Entomology Commons^™

Nature Journaling With Insects: A Guide And Journal Template, Danielle Positeri

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

An Introduction to Nature Journaling

Nature journaling is a natural history based activity centered on journaling one’s experiences and observations based on surrounding environment and natural lifeforms encountered. A tool commonly used by those who study natural history, famous naturalists such as Charles Darwin and John Muir were known to keep nature journals. Although those who make their careers in environmental sciences or field work keep professional, very detailed journals, journaling can also be a great activity for those who simply enjoy nature. Public educators teach nature journaling to young students to encourage building a plethora of skills: mindfulness, attention …

A Review Of The Wheat Stem Sawfly, Cephus Cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), Bethany Thomas

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) is a native stem-mining insect pest of significant economic importance within the Northern Great Plains of the United States and the prairie provinces of Canada (Criddle, 1923). Cephus cinctus adult females specifically attack large-stemmed grasses, originally feral and later adapted to cultivated grasses, with dryland wheat, Triticum aestivum L. (Poaceae), as the most notable host (Morrill & Kushnak, 1996). As all but two weeks of the sawfly’s lifecycle is contained within a host-grass, understanding the ecological history, biological interactions, and economic impacts between C. cinctus and T. aestivum is …

Comparison Of Insecticide And Trap Crop Management Practices For The Control Of Acalymma Vittatum (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) In Cucumbers, Keely Wright

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

The striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum (F.)) is a specialist herbivore pest, feeding on plants in the Cucurbitaceae family across North America. Adult beetles migrate into cucurbit fields from the field edges to feed on the emerged plant parts. Control methods can include insecticides, cultural practices, and some biological control species, or a combination of multiple methods, each having their own advantages and disadvantages. A push-pull trap crop management system using blue hubbard squash (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne) and nasturtiums was established and compared to a lambda-cyhalothrin (Matador 120EC) foliar insecticide control approach in a cucumber crop. Lambda-cyhalothrin, applied …

Bugged By Bugs: A Comprehensive Guide To Pest Control, Brandon Runyon

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

This book aims to create a user-friendly guide tocommercial pest control practices covering German cockroaches, bed bugs, odorous house ants, pavement ants, brown recluse spiders, wolf spiders, house flies, and fruit flies. We will address these pests in the following locations: hotels, restaurants, apartments, and offices.

Investigation Of Bacterial Infection And Immunity In The Body Louse, Lauren Mae Kress

Dissertations and Theses

The human body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus) is a host-specific hematophagous ectoparasite that frequently infests populations experiencing a breakdown of hygienic conditions. Body lice are vectors for several bacterial human pathogens, including Borrelia recurrentis (relapsing fever), Rickettsia prowazekii (epidemic typhus) and Bartonella quintana (trench fever) (Badiaga & Brouqui 2012, Amanzougaghene et al. 2020). Today, louse-borne relapsing fever and epidemic typhus are largely geographically restricted to small foci in East Africa. However, B. quintana is a re-emerging and underappreciated pathogen throughout the globe, especially in urban environments (Mai 2022). Transmission of B. quintana is known to occur via inoculation of infectious …

Data For "Linking Previous Experiences To Behavior And Health In The Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera)"", Rebecca R. Westwick, Clare C. Rittschof, Gavin P. Brackett, Cameron E. Brown, Bethany J. Ison, Zainulabbeudin Syed, Anna M. Foose

Entomology Research Data

An organism’s ability to respond to changing conditions can be vital to its success. Indeed, plasticity is a common feature of living organisms. Much of the research in this area, though, has focused on effects caused by environmental conditions. What has received relatively less attention is how social experiences and broader features of an organism’s social environment can lead to long-lasting changes in health and behavior. This knowledge gap exists despite the well-documented existence of health and behavioral effects after social interactions in certain taxa such as humans.

