brölemann, 1896) and B. infesta (Chamberlin, 1918) (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Xystodesmidae) have become established in Westchester Co., New York, and Hartford Co., Connecticut, respectively. Only three individuals are available for the latter, but B. stricta has established a reproducing population in southern New York state. This species is also recorded from Bland Co., Virginia, in the Ridge and Valley Physiographic Province. Boraria profuga (Causey, 1955) comprises two allopatric populations, one in Montgomery Co., Arkansas, and the other in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. Distributional records and gonopod drawings are presented for these species plus B. deturkiana (Causey, …

The Milliped Order Glomeridesmida (Diplopoda: Pentazonia: Limacomorpha) In Oceania, The East Indies, And Southeastern Asia; First Records From Palau, The Philippines, Vanuatu, New Britain, The Island Of New Guinea, Cambodia, Thailand, And Borneo And Sulawesi, Indonesia, Rowland M. Shelley

Insecta Mundi

The taxonomically neglected milliped order Glomeridesmida and family Glomeridesmidae (infraclass Pentazonia, superorder Limacomorpha) inhabit 21, rather than seven, regions of the world, being newly recorded from Thailand; Cambodia; the Republics of Palau, the Philippines, and Vanuatu; New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago; the Island of New Guinea (both West Papua [formerly Irian Jaya], Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea); and Sulawesi and Borneo, Indonesia. Occurrence in Fiji is confirmed with two additional samples, and discovery is predicted in southern China, Myanmar, and perhaps Madagascar. Coupled with published localities, these records suggest subcontinuous (super)ordinal and familial ranges extending some 12,480 km (7,800 mi) southeastward …

Three New Species Of Phylocentropus Banks (Trichoptera: Dipseudopsidae) From Vietnam, Tatiana I. Arefina-Armitage, Brian J. Armitage

Insecta Mundi

Of the 9 known species of Phylocentropus Banks (Trichoptera: Dipseudopsidae), 5 are found in eastern North America, 1 in Japan, and 3 in Southeast Asia. Three new species of this genus: Ph. tohoku, Ph. ngoclinh, and Ph. anas from Vietnam are described and illustrated herein. Previously, only 1 species, Ph. vietnamellus Mey 1995, was known from this country.

Some Like It Hot: The Influence And Implications Of Climate Change On Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus Hampei) And Coffee Production In East Africa, Juliana Jaramillo, Eric Muchugu, Fernando E. Vega, Aaron Davis, Christian Borgemeister, Adenirin Chabi-Olaye

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The negative effects of climate change are already evident for many of the 25 million coffee farmers across the tropics and the 90 billion dollar (US) coffee industry. The coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), the most important pest of coffee worldwide, has already benefited from the temperature rise in East Africa: increased damage to coffee crops and expansion in its distribution range have been reported. In order to anticipate threats and prioritize management actions for H. hampei we present here, maps on future distributions of H. hampei in coffee producing areas of East Africa. Using the CLIMEX model we relate …

The First North American Records Of The Synanthropic Spider Cithaeron Praedonius O. P.-Cambridge (Araneae: Gnaphosoidea: Cithaeronidae), With Notes On Its Biology, G. B. Edwards, Joe T. Stiles

Insecta Mundi

Cithaeron praedonius O. P.-Cambridge 1872 (Araneae: Gnaphosoidea: Cithaeronidae) is an Old World species with a distribution from The Gambia, western Africa, and Greece to Malaysia and Australia. In the New World, it was recently found in Brazil, and is now reported for the first time in North America, in the United States. Multiple individuals of both sexes and various life stages, including multiple eggsacs, have been found in a home in Port Richey, Pasco County, Florida. An adult female was found on the outside wall of the house feeding on another spider, suggesting that C. praedonius are no longer contained …

Three New Species Of Goera Stephens (Trichoptera: Goeridae) From Sulawesi, Indonesia, Brian J. Armitage, Tatiana I. Arefina-Armitage

Insecta Mundi

Three new species of the caddisfly genus Goera Stephens (Trichoptera: Goeridae) are described from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Goera neboissi sp. n., G. jolanda sp. n., and G. higleri sp. n. were found to be related to G. skiasma Neboiss, which is the only previously recorded species from Sulawesi. These species share the following combination of characters: an upright IXth segment; the absence of the median dorsal process of tergum X; a long, mesal process of the inferior appendage with a subbasal projection; and, the absence of parameres.

