Entomology Commons^™

A New Genus And Species Of Tiger Beetle, Pseudocollyris Shooki (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), From Yunnan, China, Wen-Xuan Bi, Jürgen Wiesner

Insecta Mundi

A new genus, Pseudocollyris Bi and Wiesner, is established for the new species Pseudocollyris shooki Bi and Wiesner (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), from Western Yunnan, China. A description, diagnostic features and illustrations of habitus are provided.

In 2017, the first author collected one remarkable tiger beetle during a survey in Western Yunnan, China. The beetle shows an elongated body, a metallic purple elytral surface with a pair of bright median spots and coarse punctation. Such appearance superficially resembles species of the tribe Collyridini (e.g. Collyris Fabricius, 1801 or Neocollyris Horn, 1901). However, detailed investigations of the beetle indicate it belongs to …

Enoclerus Hefferni, A New Species Of Checkered Beetle (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae) From Honduras, With Additions To The Honduran Enoclerus Gahan Fauna, Jacques Rifkind

Insecta Mundi

Enoclerus hefferni Rifkind, new species (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), is described from Hon­duras. This beetle represents the second known Honduran endemic Enoclerus Gahan species. New country records for 12 species of Enoclerus are presented for Honduras.

The Enoclerus Gahan fauna of Honduras is poorly known, and heretofore only seven species (E. gibbus Ekis, 1976, E. hoegei (Gorham, 1882), E. irregularis Barr, 1978, E. nigromaculatus (Chevrolat, 1843), E. pilatei (Chevrolat, 1874), E. salvini (Gorham, 1876), and E. zebra (Chevrolat, 1843)) have been recorded for that country. Most of these species have broader distributions north into Guatemala and southern Mexico, or south …

Recharacterization Of Stenaspis Audinet-Serville, 1834 With A New Species From Mexico (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Trachyderini), Bryan K. Eya

Insecta Mundi

The genus Stenaspis Audinet-Serville, 1834 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Trachy­derini) is recharacterized by providing additional morphological features to enhance the definition of this genus. Stenaspis plagiata Waterhouse, 1877 is transferred to Crioprosopus Audinet-Serville, 1834, new com­bination, and the latest key to species of Crioprosopus is modified. A key to the genera of Group III-Stenaspes with “abruptly separated anteocular space,” and a key to species of Stenaspis is provided. Color illustrations of the available species are included. Stenaspis lingafelteri Eya, new species, from Mexico is described.

New Species, New Records And Synonymy Of Brazilian Species Of Hypothenemus Westwood, 1834 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), Thomas H. Atkinson, Carlos A.H. Flechtmann

Insecta Mundi

Eight new species of Hypothenemus Westwood (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are de­scribed from Brazil and Peru: H. subsulcatus Atkinson and Flechtmann new species, H. wilsoni Atkinson and Flechtmann new species, H. murariae Atkinson and Flechtmann new species, H. lunzi Atkinson and Flechtmann new species, H. cordeiroi Atkinson and Flechtmann new species, H. concavodeclivis Atkinson and Flechtmann new species, H. foelkelae Atkinson and Flechtmann new species, H. olzenoi Atkinson and Flechtmann new species. Fifteen species are recorded from Brazil for the first time, including H. aulmanni …

Three New Species Of Phaea Newman (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), With Discussion Of The Need For And Designation Of A Lectotype For Phaea Rufiventris Bates, James E. Wappes, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Three new species of Phaea Newman, 1840 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are described from Me­xico: P. quadrimaculata Wappes and Santos-Silva, new species; P. aurantia Wappes and Santos-Silva, new species; and the third, P. tavakiliani Wappes and Santos-Silva, new species, whose specimens were found within the type series of Phaea rufiventris Bates, 1872. Hence, a lectotype is designated for the latter and the new species is described herein.

