Entomology Commons^™

Compositions And Methods For Synergistic Manipulation Of Plant And Insect Defenses, Graham Moores, Georgina Bingham

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

This invention relates to the control of plant pests, such as aphid and whitefly by treating plants with a compound which inhibits the plant pests ability to overcome plant defense responses, such as piperonyl butoxide or propyl gallate, in combination with a compound which activates plant defense responses, such as cis-Jasmone or beta-aminobutyric acid.

Doublesex Target Genes In The Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium Castaneum, Jayendra Nath Shukla, Subba Reddy Palli

Entomology Faculty Publications

Sex determination cascade in insects terminates with the production of sex-specific protein, Doublesex (Dsx). We identified the dsx homolog (Tcdsx) in Tribolium castaneum. The pre-mRNA of Tcdsx is sex-specifically spliced into three female (Tcdsxf1, Tcdsxf2 and Tcdsxf3) and one male-specific (Tcdsxm) isoforms. Cis-regulatory elements potentially involved in sex-specific splicing of the Tcdsx pre-mRNA were identified in the female-specific exon and the adjoining intronic sequences. All the three female-specific TcDsx proteins share common OD1 and OD2 domains and differ in their C-terminal sequences. Knockdown of Tcdsx resulted in a reduction in the oocyte development, egg production and hatching of eggs laid. …

Reactive Oxygen Species Production And Brugia Pahangi Survivorship In Aedes Polynesiensis With Artificial Wolbachia Infection Types, Elizabeth S. Andrews, Philip R. Crain, Yuqing Fu, Daniel K. Howe, Stephen L. Dobson

Entomology Faculty Publications

Heterologous transinfection with the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia has been shown previously to induce pathogen interference phenotypes in mosquito hosts. Here we examine an artificially infected strain of Aedes polynesiensis, the primary vector of Wuchereria bancrofti, which is the causative agent of Lymphatic filariasis (LF) throughout much of the South Pacific. Embryonic microinjection was used to transfer the wAlbB infection from Aedes albopictus into an aposymbiotic strain of Ae. polynesiensis. The resulting strain (designated "MTB") experiences a stable artificial infection with high maternal inheritance. Reciprocal crosses of MTB with naturally infected wild-type Ae. polynesiensis demonstrate strong bidirectional incompatibility. Levels of reactive …

Treatment Thresholds For Bollworm (Helicoverpa Zea) In Dual-Gene Bt Cotton, Kristen Carter

All Theses

Dual-gene Bt cotton has reduced the need for insecticide treatments for bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), compared with original single-gene Bt technology. Bollgard II¨ (Monsanto, St. Louis, MO) and WideStrike¨ (Dow AgroSciences, Indianapolis, IN), both produce the Cry1Ac protein and a second protein, Cry2Ab or Cry1F, respectively. These dual-gene Bt cottons provide enhanced control of lepidopteran pests, but remain less than 100% effective against bollworm, particularly when population pressure is high. Current recommended treatment thresholds for bollworm on cotton in South Carolina are as follows: treat with insecticides when three or more large larvae are found per 100 plants or when …

Investigations On Rangeland Grasshoppers: Ecoregion Level Distribution, Identification, Feeding Performance, And Vegetation Clipping, Muhammad Ullah

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Short-horned grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) were studied in the field as well as in laboratory for their distribution, identification, preferred food plants and feeding damage. These grasshoppers are important potential pests of rangelands where they compete for forage with cattle. Examination of the 20 most common grasshoppers by levels 3 and 4 of Nebraska ecoregions revealed specific habitat use and may be helpful in predicting hotspots. The relative abundance of all species analyzed showed at least some significant differences at ecoregion level 4 and two species showed single ecoregion that differed from all others at level 3.

