Entomology Commons^™

Impacts Of Insecticide Treatments On Platytetranychus Multidigituli (Acari:Tetranychidae) And Predatory Mites On Gleditsia Triacanthos Var. Inermis (Honeylocust), Adam Robert Witte

Open Access Theses

Spider mite outbreaks can occur in urban forests after insecticides are applied to control early season pests. We used thornless honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) and honeylocust spider mite (Platytetranychus multidigituli) as a model to investigate this phenomenon by applying both topical and systemic insecticides to treat early season pests of honeylocust. Impacts of these applications on populations of P. multidigituli and its associated predatory mites were assessed. Early season applications of bifenthrin caused outbreaks of honeylocust spider mite and drastically reduced phytoseiids but not the stigmaeid mite, Zetzellia mali. In contrast later season applications suppressed populations of P. multidigituli. …

Population Genetics And Ecology Of Regional Malaria Vectors In Amazonian Brazil, Sascha Naomi Mckeon

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Species complexes are common among anopheline mosquitoes, but only some members of complexes are disease vectors. Research involving overall patterns of divergence, phylogenetic relationships and population structure is partly driven by the operational need to be able to reliably distinguish component taxa that may be involved in malaria transmission. Anopheles triannulatus, An. nuneztovari and An. albitarsis are broadly distributed species complexes that contain local and regionally important malaria vectors, whose genetic diversity has been largely overshadowed by studies involving An. darlingi, the principal vector of Central and South America. I have analyzed the ecological suitability of habitats and geographical ranges …

Taxonomy And Systematics Of New Zealand Faronitae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), Jong-Seok Park

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The New Zealand Faronitae was revised at the species level, and a phylogenetic study was performed based on morphological and molecular data. Eight new genera and 143 new species were discovered. Three new genera, “Brounea”, “Ahnea” and “Pseudoexeirarthra” were designated based on the species originally described in the genus Sagola. Five new genera, “Aucklandea”, “Chandlerea”, “Nunnea”, “Leschenea” and “Pseudostenosagola” were designated by new species. Three known genera, Exeirarthra, Stenosagola and Sagola were also revised at species level. Eighty four names were synonymized, two in Exeirarthra, four in Stenosagola and 78 in Sagola. Lectotypes of seven species, Sagola terricola Broun, S. …

Putting Theory Into Practice: Predicting The Invasion And Stability Of Wolbachia Using Simulation Models And Empirical Studies, Philip R. Crain

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

A new strategy to fight mosquito-borne disease is based on infections of the maternally-transmitted, intracellular bacterium Wolbachia pipientis. Estimates predict that Wolbachia infects nearly half of all insect species, as well as other arthropods and some nematodes. Wolbachia manipulates the reproduction of its host to promote infection, most commonly causing a form of conditional sterility known as cytoplasmic incompatibility. Generally, Wolbachia infections are benign and do not inflict significant costs upon its host. However, studies demonstrate that some infections are associated with substantial costs to its host. These same infections can also induce pathogen interference and decrease vector competency …

Selective Utilization Of Microhabitats By Web-Building Spiders, Kelton D. Welch

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Natural enemies are members of complex ecological communities, and their ability to contribute to the biological control of pest organisms is strongly influenced by a convoluted network of ecological interactions with many other organisms within these communities. Researchers must develop an understanding of the mechanisms that shape trophic webs to predict and promote top-down effects of predators. The behavior of predators can have a strong influence on their potential as biological control agents.

Web-building spiders are a useful example organism for the study of natural enemy behavior because of the experimentally tractable nature of their foraging behavior. Specifically, patterns in …

An Assessment Of The Invasive Poison Hemlock And Its Insect Associates In Kentucky, Christine D. Allen

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum (Apiaceae), is an invasive plant in North America with a unique toxic chemistry. Previous research on this plant has focused on identifying herbivores as potential biological control agents or describing the toxic plant alkaloids. However, none have examined the role of higher trophic levels in the food web surrounding poison hemlock. Generalist predators and food web interactions are an important component of studies investigating invasion effects, as plant or animal introductions can alter ecosystem functioning. In this study, predators in poison hemlock were sampled at the foliar and epigeal levels, resulting in 956 Carabidae and 321 …

Enhancing Beneficial Insect Biodiversity And Biological Control In Turf: Mowing Height, Naturalized Roughs, And Operation Pollinator, Emily Dobbs

