Entomology Commons^™

Posters As An Effective Assessment Tool For A Capstone Course, David Gosselin, Doug Golick

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

A rubric was developed to assess student posters as a mechanism to evaluate learning outcomes for a senior capstone course. The analytic rubric allows for the efficient and systematic collection of data from posters by students who worked across a variety of disciplines including the physical, biological, Earth sciences, social science, and the humanities. The rubric effectively addressed a fundamental assumption and requirement put forth during rubric development, that is, it needs to be relatively easy to use without training while at the same time producing consistent results across evaluators. The overall Chronbach’s alpha of 0.80 across semesters indicates acceptable …

Integrated Crop–Livestock Systems In Paddy Fields: New Strategies For Flooded Rice Nutrition, Luiz Gustavo De O. Denardin, Amanda P. Martins, Felipe De C. Carmona, Murilo G. Veloso, Gabriela I. Carmona, Paulo César De F. Carvalho, Ibanor Anghinoni

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLSs) appear as a good alternative to increase nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) through the improvement in nutrient cycling and soil chemical attributes in paddy fields. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of an ICLS on soil chemical attributes and on the fertilization requirement of N, P, and K by flooded rice in the Brazilian subtropical region. Nutritional status, yield, and NUE of flooded rice were evaluated by fertilization trials through rice response to different fertilization rates of N, P, and K. Soil chemical attributes were evaluated at …

Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Virus 2, A Novel Small Rna Virus Discovered From Southern Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi Barber (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Sijun Liu, Arnubio Valencia-Jiménez, Molly Darlington, Ana M. Vélez, Bryony C. Bonning

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The genome of Diabrotica undecimpunctata virus 2 (DuV2), a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus identified from the southern corn root- worm transcriptome, comprises 5,313 nucleotides, including a short poly(A) tail. The two open reading frames encode a nonstructural polyprotein (p156) and a putative capsid protein (p25).

An Updated Genetic Marker For Detection Of Lake Sinai Virus And Metagenetic Applications, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, Judy Wu-Smart, Tugce Olgun, Autumn H. Smart, Clint R.V. Otto, Dawn Lopez, Jay D. Evans, Robert Cornman

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Background. Lake Sinai Viruses (LSV) are common RNA viruses of honey bees (Apis mellifera) that frequently reach high abundance but are not linked to overt disease. LSVs are genetically heterogeneous and collectively widespread, but despite frequent detection in surveys, the ecological and geographic factors structuring their distribution in A. mellifera are not understood. Even less is known about their distribution in other species. Better understanding of LSV prevalence and ecology have been hampered by high sequence diversity within the LSV clade.

Methods. Here we report a new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that is compatible with currently known lineages with …

Enhanced Metabolism And Selection Of Pyrethroid-Resistant Western Corn Rootworms (Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera Leconte), Dariane Souza, Arnubio V. Jiménez, Gautam Sarath, Lance J. Meinke, Nicholas J. Miller, Blair D. Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Western corn rootworm (WCR) pyrethroid resistance has been previously reported in the United States (US) western Corn Belt, and cross-resistance and synergism studies suggested that both target site insensitivity and enhanced metabolism may be conferring WCR resistance to pyrethroids. The present study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms of WCR pyrethroid resistance and to estimate the heritability of the resistance trait. Biochemical assays using model substrates and spectrophotometry revealed 2–4-fold higher activity of P450s and esterases in pyrethroid-resistant WCR populations, whereas the biological activity of glutathione S-trans- ferase was similar between populations tested. No mutation in the voltage-gated sodium channel …

Differential Defense Responses Of Upland And Lowland Switchgrass Cultivars To A Cereal Aphid Pest, Lise Pingault, Nathan A. Palmer, Kyle G. Koch, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Jeff Bradshaw, Javier Seravalli, Paul G. Twigg, Joe Louis, Gautam Sarath

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Yellow sugarcane aphid (YSA) (Sipha flava, Forbes) is a damaging pest on many grasses. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a perennial C4 grass, has been selected as a bioenergy feedstock because of its perceived resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses. Aphid infestation on switchgrass has the potential to reduce the yields and biomass quantity. Here, the global defense response of switchgrass cultivars Summer and Kanlow to YSA feeding was analyzed by RNA-seq and metabolite analysis at 5, 10, and 15 days after infestation. Genes upregulated by infestation were more common in both cultivars compared to downregulated genes. In total, a higher …

A Perspective On Changes Across The U.S. Corn Belt, Eric D. Hunt, Hannah E. Birge, Christopher R. Laingen, Mark A. Licht, William J. Baule, Tom Connor