Social insects such as honey bees provide an excellent opportunity to better …

Fostering Infant And Toddler Music Competence At The Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center, Ellen Mathews, Laura Herold, Shelley Mcnally, Donia Timby

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

This paper presents a creative research project that introduced musical instruments in an outdoor setting to infants and toddlers ages 0-to-3 years old. It was grounded in research suggesting that music plays a vital component in expanding development in the early childhood years, helping to promote learning across many domains. This project began with a survey distributed to 7 infant and toddler classroom educators, after which responses were analyzed for themes regarding perceived infant interests. Subsequent observations were conducted to evaluate the best fit for the implementation of an outdoor experiential music space. Based on the findings, a developmentally appropriate …

Effects Of Time-Restricted Feeding And Whey Protein Isolate Supplementation On Dietary Intake, Mood, And Sleep In A 12-Week Randomized Controlled Trial, Sydney E. Boudrey, Aubree L. Hawley

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

Obesity affects adults in the United States, leading to chronic diseases and reduced well-being. Time-Restricted Feeding (TRF) is a type of dietary intervention lacking current data regarding the effectiveness on facets of well-being. This study’s objective was to determine the effect of time-restricted feeding supplemented with whey protein isolate on food intake, sleep, and mood in overweight or obese adults. Nineteen participants were randomly assigned to the control or experimental group: 1) control, TRF, and 2) experimental, TRF with whey protein supplementation. Participants followed the assigned dietary intervention for 12 weeks. Every 4 weeks (baseline, week 4, week 8, and …

Evaluating Benthic Macroinvertebrate Populations In Response To Scouring Events In The Trinity River, Ca, Liam Hay, Michael W. O'Neil, Chloe Pieper-Wasem

Environmental Science & Management Senior Capstones

River systems across California have been impacted by appurtenant structures such as dams and diversions. These structures have had an adverse impact on Benthic invertebrate (BMI) communities by regulating river systems and changing the natural hydraulic pulses that follow seasonal precipitation. Benthic invertebrates are a critical food resource for salmonids and serve as an indicator of ecosystem health. Our study was interested in seeing the effects of scouring events on BMI in the Trinity River of Trinity County, C.A. Following a large precipitation event that occurred in the region in December 2022, an influx of water entered the river through …

Insect Biodiversity Of Select Areas In The Western Suburbs Of Chicago, Bradley Dawson

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Introduction

Insects make up an integral part of the landscape in North America and across the world. They occupy a myriad of niches in food webs, function as predators and prey, and provide environmental services like pollination of flowering plants and decomposition of dead animal carcasses and fecal matter. They take part in ecosystems that are often delicately balanced, and so conservation is often a worthwhile effort in areas that would otherwise be trampled by human activity. In the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois where I reside, there is a mix of both heavily developed areas as well as some …

Discoverinsects.Com: An Interactive Tool To Introduce Younger Audiences To Entomology, Ian Eldred

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Early in life, children’s views towards arthropods can be tainted by many things. One major way is through the views held and expressed by those that surround them, especially their caregivers. Tools are needed to reach children during these crucial developmental ages and expose them to all of the wonderful things arthropods do and educate them on how big of a role arthropods play in the lives of every human around the globe. As digital technology in households is becoming more apparent and accessible, new ways to engage these audiences need to be developed and utilized. This creates a unique …

The Abcdefgs Of Entomology, Maria T. Gutierrez

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

As a parent of three kids, I love finding ways to spark their curiosity and love for learning, so combining my interest in entomology and my experience as a parent, I came up with a fun yet informative book about insects. I selected the most common insects kids might encounter daily at home, school, or while playing at the park: ants, butterflies, cockroaches, dragonflies, earwigs, flies, and grasshoppers.