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

The goal of this study was to evaluate several sustainable turf maintenance techniques for their potential to increase beneficial insect populations, which could then provide ecosystem services including pest suppression and pollination. The three techniques in question were 1) raising mowing height in commercial and residential lawns, 2) establishing naturalized roughs on golf courses, and 3) creating pollinator refuges on golf courses through the program Operation Pollinator. We found that raising mowing heights did increase populations of some predators such as spiders and staphylinids, but did not increase predation, which was ubiquitously high because ant populations were unaffected by mowing …

Endosymbiotic Prevalence And Reproductive Manipulation Of The Spider Mermessus Fradeorum, Meghan M. Curry

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Spiders are host to a plethora of heritable endosymbiotic bacteria. Broad-taxa screening studies indicate that endosymbionts are particularly common among spiders, however, little is known about how these bacteria affect their spider hosts. In insects these bacteria ensure vertical transmission by either conveying a benefit to the host or manipulating host reproduction to eliminate males that serve as evolutionary dead-ends for maternally-inherited bacteria. Common modes of reproductive manipulation include parthenogenesis, male killing, feminization, and cytoplasmic incompatibility. Screening an assemblage of Mermessus genus spiders, I detected a high frequency and diversity of endosymbiont infection. Within a single species, M. fradeorum …

Development Of Integrated Pest Management For Sugarcane Borer, Diatraea Saccharalis In Rice, Jaspreet Kaur Sidhu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Rice is grown over an area of approximately 500,000 acres in Louisiana. The lepidopteran stem borer complex attacking rice in the southern U.S includes stalk borer Chilo plejadellus Zincken, sugarcane borer (SCB) Diatraea saccharalis (F.) and Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini Dyar. With the increasing impact of stem borers in Louisiana, an urgent need exists to develop strategies for management. Currently, no IPM program is in place for stem borers in Louisiana rice and research has been initiated to develop an IPM program for these pests. The first objective of this research was focused on host plant resistance. For this …

A Survey Of Chemical Elicitors And Their Effectiveness As Promoters Of Plant Defense Against Herbivory By Spodoptera Frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), John Gordy

LSU Master's Theses

Insect herbivores can induce a range of plant defenses. Signal pathways can be activated that result in the production of secondary metabolites. Many of these compounds can reduce insect fitness, deter feeding, and attract beneficial insects. Additionally, organic and inorganic chemicals applied as a foliar spray or soil drench can activate these plant responses. Azelaic acid, benzothiadiazole (BTH), gibberellic acid (GA3), harpin, and jasmonic acid (JA) are thought to mediate plant response to pathogens and herbivores. The effects of these elicitors on the induction of plant defenses were determined by measuring the weight gain of fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda …

Effects Of Caste On The Constitutive And Induced Expression Of Genes Associated With Immunity And Detoxification In Formosan Subterranean Termites, Dawn M. Simms

LSU Master's Theses

Simms, Dawn M., B.S., Louisiana State University, 1997 Master of Science, Spring Commencement, 2013 Major: Entomology Effects of Caste on the Constitutive and Induced Expression of Genes Associated with Immunity and Detoxification in Formosan Subterranean Termites Thesis directed by Associate Professor Claudia Husseneder Pages in thesis, 74. Words in abstract, 268. ABSTRACT Formosan subterranean termites (FSTs) live in dense populations and nest conditions that are conducive to microbial growth. Furthermore, termites are exposed to potential toxic substances in the soil and in their lignocellulose diet. These characteristics, in combination with the specialized caste system of FSTs, make this termite a …

Genus Reuteria (Hemiptera: Miridae) With Five Species New For Arkansas, U.S.A., Stephen W. Chordas Iii, C. Renn Tumlison, K. Benjamin

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Distribution, Conservation And Current Status Of Three Endemic Heterosternuta (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae) In Arkansas, S. D. Longing, P. A. Bacon, George L. Harp

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Arkansas Lepidoptera Survey: A Preliminary Check List Of Arkansas Species, E. C. Lovely, J. K. Ettman

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The mission of the Arkansas Lepidoptera Survey is to enhance the fundamental knowledge of butterflies, skippers, and moths in Arkansas. To achieve this mission, its objectives include developing a reference collection of Arkansas Lepidoptera and maintaining a current check list of present, historical and accidental species in Arkansas. The following list includes 1360 species representing 57 families. It was compiled from original field collecting, literature review, and analysis of museum specimens. The Arkansas Lepidoptera Survey established a reference collection of Arkansas butterflies, skippers and moths located in McEver Hall on the Arkansas Tech University campus. This collection currently contains 567 …