Grasshoppers belonging to subfamilies …

Chemical Communication In The Honey Bee Scarab Pest Oplostomus Haroldi: Role Of (Z)-9-Pentacosene, Ayuka T. Fombong, Peter E.A. Teal, Richard T. Arbogast, Paul N. Ndegwa, Lucy W. Irungu, Baldwyn Torto

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Oplostomus haroldi Witte belongs to a unique genus of afro-tropical scarabs that have associations with honey bee colonies, from which they derive vital nutrients. Although the attributes of the honey bee nest impose barriers to communication among nest invaders, this beetle still is able to detect conspecific mates for reproduction. Here, we show, through behavioral studies, that cuticular lipids serve as mate discrimination cues in this beetle. We observed five steps during mating: arrestment, alignment, mounting, and copulation, and a post-copulatory stage, lasting ~40-70 % of the total mating duration, that suggested mate guarding. Chemical analysis identified the same nine …

Disentangling Dispersal, Vicariance And Adaptive Radiation Patterns: A Case Study Using Armyworms In The Pest Genus Spodoptera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Gael J. Kergoat, Dorothy P. Prowell, Bruno P. Le Ru, Andrew Mitchell, Pascaline Dumas, Anne Laure Clamens, Fabien L. Condamine, Jean François Silvain

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Thanks to the recent development of integrative approaches that combine dated phylogenies with models of biogeographic evolution, it is becoming more feasible to assess the roles of dispersal and vicariance in creating complex patterns of geographical distribution. However, the historical biogeography of taxa with good dispersal abilities, like birds or flying insects, still remains largely unknown because of the lack of complete phylogenies accompanied by robust estimates of divergence times. In this study, we investigate the evolution and historical biogeography of the globally distributed pest genus Spodoptera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) using complete taxon sampling and an extensive set of analyses. Through …

Semiochemicals From Herbivory Induced Cotton Plants Enhance The Foraging Behavior Of The Cotton Boll Weevil, Anthonomus Grandis, D. M. Magalhães, M. Borges, R. A. Laumann, E. R. Sujii, P. Mayon, J. C. Caulfield, C. A.O. Midega, Z. R. Khan, J. A. Pickett, M. A. Birkett, M. C. Blassioli-Moraes

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis, has been monitored through deployment of traps baited with aggregation pheromone components. However, field studies have shown that the number of insects caught in these traps is significantly reduced during cotton squaring, suggesting that volatiles produced by plants at this phenological stage may be involved in attraction. Here, we evaluated the chemical profile of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by undamaged or damaged cotton plants at different phenological stages, under different infestation conditions, and determined the attractiveness of these VOCs to adults of A. grandis. In addition, we investigated whether or not VOCs released by …

Species Richness And Nest Dispersion Of Some Tropical Meliponine Bees (Apidae: Meliponinae) In Six Habitat Types In The Kakamega Forest, Western Kenya, Kiatoko Nkoba, Suresh Kumar Raina, Elluid Muli, Klaus Mithofer, Jones Mueke

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

A study to determine the species richness and spatial distribution of five meliponine bee species in three different habitats in the Kakamega forest was undertaken for the first time. Two forest (indigenous and mixed indigenous) and two grassland (with Eucalyptus spp. trees and indigenous trees) types, along with homesteads (in the vicinity of mixed indigenous forest and indigenous forest, respectively), were surveyed. Line transect methods were used in the nest survey in each habitat. The highest number of species was recorded in the indigenous forest, while no nest was discovered in the grassland with Eucalyptus spp. trees. The mean number …

Farmers' Perceptions Of Cotton Pests And Their Management In Western Kenya, Charles A.O. Midega, Isaac M. Nyang'au, Jimmy Pittchar, Michael A. Birkett, John A. Pickett, Miguel Borges, Zeyaur R. Khan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production in western Kenya is severely affected by insect pests, resulting in poor yields in spite of the growing demand for the commodity. One of the key constraints to establishing effective pest management approaches for smallholder farmers is the lack of adequate information about farmers' knowledge, perceptions and practices in pest management. This study was therefore conducted to (1) evaluate farmers' knowledge and perceptions of cotton pests; (2) examine farmers' current practices in managing cotton pests; (3) identify pest management challenges and intervention opportunities in order to develop efficient integrated pest management (IPM) approaches. A total …

Community Structure And Ecological Specialization In Plant-Ant Interactions, Paola Barriga

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Positive associations among species have contributed to the maintenance of biodiversity. These interactions are typically studied in pairwise fashion where two interacting organisms are the focus. This dissertation uses network theory to analyze positive plant-ant associations in three Neotropical forests. Obligate plant-ant mutualisms were used, where plants host the ants in domatia and provide food bodies while the ants protect the plants and can feed them. A network approach was used to depict all obligate plant-ant interactions within a community. The main questions asked at the community level were: 1) Do network structure and levels of specialization change geographically and, …