I aimed to develop an activity book that anyone could use, whether they are a teacher or a parent without a scientific background. By focusing on these seven specific insects, I wanted …

Palatability, Consumption, And Physiological Effects Of The Green Microalgae Chlorella Sp. As A Feed Substitute For The Western Honey Bee Apis Mellifera In A Laboratory Setting, Benjamin J. Nichols

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Western honey bees Apis mellifera are vital pollinators which play a significant role in global food security. Honey bees are faced by numerous environmental pressures including lack of forage which lead to large losses annually of managed honeybee colonies. To offset these pressures, many beekeepers manage colonies with the addition of artificial diets, many of which contain products that do not meet the nutritional requirements needed by honey bees or require large amounts of resources to grow. Recent literature has indicated that algae may be a viable nutritional resource for honey bees, meeting the nutritional requirements needed, requiring less resources, …

Rnai-Mediated Gene Silencing In The Exotic Redbay Ambrosia Beetle, Xyleborus Glabratus, And Insect-Fungal Interactions Within The Laurel Wilt Complex, Morgan Christine Knutsen

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Laurel wilt disease (LWD) is a lethal vascular disease impacting lauraceous hosts caused by Harringtonia lauricola, the fungal symbiont of the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus Eichoff) (RAB) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). LWD has caused tree mortality throughout the southeastern United States and is continuing to spread into new regions. Current management methods have not been successful in preventing spread, warranting investigation into innovative techniques including RNA interference (RNAi).

Elongation factor-1 alpha (ef1a) and actin (act) were established as stably expressed reference genes after exposing beetles to different photoperiod, temperature, and dsRNA exposure. After RAB oral …

Linking Previous Experiences To Behavior And Health In The Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera), Rebecca R. Westwick

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

An organism’s ability to respond to changing conditions can be vital to its success. Indeed, plasticity is a common feature of living organisms. Much of the research in this area, though, has focused on effects caused by environmental conditions. What has received relatively less attention is how social experiences and broader features of an organism’s social environment can lead to long-lasting changes in health and behavior. This knowledge gap exists despite the well-documented existence of health and behavioral effects after social interactions in certain taxa such as humans.

Social insects such as honey bees provide an excellent opportunity to better …

Epigenetic Regulation Of Insect Development, Yaoyu Jiao

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Insects undergo a series of distinct life stages such as egg, larva and pupa to develop into mature adults capable of reproduction throughout their life cycle. In the larval stage, insects experience the fastest growth with voracious feeding and multiple cuticle shedding resulting in hundreds-of-fold increasing of size. During metamorphosis, insects stop increasing body size but go through dramatic tissue transformation, developing wings and other adult features. The characteristic mode of insect development, especially the metamorphosis, makes insects the most successful group of animals on the earth. However, the epigenetic mechanisms behind insect development remain elusive. Studying the epigenetic regulation …

Modelling Pollinator And Nonpollinator Selection On Flower Colour Variation, Brigitte Tenhumberg, Agnes S. Dellinger, Stacey D. Smith

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

1. Flower colour variation is ubiquitous within and between populations, which is why it has long been a focal point for studies of natural selection. This body of work has uncovered a wide range of selective agents, including pollinators, herbivores, and various abiotic factors. Nevertheless, we lack an integrative framework for predicting the phenotypic outcome in terms of floral pigmentation when these forces act collectively and often in opposition. 2. We here present such a framework through a model that incorporates selection on pigmentation at the vegetative phase (i.e., through survival to reproduction) and at the flowering phase (i.e., on …

Contents, Discovery Editors

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

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Dean, Jean-Francois Meullenet

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

No abstract provided.

Featured Faculty Mentor/Student Team, Gisela Erf, Alessandro Rocchi

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

No abstract provided.

Aphid Parasitoid Wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Aphidiinae) Of The Americas: Species Discovery, Key To Genera, Annotated Checklist, And Summary Of Biology, Abigail Paige Martens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Analyzing The Effects Of Winter-Patch Grazing And Wildfire On Insect Order Hymenoptera In The Northern Great Plains, Kaitlin Schieuer

Schultz-Werth Award Papers

Pollinators are declining globally, threatening global crop production and the biological integrity of many ecosystems. Hymenoptera (the order containing ants, bees, and wasps) is one of the most important insect orders for pollination of a variety of plants, including many crops, and is important as biocontrol for crop pests, and other herbivorous insects. Land management practices affect plant community composition, which influences vegetation-dependent insects, and consequently affects their ecosystem services. Fire and grazing are common practices on working landscapes in the Great Plains. However, how these management techniques impact insect diversity, particularly Hymenopterans, in a mixed-grass prairie ecosystem, is poorly …