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Corn (Zea mays L.) has long been a staple crop of the Corn Belt of the U.S., which today extends latitudinally from central Nebraska to central Ohio and longitudinally from northeast Kansas to the eastern Dakotas and western Minnesota. However, the production of corn in the Corn Belt has been transformed in both magnitude and spatial extent since the 1960s. Previous research has shown that there has been an overall increase in the number of acres planted to corn across the Corn Belt (e.g. Johnston 2014, Lark et al 2015), with a pronounced increase in the eastern Dakotas and …

Molecular Gut-Content Analysis Of Adult Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Provides No Evidence Of Predation Of Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) In A Nebraska Corn Agroecosystem, Camila Oliveira-Hofman, Vinícius S. Victor, Lance Meinke, Julie A. Peterson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

This study was conducted to characterize the ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) community in Nebraska continuous cornfields and investigate the potential for predation of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, a key rootfeeding insect pest that is an annual management challenge in this system. Seven collection dates were conducted at five commercial cornfields in west central Nebraska during the growing season of 2014. In each field, carabids were sampled using five 24-h pitfall traps. Carabid specimens were placed in 95% ethanol in the field and stored at –20 °C to preserve DNA. After identification to the species level, DNA …

Vertical‑Surface Navigation In The Neotropical Whip Spider Paraphrynus Laevifrons (Arachnida: Amblypygi), Patrick Casto, Daniel D. Wiegmann, Vincent J. Coppola, Daniele Nardi, Eileen A. Hebets, Verner P. Bingman

Eileen Hebets Publications

Studies on whip spider navigation have focused on their ability to locate goal locations in the horizontal plane (e.g., when moving along the ground). However, many species of tropical whip spiders reside and move along surfaces in the vertical plane (e.g., trees). Under controlled laboratory conditions, the current study investigated the ability of the tropical whip spider, Paraphrynus laevifrons, to return to a home shelter on a vertical surface in the presence of numerous, similar, and competing refuge sites, as well as the distribution of navigational errors in the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal plane. We also assessed the relative …

Post-Eclosion Temperature Effects On Insect Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profiles, Subhash Rajpurohit, Vladimír Vrkoslav, Robert Hanus, Allen G. Gibbs, Josef Cvačka, Paul S. Schmidt

Life Sciences Faculty Research

© 2020 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The insect cuticle is the interface between internal homeostasis and the often harsh external environment. Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are key constituents of this hard cuticle and are associated with a variety of functions including stress response and communication. CHC production and deposition on the insect cuticle vary among natural populations and are affected by developmental temperature; however, little is known about CHC plasticity in response to the environment experienced following eclosion, during which time the insect cuticle undergoes several crucial changes. We targeted this crucial to …

More Than Meets The Eye: A Taxonomic Revision Of The Nearctic Species In The Eye-Gnat Genus Amiota Loew (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Lance E. Jones

Dissertations and Theses

Thorough biotic inventories are still needed even in families as seemingly well-studied as fruit flies (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Drosophilidae have had an outsize effect on the history of biology because of their pivotal role in the study of genetics, development, and evolution. Even with more than a century of intensive study, large gaps remain in our understanding of diversity in this fly family, including well-studied areas such as North America. This thesis presents a taxonomic revision of the Nearctic species of the genus Amiota Loew. Twenty-three species are identified as being new to science for publication at a later date. This …

Diet Of Spalangia Cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), A Parasitoid Of Filth Flies, Elizabeth Taylor

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Parasitoid wasps are often part of the rich invertebrate communities in decaying organic matter where their hosts are found. However, little is known about what adults of these parasitoids eat. Most parasitoid wasps parasitize herbaceous insects, so nectar from flowers often is readily available. The present study examined feeding by adult Spalangia cameroni Perkins (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a species that burrows through manure, where it finds and parasitizes pupae of filth flies. Feeding on host fluids occurs in many parasitoid wasps, including S. cameroni. In the laboratory, these wasps also readily feed on honey or a sucrose solution, which increases their …

Effects Of Insect Opportunists On A Four-Level Trophobiotic System Involving Nectar-Producing Galls Of The Cynipid Wasp Disholcaspis Quercusmamma (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), Stephanie L. Smith

Masters Theses

The induction of plant galls is considered an adaptive life history trait found in many insect groups. The formation of galls provides several advantages to the gall maker, such as enhanced nutrition, favorable microclimate, and protection from natural enemies, including parasitoids, inquilines, and predators. Order Hymenoptera has many gall-making species, belonging to the gall wasp family Cynipidae. As an extended phenotype of the gall makers, some galls exhibit very sophisticated adaptive mechanisms involving multilevel species interactions. In particular, the oak galls of the Cynipid species Disholcaspis quercusmamma, found in much of Illinois, produce a palatable, sugary nectar-like secretion, attracting …