Effects Of Associated Subcortical Beetles On Oviposition Behavior And Early-Stage Survival Of Sirex Nigricornis F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), Ace J. Lynn-Miller

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sirex (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) woodwasps develop within xylem of host conifers. Sirex females drill through the bark, phloem and into xylem tissues where they deposit eggs along with a symbiotic Amylostereum fungus. The presence of Amylostereum is necessary for successful development of Sirex immatures as the larvae are unable to derive adequate nutrition from xylem in the absence of the fungus. The Eurasian woodwasp, Sirex noctilio F., was discovered in northeastern North America in 2004. Sirex noctilio has caused significant economic damage in Pinus radiata D. Don plantations of the southern hemisphere, but is of little economic significance in its native …

Effects Of Felled Shortleaf Pine (Pinus Echinata Mill.) Moisture Loss On Oviposition Preferences And Survival Of Sirex Nigricornis F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), Jessica Hartshorn

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) utilizes pine as its host during larval development. Females drill through pine bark to deposit eggs, a symbiotic fungus, Amylostereum, and phytotoxic mucus into the tree. In their native range, these insects are not viewed as primary pests because they attack dead or dying trees. Over the last century, this woodwasp has been accidentally introduced into several countries in the southern hemisphere. Some regions have incurred millions of dollars in damage to large plantations of the widely planted pine species, radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don). Sirex noctilio was discovered …

The Biological Control Of Spotted Knapweed In The Southeastern United States, Carey R. Minteer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Spotted knapweed is an invasive, short-term-perennial plant that is native to Eurasia. It was accidentally introduced into North America in the early 1890's and has since spread across The United States and Canada. Spotted knapweed degrades rangelands and pastures by negatively impacting native plants, increasing soil surface runoff and stream sediment yields, and reducing soil infiltration. A biological control program for spotted knapweed using Larinus minutus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), was initiated in Arkansas in 2008. In this dissertation I described the releases of L. minutus and investigated the adult activity in the southeastern United States (Chapter 1), investigated the effects of …

Comparison Of Three Collection Techniques For Capture Of Coleoptera, With An Emphasis On Saproxylic Species, In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Usa, Michael L. Ferro, Matthew L. Gimmel, Kyle E. Harms, Christopher E. Carlton

Insecta Mundi

Collection methods and/or habitats sampled influence how many and which species are captured during entomological surveys. Here we compare Coleoptera catches among three survey activities, each using a single collection method, at the same study sites in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. Activities included: short-term flight intercept trapping (FITs); sifting/Berlese funneling of leaf litter and extremely decayed downed coarse woody debris; and using emergence chambers containing coarse woody debris of various decay classes. In total, 2472 adult beetle specimens, representing 217 lowest identifiable taxa within 164 genera and 42 families, were collected during the FIT survey. Each survey activity …

Characterization Of Head Transcriptome And Analysis Of Gene Expression Involved In Caste Differentiation And Aggression In Odontotermes Formosanus (Shiraki), Qiuying Huang, Pengdong Sun, Xuguo Zhou, Chaoliang Lei

Entomology Faculty Publications

Background

The subterranean termite Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) is a serious insect pest of trees and dams in China. To date, very little is known about genomic or transcriptomic data for caste differentiation and aggression in O. formosanus. Hence, studies on transcriptome and gene expression profiling are helpful to better understand molecular basis underlying caste differentiation and aggressive behavior in O. formosanus.