Occurrence Status Of The Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) In South Korea, Soo-Jung Suh, Deuk-Soo Choi, Sol-Moon Na

Insecta Mundi

To respond to the growing risk from Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), the migratory fall ar­myworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), the National Fall Armyworm Surveillance Program (NFASP) for early detection for this pest ran from April to November during 2019 and 2020. The fall armyworm surveillance program involved seasonal monitoring of the pest with pheromone traps placed in fields of cereal crops at high-risk locations. The trapping season ran from early spring to late autumn, with a total deployment of 396 traps. During the survey of 2019 to 2020, a total of 120 male adults of S. frugiperda were captured in these …

Taxonomic Revision Of Eunota Togata (Laferté-Sénectère, 1841) (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) In North America With A New Subspecies From Western Texas And New Mexico, United States, Robert E. Acciavatti

Insecta Mundi

Within Nearctic Cicindelidae, Cicindelini, Eunota togata (LaFerté-Sénectère, 1841) (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) exists as several distinct phenotypes, some described as subspecies whose taxonomic status has been misinterpreted. Eunota togata togata applies to adults marked with broadly sinuate inner margins on shiny brown elytra common across northern coastal Gulf of Mexico. Eunota togata fascinans (Casey, 1914), new synonymy, incorrectly applied to populations in western Texas and New Mexico, United States, is considered a junior synonym of E. togata globicollis (Casey, 1913), the predominant subspecies with broadly sinuate inner margins on coppery elytra found from eastern New Mexico and western Texas into the …

Aphid Endosymbiont Facilitates Virus Transmission By Modulating The Volatile Profile Of Host Plants, Xiao-Bin Shi, Shuo Yan, Chi Zhang, Li-Min Zheng, Zhan-Hong Zhang, Shu-E Sun, Yang Gao, Xin-Qiu Tan, De-Yong Zhang, Xuguo Zhou

Entomology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Most plant viruses rely on vectors for their transmission and spread. One of the outstanding biological questions concerning the vector-pathogen-symbiont multi-trophic interactions is the potential involvement of vector symbionts in the virus transmission process. Here, we used a multi-factorial system containing a non-persistent plant virus, cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), its primary vector, green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, and the obligate endosymbiont, Buchnera aphidicola to explore this uncharted territory.

RESULTS: Based on our preliminary research, we hypothesized that aphid endosymbiont B. aphidicola can facilitate CMV transmission by modulating plant volatile profiles. Gene expression analyses demonstrated that CMV infection reduced …

Western Conenose Bug (Kissing Bug), Zachery R. Schrumm

All Current Publications

The western conenose bug is the only species of kissing bug that is known to occur in Utah, and it is uncommon. Kissing bugs feed on the blood of vertebrates and can transmit the parasite that causes Chagas disease in humans. However, the transmission of the parasite does not occur from a kissing bug bite, but rather from the insect’s feces that can be infected with the parasite. Transmission of the parasite from the western conenose bug is less likely compared to other species of kissing bugs that exist in other areas of the United States. Prevent kissing bugs in …

Repurposing The Orphan Drug Nitisinone To Control The Transmission Of African Trypanosomiasis, Marcos Sterkel, Lee R. Haines, Aitor Casas-Sánchez, Vincent Owino Adung'a, Raquel J. Vionette-Amaral, Shannon Quek, Clair Rose, Mariana Silva Dos Santos, Natalia García Escude, Hanafy M. Ismail, Mark I. Paine, Seth M. Barribeau, Simon Wagstaff, James I. Macrae, Daniel Masiga, Laith Yakob, Pedro L. Oliveira, Álvaro Acosta-Serrano

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Tsetse transmit African trypanosomiasis, which is a disease fatal to both humans and animals. A vaccine to protect against this disease does not exist so transmission control relies on eliminating tsetse populations. Although neurotoxic insecticides are the gold standard for insect control, they negatively impact the environment and reduce populations of insect pollinator species. Here we present a promising, environment-friendly alternative to current insecticides that targets the insect tyrosine metabolism pathway. A bloodmeal contains high levels of tyrosine, which is toxic to haematophagous insects if it is not degraded and eliminated. RNA interference (RNAi) of either the first two enzymes …

Relationship Of Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Integument Coloration To Cuticular Hydrocarbon And Venom Alkaloid Profiles, Manoj Pandey, Karla M. Addesso, Lisa W. Alexander, Nadeer N. Youssef, Jason B. Oliver

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren; RIFA) and black imported fire ant (Solenopsis richteri Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae); BIFA) are considered distinct species with introgression via a reproductively functional hybrid (HIFA). The RIFA and BIFA common names are based on relative coloration. Due to human color perception variation, using color to identify RIFA, BIFA or HIFA is challenging. Fire ant identification traditionally involves molecular or chemical techniques, but a colorimetric test could allow rapid and low-cost identification. In this study, ant integument coloration was measured by spectrophotometer, and color attributes were compared to a combined gas chromatography (GC) index derived …