Association Of Landfall Atlantic Tropical Storms And Human Cases Of Locally Acquired West Nile Virus Infection In Florida, Jackson G. Mosley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

West Nile virus (WNv) is the most widely distributed flavivirus and considered a vector-borne pathogen of global significance. During the study period from 2002 to 2018, WNv had the highest incidence of locally acquired human cases when compared to any other mosquito borne illness in Florida with 373 cases documented during the study period. The purpose of the study is to determine if there is an association between Florida landfall tropical storms (LTS) and the incidence of locally acquired human WNv cases from 2002 through 2018. The study used a retrospective ecological study design guided by the epidemiological triad model …

Prevalence Of Dirofilaria Immitis In Southern California’S Invasive Aedes Species And Native Culiseta Incidens, Zaina Chaban

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Dirofilaria immitis is a mosquito-borne parasite that causes dog heartworm disease, effecting over 100,000 dogs in the United States each year (CAPC - Parasite Prevalence Maps., 2021). Increased disease reports are commonly attributed to an increase in the local mosquito vector population. Since 2013, dog heartworm disease cases have increased by approximately 21% in the United States as reported by the American Heartworm Society. During the same time, invasive mosquitoes belonging to the genus Aedes have been found in Southern California and spread to other areas. The purpose of our research was to determine the prevalence of Dirofilaria …

Effects Of Abiotic Factors On Host Plant Quality And Community Structure Of The Parasitoid Guild That Attacks Asphondylia Borrichiae Midges On Borrichia Frutescens, Kevin Orta

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Asphondylia borrichiae is a gall-inducing insect that attacks its ancestral host plant Borrichia frutescens: through ovipositional mistakes it has acquired two additional hosts, Iva frutescens and Iva imbricata. Oviposition results in the formation of a gall, a tumor-like growth of plant tissue within which immature A. borrichiae develop. During development, immature A. borrichiae, are attacked by a suite of four generalist hymenopteran parasitoids. Of these, Galeopsomyia haemon and Torymus umbilicatus are facultative hyperparasitoids, more common and exhibit non-random attack patterns. In the present study, soil quality was manipulated through bi-weekly application of either ammonium nitrate fertilizer or sodium …

Public Health Entomology Certificate Preparation Course For Esa, Sylvia Kenmuir

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

My Master’s Project was to develop a preparation course for the Entomological Society of America (ESA) Public Health Entomology (PHE) Certificate. This is a new program for ESA. Unlike the Board Certified Entomologist (BCE) or Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) programs which are certifications, the PHE is a standalone certificate in the area of public health. This certificate seeks to identify people who want to further demonstrate public health as an area of expertise. This course will be available to any qualified and approved person seeking to offer preparation course to assist people in preparing for the exam. Currently there is …

Role Of Egg-Laying Behavior, Virulence And Local Adaptation In A Parasitoid's Chances Of Reproducing In A New Host, R. Benoist, S. Paquet, F. Decourcelle, J. Guez, R. Jeannette, P. A. Calatayud, B. Le Ru, F. Mougel, L. Kaiser

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Understanding the ability of parasitoid insects to succeed in new host populations is a relevant question for biological control and adaptive mechanisms. Cotesia typhae is an African parasitoid specialized on the moth Sesamiae nonagrioides, also called the Mediterranean corn borer. Two Kenyan strains of C. typhae differ in their virulence against a new host population from France. We explored behavioral and physiological hypotheses about this differentiation. Cotesia genus belongs to a group of Hymenoptera in which females inject a domesticated virus in their host to overcome its resistance. Since viral particles are injected along with eggs and since the strain …

Population Genetics Of The Mediterranean Corn Borer (Sesamia Nonagrioides) Differs Between Wild And Cultivated Plants, Abdel Kader Naino Jika, B. Le Ru, C. Capdevielle-Dulac, F. Chardonnet, J. F. Silvain, L. Kaiser, S. Dupas

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The population genetic structure of crop pest populations gives information about their spatial ecology, which helps in designing management strategies. In this paper, we investigated the genetic structure of the Mediterranean Corn Borer (MCB), Sesamia nonagrioides Lefèbvre (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), one of the most important maize pests in the Mediterranean countries, using microsatellite markers for the first time in this species. Insects were collected in twenty-five locations in southwest and southeast France from cultivated and wild host plants (Zea mays, Sorghum halepense and Typha domingensis). Contrary to what has been reported so far in France, we found that MCB populations could …