Responses Of Amblyomma Americanum And Dermacentor Variabilis To Odorants That Attract Haematophagous Insects, A. L. Carr, R. M. Roe, C. Arellano, D. E. Sonenshine, C. Schal, C. S. Apperson

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Carbon dioxide (CO₂), 1-octen-3-ol, acetone, ammonium hydroxide, L-lactic-acid, dimethyl trisulphide and isobutyric acid were tested as attractants for two tick species, Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae), in doseresponse bioassays using Y-tube olfactometers. Only CO₂, acetone, 1-octen-3-ol and ammonium hydroxide elicited significant preferences from adult A. americanum, and only CO₂ was attractive to adult D. variabilis. Acetone, 1-octen-3-ol and ammonium hydroxide were separately evaluated at three doses against CO₂ (from dry ice) at a field site supporting a natural population of A. americanum nymphs and adults. Carbon dioxide consistently attracted the …

Unlinked Genetic Loci Control The Reduced Transcription Of Aminopeptidase N 1 And 3 In The European Corn Borer And Determine Tolerance To Bacillus Thuringiensis Cry1ab Toxin, Brad S. Coates, Douglas V. Sumerford, Blair Siegfried, Richard L. Hellmich, Craig A. Abel

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Transgenic expression of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crystalline (Cry) toxins by crop plants result in reduced insect feeding damage, but sustainability is threatened by the development of resistance traits in target insect populations. We investigated Bt toxin resistance trait in a laboratory colony of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, selected for increased survival when exposed to Cry1Ab and correlated survival on Cry1Ab toxin with a constitutive~146.2 ± 17.3-fold reduction in midgut aminopeptidase N1 (apn1) transcript levels. A 7.1 ± 1.9-fold reduction apn3 transcript level was also correlated with Cry1Ab resistance. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping identified a single major …

Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Communities And Water Quality At Buffered And Non-Buffered Wetland Sites On Federal Waterfowl Production Areas In The Rainwater Basin, Nebraska, John R. Riens, Matt S. Schwarz, Fatima Mustafa, William Wyatt Hoback

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Nebraska’s Rainwater Basin has an abundance of natural wetlands and is a focal point in the annual migration corridor used by millions of waterfowl and shorebirds. However, these wetlands are in a landscape dominated by agriculture and as a result, siltation and poor water quality are continual problems. We evaluated twelve wetland sites on federally managed Waterfowl Protection Areas from 2007 – 2009 for water quality, sediment quality, andmacroinvertebrate diversity. Six of the sites received agricultural runoff directly via culverts and drainage ditches (non-buffered sites) and six siteswere protected from agricultural runoff by a vegetated buffer (buffered sites). Mean total …

Towards The Elements Of Successful Insect Rnai, Jeffrey G. Scott, Kristin Michel, L. Bartholomay, Blair Siegfried, Wayne B. Hunter, Guy Smagghe, Kun Yan Zhu, Angela E. Douglas

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

RNA interference (RNAi), the sequence-specific suppression of gene expression, offers great opportunities for insect science, especially to analyze gene function, manage pest populations, and reduce disease pathogens. The accumulating body of literature on insect RNAi has revealed that the efficiency of RNAi varies between different species, the mode of RNAi delivery, and the genes being targeted. There is also variation in the duration of transcript suppression. At present, we have a limited capacity to predict the ideal experimental strategy for RNAi of a particular gene/insect because of our incomplete understanding of whether and how the RNAi signal is amplified and …

Immature Stages Of Spodoptera Albula (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Developmental Parameters And Host Plants, Débora G. Montezano, Alexandre Specht, Tarciso M. Bortolin, Edegar Fronza, Daniel Ricardo Sosa-Gómez, Vânia F. Roque-Specht, Patricia Pezzi, Priscila C. Luz, Neiva M. Barros

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

This study aimed to detail the temporal and morphological parameters of the immature stages of Spodoptera albula (Walker 1857) under controlled conditions (25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% RH and 14 hour photophase) and to gather information about their larval host plants. For this purpose, a new rearing method and artificial diet was employed and validated. The viability of the egg, larval, pupal and pre-pupal stages was 94.54, 97.33, 93.84 and 92.34%, respectively. The average duration of the egg, larval, pupal and pre-pupal stages was 4.14, 16.37, 1.69, and 9.34 days, respectively. During the larval stage, 80.85% of females and …