Tomato Chlorosis Virus Infection Facilitates Bemisia Tabaci Med Reproduction By Elevating Vitellogenin Expression, Liping Huang, Xiaobin Shi, Jizhe Shi, Zhuo Zhang, Yong Fang, Zhanhong Zhang, Qiuyi Pan, Limin Zheng, Yang Gao, Deyong Zhang, Xinqiu Tan, Yong Liu, Xuguo Zhou

Entomology Faculty Publications

Transmission of plant pathogenic viruses mostly relies on insect vectors. Plant virus could enhance its transmission by modulating the vector. Previously, we showed that feeding on virus infected plants can promote the reproduction of the sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MED (Q biotype). In this study, using a whitefly-Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV)-tomato system, we investigated how ToCV modulates B. tabaci MED reproduction to facilitate its spread. Here, we hypothesized that ToCV-infected tomato plants would increase B. tabaci MED fecundity via elevated vitellogenin (Vg) gene expression. As a result, fecundity and the relative expression of B. tabaci MED Vg …

The Use Of Insecticides To Manage The Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera, Leconte: History, Field-Evolved Resistance, And Associated Mechanisms, Lance J. Meinke, Dariane Souza, Blair D. Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Dvv) is a significant insect pest of maize in the United States (U.S.). This paper reviews the history of insecticide use in Dvv management programs, Dvv adaptation to insecticides, i.e., field-evolved resistance and associated mechanisms of resistance, plus the current role of insecticides in the transgenic era. In the western U.S. Corn Belt where continuous maize is commonly grown in large irrigated monocultures, broadcast-applied soil or foliar insecticides have been extensively used over time to manage annual densities of Dvv and other secondary insect pests. This has contributed to the sequential occurrence …

Edible Crickets (Orthoptera) Around The World: Distribution, Nutritional Value, And Other Benefits—A Review, Henlay J.O. Magara, Saliou Niassy, Monica A. Ayieko, Mukundi Mukundamago, James P. Egonyu, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Emily K. Kimathi, Jackton O. Ongere, Komi K.M. Fiaboe, Sylvain Hugel, Mary A. Orinda, Nanna Roos, Sunday Ekesi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Edible crickets are among the praised insects that are gaining recognition as human food and livestock feed with a potential of contributing to food security and reduction of malnutrition. Globally, the sustainable use of crickets as food or feed is undermined by lack of information on the number of the edible crickets, the country where they are consumed, and the developmental stages consumed. Furthermore, lack of data on their nutritional content and the potential risks to potential consumers limits their consumption or inclusion into other food sources. We reviewed published literature on edible cricket species, countries where they are consumed, …

Increased Cave Use By Butterflies And Moths: A Response To Climate Warming?, Otto Moog, Erhard Christian, Rudolf Eis

International Journal of Speleology

Between 2015 and 2019, the list of Lepidoptera from “cave” habitats (i.e., proper caves, rock shelters and artificial subterranean structures) in Austria grew from 17 to 62 species, although the effort of data collection remained nearly constant from the late 1970s onwards. The newly recorded moths and butterflies were resting in caves during daytime in the the warm season, three species were also overwintering there. We observed Catocala elocata at 28 cave inspections, followed by Mormo maura (18), Catocala nupta (7), Peribatodes rhomboidaria, and Euplagia quadripunctaria (6). More than half of the species have been repeatedly observed in caves …

Heterocyclic Amine-Induced Feeding Deterrence And Antennal Response Of Honey Bees, Nicholas R. Larson, Scott T. O'Neal, Thomas P. Kuhar, Ulrich R. Bernier, Jeffrey R. Bloomquist, Troy D. Anderson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The productivity and survival of managed honey bee colonies is negatively impacted by a diverse array of interacting factors, including exposure to agrochemicals, such as pesticides. This study investigated the use of volatile heterocyclic amine (HCA) compounds as potential short term repellents that could be employed as feeding deterrents to reduce the exposure of bees to pesticide-treated plants. Parent and substituted HCAs were screened for efficacy relative to the repellent N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) in laboratory and field experiments. Additionally, electroantennogram (EAG) recordings were conducted to determine the level of antennal response in bees. In video-tracking recordings, bees were observed to spend …