Bee Diversity Of Three Appalachian Shale Barren Sites, Olivia C. Latham

Theses and Dissertations

Insect pollination is vital to ecosystem function. However, climate change, habitat loss, pesticides, and a variety of other anthropogenic sources are contributing to a decline in pollinator diversity. Fragile small ecosystems with a high composition of specialized plant species that rely on specific pollinators such as Appalachian shale barrens, are especially at risk of losing biodiversity. This study combines the use of active sweep net sampling of endemic shale barren forbs and passive trap methods over the course of a bloom season (April-August) in three barren sites to identify bee community populations and visitation relationships between pollinator species and endemic …

Morphology, Development And Reproduction Of Atractomorpha Acutipennis (Guérin-Méneville, 1844) (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae), Sévilor Kekeunou, Marcelle Mbadjoun-Nziké, Alain Christel Wandji, Steve Bernard Soh-Baleba, Alfiery Laurel Djomnang-Nkwala, Alain Simeu-Noutchom, Charly Oumarou-Ngoute, Philene Corine Aude Um-Nyobe, Linda Gaelle Guiadem-Simo, Patrick Ntonga Akono

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

For a better knowledge of Atractomorpha acutipennis bio-ecology and to facilitate its identification, we studied the morphology, development and reproduction of this grasshopper on Manihot esculenta under laboratory conditions. Five hundred and fifty-one first nymphal stages obtained in the laboratory were reared in cages. Some body parts allowed a clear identification of different nymphal instars. Post-embryonic development passed through six stages (males) and seven stages (females). Mean nymphal development time was 17.14 ± 0.62, 12.91 ± 0.62, 13.45 ± 0.69, 13.80 ± 0.68, 15.23 ± 0.55 days respectively in males nymphal instars 1 to 5 and 16.18 ± 0.54, 13.13 …

Changes In Chemical And Microbiological Quality Of Semi-Processed Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens L.) Larval Meal During Storage, E. Kamau, C. Mutungi, J. Kinyuru, S. Imathiu, S. Ekesi, S. Ekesi, D. Nakimbugwe, K. K.M. Fiaboe

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Edible insects are receiving attention as a protein source in the food and feed sector. However, successful commercialisation requires mass production matched with appropriate processing and storage techniques. The quality of dried and pulverised black soldier fly larvae stored in woven polypropylene (PP) sacks, polyethylene (PE) bags and plastic containers with screw lid (PL) in ambient and refrigerated environments was monitored over six months. Chemical indicators (oxidation, fatty acid profile), microbiological parameters (total viable counts, yeast and moulds, Enterobacteriaceae, presumptive coliforms, Salmonella) and colour change were examined. Temperature and relative humidity of the storage environments were monitored. In the ambient …

A Cross-Sectional Observational Study Investigating The Association Between Sedges (Swamp Grasses, Cyperaceae) And The Prevalence Of Immature Malaria Vectors In Aquatic Habitats Along The Shore Of Lake Victoria, Western Kenya, Getachew E. Bokore, Paul Ouma, Patrick O. Onyango, Tullu Bukhari, Ulrike Fillinger

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Strategies that involve manipulations of the odour-orientation of gravid malaria vectors could lead to novel attract-and-kill interventions. Recent work has highlighted the potential involvement of graminoid plants in luring vectors to oviposition sites. This study aimed to analyse the association between water-indicating graminoid plants (Cyperaceae, sedges), other abiotic and biotic factors and the presence and abundance of early instar Anopheles larvae in aquatic habitats as a proxy indicator for oviposition. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 110 aquatic habitats along the shores of Lake Victoria was done during the rainy season. Habitats were sampled for mosquito larvae using the sweep-net …

Diversity Of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda And Their Gut Bacterial Community In Kenya, Joseph Gichuhi, Subramanian Sevgan, Fathiya Khamis, Johnnie Van Den Berg, Hannalene Du Plessis, Sunday Ekesi, Jeremy K. Herren

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: The invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a polyphagous pest that causes widespread damage particularly to maize and sorghum in Africa. The microbiome associated with S. frugiperda could play a role in the insects' success and adaptability. However, bacterial communities in S. frugiperda remain poorly studied. Methods: We investigated the composition, abundance and diversity of microbiomes associated with larval and adult specimens of S. frugiperda collected from four maize growing regions in Kenya through high throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The population structure of S. frugiperda in Kenya was assessed through amplification of the …