Current Known Range Of The Platte River Caddisfly, Ironoquia Plattensis, And Genetic Variability Among Populations From Three Nebraska Rivers, Lindsay A. Vivian, Michael Cavallaro, Kate Kneeland, Erica Lindroth, W. Wyatt Hoback, Kerri M. Farnsworth-Hoback, Robert R. Harms, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The Platte River caddisfly (Ironoquia plattensis Alexander and Whiles 2000) was recently described from a warm-water slough along the Platte River in central Nebraska and was considered abundant at the type locality. Surveys of 48 sites in 1999 and 2004 found eight additional sites with this species on the Platte River. The caddisfly was not found at the type locality in 2004 and one additional site in 2007, presumably because of drought conditions. Because of its apparent rarity and decline, the Platte River caddisfly is a Tier I species in Nebraska. For this project, surveys for the caddisfly were …

Role Of A Gamma-Aminobutryic Acid (Gaba) Receptor Mutation In The Evolution And Spread Of Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera Resistance To Cyclodiene Insecticides, H. Wang, B. S. Coates, H. Chen, T. W. Sappington, T. Guillemaud, B. D. Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is a damaging pest of cultivated corn that was controlled by applications of cyclodiene insecticides from the late 1940s until resistance evolved ~10 years later. Range expansion from the western plains into eastern USA coincides with resistance development. An alanine to serine amino acid substitution within the Rdl subunit of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor confers resistance to cyclodiene insecticides in many species. We found that the nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) G/T at the GABA receptor cDNA position 838 (G/T⁸³⁸) of D. v. virgifera resulted in the alanine to …

Inheritance Of Cry1f Resistance, Crossresistance And Frequency Of Resistant Alleles In Spodoptera Frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), A. M. Vélez, T. A. Spencer, A. P. Alves, D. Moellenbeck, R. L. Meagher, H. Chirakkal, B. D. Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Transgenic maize, Zea maize L., expressing the Cry1F protein from Bacillus thuringiensis has been registered for Spodoptera frugiperda ( J. E. Smith) control since 2003. Unexpected damage to Cry1F maize was reported in 2006 in Puerto Rico and Cry1F resistance in S. frugiperda was documented. The inheritance of Cry1F resistance was characterized in a S. frugiperda resistant strain originating from Puerto Rico, which displayed >289-fold resistance to purified Cry1F. Concentration–response bioassays of reciprocal crosses of resistant and susceptible parental populations indicated that resistance is recessive and autosomal. Bioassays of the backcross of the F1 generation crossed with the resistant parental …

Colony Genetic Structure Of Reticulitermes Flavipes (Kollar) From Natural Populations In Nebraska, Abdul Hafiz Ab Majid, Shripat T. Kamble, Nicholas J. Miller

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Genetic markers are a powerful tool to investigate the breeding structure and population genetics of subterranean termites. In this study, 1 0 - 2 0 subterranean termite workers, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) were collected from colonies at 8 sites, separated by at least 200 m. Ten workers from each site were genotyped at 7 microsatellite loci. The data revealed that all 7 microsatellites were polymorphic with up to 6 alleles per locus. The frequency of most the common allele ranged from 0.11 - 0.60. Observed patterns of genetic variation within colonies revealed that most were the result of fusions of multiple …

Genetic Diversity And Relatedness Of The Mangrove Rhizophora Mangle L. (Rhizophoraceae) Using Amplified Fragment Polymorphism (Aflp) Among Locations In Florida, Usa And The Caribbean, M. Albrecht, K. M. Kneeland, E. Lindroth, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Rhizophora mangle L. is a widespread mangrove species in theWestern Hemisphere. Mangrove habitat loss and their importance to coastal and reef ecosystems make greater understanding of their genetic structure useful for conservation and management. An amplified fragment polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was performed on samples from Florida and the Caribbean to discover the genetic structure present. R. mangle had variable genetic diversity not related to latitude; P ranged 7 %–92 %. Some other factor, perhaps human impact, has caused low genetic diversity in some populations. Across Florida R. mangle populations varied in genetic diversity with less diversity (G_st=0.195) and …

Dna Barcode Of Thief Ant Complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Ralph B. Narain, Shripat T. Kamble, Thomas O. Powers, Timothy S. Harris