Taxonomy, Identification, And Phylogeny Of The African And Madagascan Species Of The Tiger Beetle Genus Chaetodera Jeannel 1946 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), Jonathan R. Mawdsley

Insecta Mundi

The taxonomy of the African and Madagascan species of the tiger beetle genus Chaetodera Jeannel 1946 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) is reviewed based on studies of primary types and additional museum specimens. Six species are recognized: C. andriana (Alluaud 1900), C. antatsima (Alluaud 1902), C. blanchardi (Fairmaire 1882), C. maheva (Künckel d’Herculais 1887), C. perrieri (Fairmaire 1897), and C. regalis (Dejean 1831). All species are illustrated, including color variants, and a key to species and maps of species distributions are provided. A hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships is proposed for the nine worldwide species of the genus Chaetodera based on computerized parsimony analysis …

Noteworthy Records Of Hispines From Belize (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), R. F. C. Naczi, C. L. Staines

Insecta Mundi

Cephaloleia consanguinea Baly, Cephaloleia fulvolimbata Baly, Cephaloleia ruficollis Baly, Chalepus amabilis Baly, Chalepus brevicornis (Baly), Chalepus pici Descarpentries and Villiers, Microrhopala erebus (Newman), Octhispa bimaculata Uhmann, Octotoma championi Baly, Pseudispa tuberculata Staines, Sceloenopla erudita (Baly), Stenispa guatemalensis Uhmann, Sumitrosis gestroi (Weise), and Sumitrosis terminatus (Baly) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) are new country records of hispine chrysomelids for Belize, based on collections cited herein. These collections also document new host records for Calyptocephala gerstaeckeri Boheman (Chamaedorea tepejilote Liebm., Arecaceae), Cephaloleia consanguinea (Heliconia bourgaeana Petersen, H. collinsiana Griggs, H. latispatha Benth., H. wagneriana Petersen; Heliconiaceae), and Cephaloleia perplexa Baly (Heliconia …

Description Of A New Species Of The Stag Beetle Genus Altitatiayus Weinreich (Coleoptera, Lucanidae, Lucaninae), P. C. Grossi, R. M. Koike

Insecta Mundi

The brachypterous Brazilian stag beetle genus Altitatiayus Weinreich (Coleoptera, Lucanidae, Lucaninae) was previously known only from states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. Altitatiayus campoi, a new species from São Paulo, the southernmost in distribution, is described here and apparently represents a new species group with some exclusive characters. It is compared with other species of the genus and a key to species of Altitatiayus is provided.

O gênero braquíptero de lucanídeo brasileiro Altitatiayus Weinreich (Coleoptera, Lucanidae, Lucaninae) era conhecido somente dos estados de Minas Gerais e Rio de Janeiro. Altitatiayus campoi, uma nova espécie do estado de …

Life History Of An Exotic Soft Scale Insect Phalacrococcus Howertoni (Hemiptera: Coccidae) Found In Florida, Kaushalya G. Amarasekare, Catharine M. Mannion

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

We investigated the life history of an exotic soft scale insect, Phalacrococcus howertoni Hodges and Hodgson that damages croton and several other economically important ornamental and fruit plants in Florida. There was no difference in the development, survival, and reproduction of this scale insect species when reared either on croton or on buttonwood at 27 ± 1°C, 12:12 (L:D) h and 65% R. H. The scale insect practiced ovoviviparity. We observed that eggs that came out from vulva hatched to first instars immediately. Newly hatched nymphs had a tendency stay underneath the female body for somewhat less than approximately 24 …

Nebline, September 2011

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: 4-H Helps Build Successful Scientists

Farm Views

Horticulture

Food & Fitness

Home & Family Living

Environmental Focus

Urban Agriculture

4-H & Youth

Community Focus

Extension Calendar

Nutrition Education Program

Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs

and other extension news and events

Review Of The Species Described In Leptostilbus Casey In North America (Coleoptera: Phalacridae: Xanthocomus Guillebeau), Matthew L. Gimmel