Intragenic Dna Methylation Regulates Insect Gene Expression And Reproduction Through The Mbd/Tip60 Complex, Guanfeng Xu, Hao Lyu, Yangqin Yi, Yuling Peng, Qili Feng, Qisheng Song, Chengcheng Gong, Xuezhen Peng, Subba Reddy Palli, Sichun Zheng

Entomology Faculty Publications

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification. However, the regulations and functions of insect intragenic DNA methylation remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that a regulatory mechanism involving intragenic DNA methylation controls ovarian and embryonic developmental processes in Bombyx mori. In B. mori, DNA methylation is found near the transcription start site (TSS) of ovarian genes. By promoter activity analysis, we observed that 5′ UTR methylation enhances gene expression. Moreover, methyl-DNA-binding domain protein 2/3 (MBD2/3) binds to the intragenic methyl-CpG fragment and recruits acetyltransferase Tip60 to promote histone H3K27 acetylation and gene expression. Additionally, genome-wide analyses showed that the peak …

Up-Regulation Of Apoptotic- And Cell Survival-Related Gene Pathways Following Exposures Of Western Corn Rootworm To B. Thuringiensis Crystalline Pesticidal Proteins In Transgenic Maize Roots, Brad S. Coates, Emeline Deleury, Aaron J. Gassmann, Bruce E. Hibbard, Lance Meinke, Nicholas J. Miller, Jennifer L. Petzold-Maxwell, B. Wade French, Thomas W. Sappington, Blair D. Siegfried, Thomas Guillemaud

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Background: Resistance of pest insect species to insecticides, including B. thuringiensis (Bt) pesticidal proteins expressed by transgenic plants, is a threat to global food security. Despite the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, being a major pest of maize and having populations showing increasing levels of resistance to hybrids expressing Bt pesticidal proteins, the cell mechanisms leading to mortality are not fully understood.

Results: Twenty unique RNA-seq libraries from the Bt susceptible D. v. virgifera inbred line Ped12, representing all growth stages and a range of different adult and larval exposures, were assembled into a reference transcriptome. Ten-day exposures …

Quantitative Assessment Of Aphid Parasitoids And Predators In Central Oklahoma Wheat Fields During Five Growing Seasons, Norman C. Elliott, Kristopher L. Giles, Kristen A. Baum, Sarah Elzay

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most widely grown crop in Oklahoma and typically is planted in autumn and harvested in June. Wheat in Oklahoma is often infested by insect pests, the most important of which are the cereal aphids – greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), and bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.). We sampled a total of 69 wheat fields in central Oklahoma during five wheat-growing seasons. The number of wheat fields sampled ranged from seven in the 2016-2017 growing season to 24 fields in the 2009-2010 growing season. We used a D-vac suction sampler to collect aphids …

Soil Macroinvertebrate Responses To Wildfires In The Blue Ridge Mountains, Usa, Madeline Nicole Olliff, Bruce Snyder, Mac Callaham Jr., Melanie K. Taylor

Graduate Research Showcase

Title: Soil Macroinvertebrate Responses to Wildfires in the Blue Ridge Mountains, USA Authors: 1Madeline N. Olliff, 1Bruce A. Snyder, 2Melanie K. Taylor, and 2Mac A. Callaham

1Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, Georgia, USA; 2USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Athens, Georgia, USA

Abstract: Wildfires are of increasing concern in light of climate change, more frequent late summer droughts, and increasing incidence of human ignitions. There have been few studies examining the effects of wildland fires on soil macroinvertebrates in the Blue Ridge Mountains, in spite of the importance of these animals to soil processes, and their contributions to the …

Nebline, January 2021

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

2020 Extension Highlight Highlights Responding as Local Needs Changed

Helping People Solve Real-World Problems

20,311 Youth Engaged in 4-H Programs

Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick

Recipe of the Month

Crop Production Clinics, Jan. 7, 14, and 21

Pesticide Applicator Trainings

Extension’s 2021 Master Gardener Trainings, Two Sites Available

Upcoming Green Industry Conferences

Garden Guide Things to do This Month

HEART OF 4-H VOLUNTEER AWARD: Emalea Dean

PASE Results

4-H Thanks Sponsors

4-H Announcements for 4-H’ers and Volunteers

4-H Thanks Volunteers

EXTENSION CALENDAR

EXTENSION NEWS

Dung Beetle (Scarabaeinae) Diversity Of The Highest Elevation In West Africa: The Nimba Mountain Range, Jacob Bowen