Methodology and Principal Findings

Using the Illumina sequencing, we obtained more than 57 million sequencing reads derived from the heads of O. formosanus. These reads were assembled into 116,885 unique sequences (mean size = 536 bp). …

Investigating The Tolerance Response Of Early Vegetative Stage Soybeans To Aphis Glycines Matsumura, Lia Da Silva Marchi

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The objectives of this research were to evaluate the impact of soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) feeding on the yield response of V1, V3, and R1 KS4202 soybean plants and examine the effect of soybean aphid feeding on peroxidase activity in V1 and V3 KS4202 plants. KS4202 plants infested during the early vegetative stages (VC, VE and V1) were identified as highly susceptible based upon plant damage and stunting of the plants. In contrast, V3, V4, and V5 stage KS4202 soybeans were classified as moderately resistant. In the yield response study, V1, V3 and R1 plants had aphid numbers …

Secondary Contact And Admixture Between Independently Invading Populations Of The Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera In Europe, Gérald Bermond, Marc Ciosi, Eric Lombaert, Aurélie Blin, Marco Boriani, Lorenzo Furlan, Stefan Toepfer, Thomas Guillemaud

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is one of the most destructive pests of corn in North America and is currently invading Europe. The two major invasive outbreaks of rootworm in Europe have occurred, in North-West Italy and in Central and South-Eastern Europe. These two outbreaks originated from independent introductions from North America. Secondary contact probably occurred in North Italy between these two outbreaks, in 2008. We used 13 microsatellite markers to conduct a population genetics study, to demonstrate that this geographic contact resulted in a zone of admixture in the Italian region of Veneto. We show …

Open Release Of Male Mosquitoes Infected With A Wolbachia Biopesticide: Field Performance And Infection Containment, Linda O'Connor, Catherine Plichart, Ayo Cheong Sang, Corey L. Brelsfoard, Hervé C. Bossin, Stephen L. Dobson

Entomology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a globally significant disease, with 1.3 billion persons in 83 countries at risk. A coordinated effort of administering annual macrofilaricidal prophylactics to the entire at-risk population has succeeded in impacting and eliminating LF transmission in multiple regions. However, some areas in the South Pacific are predicted to persist as transmission sites, due in part to the biology of the mosquito vector, which has led to a call for additional tools to augment drug treatments. Autocidal strategies against mosquitoes are resurging in the effort against invasive mosquitoes and vector borne disease, with examples that include field …

Wolbachia Strain Wpip Yields A Pattern Of Cytoplasmic Incompatibility Enhancing A Wolbachia-Based Suppression Strategy Against The Disease Vector Aedes Albopictus, Maurizio Calvitti, Riccardo Moretti, Amanda R. Skidmore, Stephen L. Dobson

Entomology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) is induced in nature by Wolbachia bacteria, resulting in conditional male sterility. Previous research demonstrated that the two Wolbachia strains (wAlbA and wAlbB) that naturally co-infect the disease vector mosquito Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) can be replaced with the wPip Wolbachia strain from Culex pipiens. Since Wolbachia-based vector control strategies depend upon the strength and consistency of CI, a greater understanding is needed on the CI relationships between wPip, wAlbA and wAlbB Wolbachia in Ae. albopictus.

METHODS: This work consisted of a collaborative series of crosses carried out in Italy and in US to study …

Hexapod Herald - Vol. 24, No. 5, November 2012

Hexapod Herald and Other Entomology Department Newsletters

Contents: Welcome -- Congratulations -- Grants -- Publications -- Faculty News - Meet an Off Campus Student -- Student News -- Calendar of Events

Nebline, November/December 2012

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: Co-Parenting For Successful Kids Online Class Has Great Response in First Year

Farm Views

Urban Agriculture

Food & Fitness

Home & Family Living

Horticulture

Environmental Focus

4-H & Youth

Community Focus

Extension Calendar

Nutrition Education Program

Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs

and other extension news and events

Cerambycidae In The Hawk Rise Sanctuary, Linden, Nj, Tiffany R. Mauro

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

The family Cerambycidae is a diverse group. These wood borers greatly impact the flora and fauna of the habitat in which they reside. One of the most destructive invasive cerambycids is the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Anoplophora glabripennis. It has devastated both the urban and forested landscapes in New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Ohio. It threatens the maple syrup industry, logging, and tourism tied to the fall foliage in New England. In New Jersey thousands of trees were removed and chemically treated due to the ALB infestation. The communities where this infestation occurred were greatly impacted as …

Sheep Skin Odor Improves Trap Captures Of Mosquito Vectors Of Rift Valley Fever, David P. Tchouassi, Rosemary Sang, Catherine L. Sole, Armanda D.S. Bastos, Klaus Mithoefer, Baldwyn Torto