Impact Of Integrated Fruit Fly Management Strategy On Food Security Among Smallholder Mango Farmers In Kenya, P. N. Nyang'au, B. W. Muriithi, J. M. Nzuma, P. Irungu, H. M. Gichungi, G. Diiro

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Adoption of agricultural innovations is perceived as a key avenue for poverty reduction and improved food and nutritional security in developing countries. The International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) has developed and implemented a set of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies in several sub-Saharan African countries aimed at controlling mango infesting fruit flies (Bactrocera dorsalis). Although positive returns from the use of fruit fly IPM have already been documented, the impact of these technologies on food security is not well understood. This study evaluated the impact of the IPM strategy on food security with the help of a …

Smallholder Farmers' Knowledge And Willingness To Pay For Insect-Based Feeds In Kenya, Shaphan Y. Chia, John Macharia, Gracious M. Diiro, Menale Kassie, Sunday Ekesi, Joop J.A. Van Loon, Marcel Dicke, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Edible insects are increasingly being considered as sustainable alternatives to fish and soybean meals in animal feed because of their high nutritional quality and environmental benefits. However, successful introduction of a new product to the market depends on the target user's acceptance. Thus, evaluating the potential demand of insect-based feeds would provide relevant information for policy development. The present study assessed farmers' knowledge on edible insects as feed, their acceptance of integrating insect meals in animal feeds and willingness to pay (WTP) for insect-based feed (IBF) using a contingent valuation method. A household survey was conducted among 957 randomly selected …

Developing An Odonate-Based Index For Monitoring Freshwater Ecosystems In Rwanda: Towards Linking Policy To Practice Through Integrated And Adaptive Management, Erasme Uyizeye

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Worldwide, the decline of biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems is occurring at an alarming rate, due to anthropogenic threats, which directly impact humans in a variety of ways. Freshwater ecosystems occupy an integral part of political, socio-economic and ecological spheres. Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) and Adaptive Management (AM) conceptual frameworks provide an underpinning holistic platform from which to evaluate the performance of policies and actions on the ground in relation to freshwater ecosystem management. I investigate the extent to which environmental policies and practices embrace IWM and AM frameworks in Rwanda. Furthermore, this dissertation develops an odonate-based ecological monitoring tool, referred …

The Host Gatekeeper: Using The Flagellar Pathway To Understand Symbiont Host Adaptation, Adam R. Pollio

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The acquisition of microbial partners is a strategy used by a diverse group of arthropods to overcome ecological barriers that might normally make certain niches uninhabitable. The unique phylogenetic opportunities attainable from the natural experiment of the Sodalis-allied clade allow for better understanding of how molecular structures evolve through time. Here, we focus on the evolution of the flagellar synthesis pathway, due to its complexity and ability to diverge in response to ecological pressures. We used this molecular pathway and natural experiment to show that normal evolutionary outcomes associated with symbiosis (i.e., genome reduction) do not explain the predicted conservation …

Population Structure Of The Drywood Termite Incisitermes Schwarzi (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) In The Carribbean: Evidence Of Arthropogenic Dispersal Of Termites., Allen Szalanski

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The drywood termite Incisitermes schwarzi is distributed from Florida through the Caribbean Basin to northern South America, yet the processes shaping its geographic structure remain poorly understood. We analyzed mitochondrial 16S and COII gene sequences from 17 colonies collected across 13 countries to assess genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships, and isolation by distance. Concatenated sequence analyses revealed 0.3–9.1% divergence for 16S and 0.6–10.0% for COII, with most haplotypes unique to individual locations. Phylogenetic reconstruction supported I. schwarzi as a monophyletic lineage and identified geographically structured clades corresponding broadly to regional groupings within the Caribbean and mainland Americas. Isolation-by-distance analyses showed a …

Genetic Variation Within A Broadly Distributed Chewing Louse Genus (Thomomydoecus), Clarissa Elizabeth Bruns

Honors Program Theses

No broad study has been conducted to examine the genetics of Thomomydoecus species and their patterns of geographic variation. Chewing lice and their parasite-host relationships with pocket gophers have been studied as a key example of cophylogeny (Demastes et al., 2012). Despite this, genetic data on interspecific and intraspecific variation in Thomomydoecus is unexplored, and prior studies consisted within the narrow frame of one complex or species and its relative host gopher. This project collected, and analyzed genetic data, then generated phylogenetic trees. Many of the existing relationships between Thomomydoecus species was confirmed, and there were a number of unexpected …