Insecta Mundi

The species of Phalacridae (Coleoptera) historically included in Leptostilbus Casey, 1916, are reviewed. Leptostilbus rutilans Casey, 1916, is here designated as the type species of Leptostilbus. The genus Leptostilbus is synonymized with Xanthocomus Guillebeau, 1893, syn. nov., resulting in two new combinations, Xanthocomus concinnus (Casey, 1916) and X. rutilans (Casey, 1916). Lectotypes are here designated for these two species. Acylomus elongatulus (Casey, 1890), comb. nov., formerly placed in Leptostilbus, is excluded from Xanthocomus. A key and illustrations are provided to aid in recognition of the two species of Xanthocomus in North America, and detailed distribution maps are …

Hexapod Herald - Vol. 23, No. 5, September 2011

Hexapod Herald and Other Entomology Department Newsletters

Welcome

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Publications

Meet and Off-Campus Student

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Natural Selection On Body Size Is Mediated By Multiple Interacting Factors: A Comparison Of Beetle Populations Varying Naturally And Experimentally In Body Size, Angela R. Amarillo-Suárez, R Craig Stillwell, Charles W. Fox

Entomology Faculty Publications

Body size varies considerably among species and among populations within species, exhibiting many repeatable patterns. However, which sources of selection generate geographic patterns, and which components of fitness mediate evolution of body size, are not well understood. For many animals, resource quality and intraspecific competition may mediate selection on body size producing large-scale geographic patterns. In two sequential experiments, we examine how variation in larval competition and resource quality (seed size) affects the fitness consequences of variation in body size in a scramble-competing seed-feeding beetle, Stator limbatus. Specifically, we compared fitness components among three natural populations of S. limbatus …

First Transcriptome Of The Testis-Vas Deferens-Male Accessory Gland And Proteome Of The Spermatophore From Dermacentor Variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae), Daniel E. Sonenshine, Brooke W. Bissinger, Noble Egekwu, Kevin V. Donohue, Sayed M. Khalil, R. Michael Roe

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Ticks are important vectors of numerous human diseases and animal diseases. Feeding stimulates spermatogenesis, mating and insemination of male factors that trigger female reproduction. The physiology of male reproduction and its regulation of female development are essentially a black box. Several transcriptomes have catalogued expression of tick genes in the salivary glands, synganglion and midgut but no comprehensive investigation has addressed male reproduction and mating. Consequently, a new global approach using transcriptomics, proteomics, and quantitative gene expression is needed to understand male reproduction and stimulation of female reproduction.This first transcriptome to the reproductive biology of fed male ticks, Dermacentor variabilis …

The 2007 Rift Valley Fever Outbreak In Sudan, Osama Ahmed Hassan, Clas Ahlm, Rosemary Sang, Magnus Evander

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a neglected, emerging, mosquito-borne disease with severe negative impact on human and animal health and economy. RVF is caused by RVF virus (RVFV) affecting humans and a wide range of animals. The virus is transmitted through bites from mosquitoes and exposure to viremic blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected animals. During 2007 a large RVF outbreak occurred in Sudan with a total of 747 confirmed human cases including 230 deaths (case fatality 30.8%); although it has been estimated 75,000 were infected. It was most severe in White Nile, El Gezira, and Sennar states near …

Vegetation And The Importance Of Insecticide-Treated Target Siting For Control Of Glossina Fuscipes Fuscipes, Johan Esterhuizen, Basilio Njiru, Glyn A. Vale, Michael J. Lehane, Stephen J. Torr

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Control of tsetse flies using insecticide-treated targets is often hampered by vegetation re-growth and encroachment which obscures a target and renders it less effective. Potentially this is of particular concern for the newly developed small targets (0.25 high × 0.5 m wide) which show promise for cost-efficient control of Palpalis group tsetse flies. Consequently the performance of a small target was investigated for Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in Kenya, when the target was obscured following the placement of vegetation to simulate various degrees of natural bush encroachment. Catches decreased significantly only when the target was obscured by more than 80%. Even …