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The thief ant, Solenopsis molesta (Say), a common nuisance species found throughout the United States is genetically related to red imported fire ants, S. invicta Buren. Therefore, its identification at the molecular level is very important. The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) barcoding, a recent technique was used to identify thief ant complex at species and subspecies levels using a short DNA sequence from the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) mitochondrial region. The DNA from thief ants collected from 9 states was extracted using Qiagen's Gentra PUREGENE® DNA Isolation Kit. The polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were run on the extracted DNA to …

Dietary Supplementation With Pollen Enhances Survival And Collembola Boosts Fitness Of A Web-Building Spider, Jason M. Schmidt, Julie A. Peterson, Jonathan Lundgren, James D. Harwood

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Uncertainties exist about the value of non-prey food for predators that are commonly food-limited, and the dietary conditions where non-prey foods are beneficial for carnivorous species. Prior studies show that large quantities of pollen grains are intercepted in the webs of web-building spiders. We examined the nutritional benefits of pollen as a non-prey food for a common ground-dwelling, sheet web-building spider, Mermessus fradeorum (Berland) (Araneae: Linyphiidae). These predators were provided diets of prey or no prey in the presence and absence of pollen. Treatment effects were quantified by measuring predator body nutrient composition, survival, body size, and offspring production. Per …

Bacillus Thuringiensis: Transgenic Crops, Julie A. Peterson, John J. Obrycki, James D. Harwood

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops, genetically modified to express insecticidal toxins that target key pests of corn, cotton, rice, potato, and other crops, have been rapidly adopted and have become dominant fixtures in agroecosystems throughout the world. Due to the constitutive nature of Bt toxin expression, insecticidal proteins may be found in nearly all plant tissues, presenting multiple sources for Bt toxins to enter the environment, thus creating complex direct and indirect pathways for non-target organisms to be exposed to insecticidal proteins. The environmental impacts of Bt crops have been widely debated, although both benefits and risks do exist. Benefits of …

Taxonomy And Biogeography Of The New Caledonian Species Of Xylopia L. (Annonaceae), David M. Johnson, Jérôme Munzinger, Julie A. Peterson, Nancy A. Murray

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

A taxonomic review of the New Caledonian representatives of the pantropical tree genus Xylopia L. (Annonaceae) is presented based on museum study of 157 collections. Distinctions are clarified among the four endemic species, two of them previously undescribed in flower and two others described in the literature from only the type collections. A key and species descriptions are presented. Xylopia pancheri Baill., the most frequently collected species, occurs in maquis environments with ultramafic rocks in the central and southern regions of the island, as well as on the Ile des Pins. Xylopia vieillardii Baill. is widespread in low elevation humid …

Non Target Effect Of Cry1 Ab And Cry Ab X Cry3 Bb1 Bt Transgenic Maize On Orius Insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) Abundance, Santiago A. Palizada, Difabachew K. Belay, Bamphitlhi Tiroesele, Fatima Mustafa, Muhammad Ullah, Thomas Hunt, Jaime Molina-Ochoa, S. R. Skoda, Pete L. Clark, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Non-target effects of Cry1Ab x CP4 EPSPS and Cry1Ab+Cry3Bb1×CP4 EPSPS Bt transgenic new maize hybrids on insidious flower bugs [Orius insidiosus (Say)] was studied in Nebraska (Mead, C lay Center, and Concord) during 2007 and 2008. The Bt effect was compared to CP4 EPSPS maize (isoline), conventional maize, and insecticide applications of permethrin (Pounce® 1.5G) and bifenthrin (Capture® 2EC) to control first and second generations of Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), respectively. Yellow sticky cards, visual observations, and destructive samplings were used to evaluate O. insidiosus abundance. The yellow sticky card data in 2007 showed that O. insidiosus abundance was lower …

Inter- And Intraspecific Identification Of The Screwworm, Cochliomyia Hominivorax, Using Random Amplified Polymorphic Dna-Polymerase Chain Reaction, Steven R. Skoda, James L. Figarola, Saowaluck Pornkulwat, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), is one of the most devastating arthropod pests of livestock in the Western Hemisphere. Early instars are very difficult to distinguish morphologically from several closely related blow fly species. Random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) markers were developed for identifying C. hominivorax from other wound inhabiting species. Forty decameric primers were screened; nine showed clear reproducible RAPD profiles suitable for distinguishing all life stages of C. hominivorax from 7 other species, including C. macellaria (Fabricius). The results from RAPD-PCR with field-collected samples of unknown first instars agreed with morphological identification that the …