Foraging Behavior In The Eastern Subterranean Termite, Reticulitermes Flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), Anugerah Fajar

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Foraging is essential for survival, but it can be unpredictably dangerous due to organismal interactions like competition and predation to various environmental factors. Animals have come up with strategies to safeguard foraging. Social insects, with their elaborate division of labor, have developed sophisticated systems of foraging task allocation that allow them to capitalize resources beyond their competitors. In this thesis, I delve into the subjects of foraging behavior, allocation strategies, and the genetic basis of foraging in the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, the most widely distributed termite species in North America and one of the most economically important …

Assessment Of Conservation Reserve Program Enhancements At Contract Renewal: Impact On Monarch Butterfly (Danaus Plexippus) Habitat, Tristan L. Murphy

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a migratory species whose primary breeding range is the upper Midwestern United States. In 2022, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature listed the monarch as endangered due to milkweed and migratory habitat loss. One of the most promising opportunities for monarch recovery is to enhance habitat quality on private land currently enrolled in the USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). In order to qualify for re-enrollment in the program and continuation of annual government payments, farmers must show adequate habitat quality or enhance their site by overseeding after burning, herbicide application, …

Determining The Effectiveness Of Rosemary Essential Oil On The Shelf Life Of Ground Beef Under Different Lighting Conditions, Jordan T. Looper, Kelly R. Vierck

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

This study determined the effectiveness of rosemary extract on the shelf life of ground beef patties under different retail display conditions. Ground beef patties were produced from an 85%:15% blend (lean:fat). Patties were formed from batches of control or amended with rosemary extract. Patties were individually packaged using overwrap. Groups were assigned into one of two lighting groups (3000K and 3500K). Patties were placed in a simulated retail display for 5 d under continuous lighting and rotated once a day. Lipid oxidation and color samples were taken each day. Relating to lipid oxidation, there was no three-way interaction between display …

Instructions For Authors, Discovery Editors

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

No abstract provided.

Discovery: The Student Journal Of Dale Bumpers College Of Agricultural, Food And Life Sciences - Volume 24 2023, Several Authors

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

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Effects Of Age, Environmental Conditions, And Placement On Cockroach Gel Bait Performance, Isabelle Lucero

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Cockroach baits are one of the most effective tools used for German cockroach (Blattella germanica L.) control. This is due in part to the number of cockroach baits on the market with various matrix compositions and active ingredients, aiding in the control of resistant (physiologically and behaviorally) cockroach populations through bait rotation. However, it remains unclear how cockroach gel baits perform over time and under different environmental conditions. Therefore, we aged six cockroach gel baits for varying times (24 hours, one month, three months, six months) and at three relative humidities (15%, 40%, and 80%), and tested their performance …

Mechanisms Of Rnai In Insects, Jin Mo Koo

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism is found in many eukaryotes and animal cells, with its endogenous functions as defense against transposable elements and viruses, as well as post transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Since its first discovery, RNAi has contributed enormously as a reverse genetic tool for functional genomic studies. In application, RNAi is used in therapeutics, as well as agricultural crop and livestock protection. Yet, for the wider application of RNAi, improvement of its potency and delivery technologies is needed. Deeper mechanistic understanding of every step of RNAi, from cellular uptake of RNAi trigger molecule to targeted mRNA degradation is …

Costs And Benefits Of Integrating Poultry Into Cover Crop - Vegetable Rotations, Viktor Halmos

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Integrated livestock systems were once common leading up to the 20th century where livestock generated manure that was then used to fertilizer crop production in a closed- or semi-closed system. However, with the industrialization of agriculture in the mid to late 20th century, specialization drove simplified systems that segregated livestock from cropping systems. This segregation led to nutrient surpluses occurring in livestock operations, and nutrient demands in cropping systems creating a plethora of environmental issues. With the increased awareness of environmental issues, a renewed interest in integration has driven producers and researchers to experiment with integration again. For research, the …