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

In recent years, the East African region has seen an increase in arboviral diseases transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods. Effective surveillance to monitor and reduce incidence of these infections requires the use of appropriate vector sampling tools. Here, trapped skin volatiles on fur from sheep, a known preferred host of mosquito vectors of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), were used with a standard CDC light trap to improve catches of mosquito vectors. We tested the standard CDC light trap alone (L), and baited with (a) CO2 (LC), (b) animal volatiles (LF), and (c) CO2 plus animal volatiles (LCF) in two highly …

Dos Especies Nuevas De Acanthococcus Signoret (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) Encontrados En Asteraceae De La Argentina, Patricia González, María C. Granara De Willink

Insecta Mundi

Se describen e ilustran las hembras adultas de dos especies nuevas de Acanthococcus Signoret (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae), Acanthococcus julietae González y Granara de Willink sp. nov. y A. saltensis González y Granara de Willink sp. nov. y los estados ninfales de la última. Se presenta una clave para separar las especies de Eriococcidae reportados sobre Asteraceae de la Argentina.

Two new species of Acanthococcus Signoret (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Eriococcidae) on Asteraceae from Argentina. The adult females of two new species of Acanthococcus Signoret, Acanthococcus julietae González and Granara de Willink and A. saltensis González and Granara de Willink are described and …

Additions To The Genus Goera Stephens (Trichoptera, Goeridae) From Southeast Asia, Brian J. Armitage, Tatiana I. Arefina-Armitage

Insecta Mundi

Two new species of Goera, G. zwicki and G. nozakii (Trichoptera, Goeridae), from the Philippines and one new species, G. meyi, from Vietnam are described and illustrated herein. In addition, type specimens of G. disparilis Banks, G. octospina Banks, G. tagalica Banks, and G. uniformis Banks are illustrated. All species of Goera known from both the Philippines and Vietnam are listed.

The Cave Mouth Antlions Of Australia (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), Robert B. Miller, Lionel A. Stange

Insecta Mundi

Abstract. Larvae of thirty one species of antlions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) belonging to eleven genera live in the protection of cave mouths or large rock overhangs in Australia. New taxa proposed here include the following three new genera: Australeon, Newleon, Speleon. The following twelve new species are described: Froggattisca kakadu; Froggattisca rennerensis; Newleon fragilis; Speleon cavernicolus; Speleon pilliga; Speleon yallingup; Stenoleon xanthopsis; Xantholeon cavernicolus; Xantholeon kakadu; Xantholeon newi; Xantholeon pallens; Xantholeon pentlandensis. Two cave species are transferred into a new genus becoming new combinations …

Corrigenda To And Validation Of Ozophora Woodruffi Slater 2005 (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae), Robert E. Woodruff, James A. Slater (Dec'd)

Insecta Mundi

Important missing specimen data are provided for the original description of Ozophora woodruffi Slater (2005: 245) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae), along with additional comparative relationships. Because of the missing type information, according to ICZN rules (1999), the species became a nomen nudum. This paper now serves to validate the name, and authorship becomes Slater (2012).

A New Species Of Reticulitermes Holmgren, 1913 (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) From The Southeastern United States, Su Yee Lim, Brian T. Forschler

Insecta Mundi

Reticulitermes nelsonae, a new species of subterranean termite (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae) is described from Sapelo Island, Georgia, United States of America, with specimens also found in North Carolina and Florida. The adult and soldier castes are described and illustrated to distinguish R. nelsonae from the four described Reticulitermes spp. known to occur in the southeastern United States.

A Survey Of Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) Of Prince Of Wales Island, Alaska; Combining Morphological And Dna Barcode Identification Techniques, Jozef Slowik, Gergin A. Blagoev

Insecta Mundi

Surveys during the summer of 2004 and August 2009 on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, USA resulted in collection of 1064 adult spiders representing 84 species. Barcoding of spiders collected in 2009 resulted in DNA barcode data for 212 specimens representing 63 species. DNA barcode data were then used to facilitate the identification of otherwise unidentifiable juvenile and female specimens as well as to investigate phylogenetically four lineages with large branch lengths between specimens. Using morphological and DNA barcode identifications provided a more complete list of identified specimens than was possible using morphological data alone.