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The Nimba Mountain Range in Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Liberia is within the Upper Guinean Forests, a critical biodiversity hotspot highly threatened by various human activities. The region is home to many endemic species including the viviparous Nimba toad, Nimba otter-shrew, and the discrete Bossou chimpanzee population. Dung beetles can act as a focal taxon from which extrapolation to the diversity of other taxa and ecosystem health can be made. Elevational trends in dung beetle diversity were investigated on the Nimba Mountain Range and in the nearby Bossou Chimpanzee reserve in Guinea. Dung beetle species diversity surveys aimed to document …

A Comparison Of Bee Abundance And Species Richness In Three Managed Grassland Types, Emily Russ

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Bees are threatened by environmental changes, pathogens, and pesticides (Pettis, 2012, Meeus et al., 2018). The goal of the study is to compare and evaluate the bee abundance and species richness in three different field types. My hypothesis is that bees would favor the fields planted for their benefit, and that the tall grass dominated plantings would be preferred over mowed fescue. My findings have low power considering few replicates and the use of relative abundance and relative species richness for statistical analyses. Bee abundance and species richness had an overall positive relationship of varying degrees across habitat types. Relative …

Contents, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Instructions For Authors, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

A Review And Comparison Of U.S. State Wildlife Action Plans For Stonefly (Insecta, Plecoptera) Species Of Greatest Conservation Need, Kathryn Greene

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) were created in order to identify Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and develop plans to prevent their populations from further decline and the possibility of being listed as threatened or endangered. Which SGCNs are included are decided based on characteristics that determine their vulnerability. As of early 2021, approximately 720stoneflies (Insecta, Plecoptera) species are found in the U.S., but only 143 are listed as SGCN. Only 29 states have stoneflies included on their SGCN lists, but 37 states use EPT (Ephemeroptera + Plecoptera + Trichoptera) metrics when assessing water quality issues in running water …

Learn The Beetle And Discover The Blue, Nicole Luhr

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Objectives: For children to: Learn basic body parts of a beetle and put their own together./ Observe and relate body parts of a beetle to a live beetle./ Determine how humidity levels affect the color of beetles.

Contents: 1 Lesson Overview 3 Lesson Instruction 2 Insect Background 4 - 5 Activity #1 6 - 7 Blue Death Feigning Beetle Info and Care 1 1 - 1 9 Activity #3 8 - 1 0 Activity #2 2 0 Glossary and References

Butterfly Life Cycle: Curriculum, Lesson Plans And Resources, Matthew D. Trujillo

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

This curriculum and guide contains lessons, each with exercises and activities, a science-based word bank and glossary, and Missouri content standards and descriptions. This is a centers-based curriculum intended to be used in conjunction with a science center such as the Butterfly Palace or Butterfly House. There are three major themes in this curriculum: The Life Cycle of Butterflies, Butterfly Habitats, and Adaptations for the Units. This curriculum is unique in that each lesson can serve as a stand alone which can be taught in a classroom whether home based, or school based and does not require sequencing with the …

Mosquitoes Of Wisconsin: The Biology, Life History, Identification And Control, Timothy Wucherer

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

In the past 60 years, weather in Wisconsin has generally been getting warmer, and in many areas of the state, wetter (Moran et al., 2015). Long-term analysis of Wisconsin’s climate has indicated an increase in average annual precipitation, longer growing seasons, and an increase in average temperatures (Moran et al., 2015). Increases in temperatures and rain have been directly correlated with increases in vector-borne diseases such as pathogens carried by mosquitoes (Moran et al., 2015). With this, Wisconsin communities should prepare for possible increases in mosquito activity and the health and veterinary concerns that come with direct exposure to certain …

Wa Insecticide Guide 2021 - Autumn Winter, Amber Balfour-Cunningham, Dusty Severtson

PestFacts WA

Registered chemicals for crops during autumn and winter 2021 in Western Australia