Entomology Commons^™

Harnessing Insect-Derived Oils For Enhanced Efficacy Of Plant-Based Repellents Against Disease-Transmitting Mosquitoes, John Bwire Ochola, Cynthia M. Mudalungu, Hosea O. Mokaya, Xavier Cheseto, Gilvian N. Onsomu, Subramanian Sevgan, Segenet Kelemu, Baldwyn Torto, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever pose a growing global health threat, worsened by resistance to synthetic pesticides. This study evaluated insect oils from Schistocerca gregaria, Ruspolia differens, and Macrotermes spp. as adjuvants in plant-based mosquito repellents. The formulations were tested for complete protection time (CPT) against Anopheles gambiae, Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from treated volunteers were analyzed. Incorporating insect oils doubled CPT compared to essential oils alone. The most effective blend of Macrotermes oil with Cymbopogon nardus (1:1) achieved CPTs of 3.50 h for An. gambiae, 2.56 …

Beyond Nutrients: Frass Fertilizer Legacy Effects For Sustainable Nematode Management In Potato–African Nightshade Rotation Systems, Emmanuel O. Anedo, Dennis Beesigamukama, Benson Mochoge, Nicholas K. Korir, Solveig Haukeland, Xavier Cheseto, Moses Nyongesa, Patrick Pwaipwai, Sevgan Subramanian, Abdou Tenkouano, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The utilization of insect frass fertilizer in crop production systems has recently gained significant global interest, but there has been limited evidence of its residual benefits in rotational cropping systems. The legacy effects of black soldier frass fertilizers (BSFFF), conventional organic fertilizer (SAFI), inorganic fertilizer (NPK), synthetic nematicide, and their combinations on potato cyst nematode (PCN) management under potato-African nightshade rotational farming systems were investigated. Eight treatments were evaluated: BSFFF, SAFI, chitin-fortified BSFFF (BSFFF+5chitin), NPK + nematicide, combination of BSFFF and NPK so that each supplies 50% of the nitrogen required by potato (50BSFFF+50NPK), combination of SAFI and NPK so …

Caffeine Concentration: An Analysis On Bumble Bee Foraging Efficiency, Carson Leonard, Becky Hansis-O’Neill, Aimee Dunlap Phd

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Caffeine (trimethylxanthine) is a synthetically and naturally produced stimulant that has been shown to elicit an effect on the central nervous system of humans as well as invertebrates. Although the exact mechanisms by which caffeine alters biological processes in invertebrates are still being investigated, its physiological and behavioral effects have been extensively documented. Naturally occurring caffeine is produced by certain flowering plants, including cocoa and tea species, and has been shown to influence invertebrate behavior, particularly cognitive performance and foraging patterns. In pollinating insects, the exposure to caffeine in floral nectar may affect how pollinators evaluate, select, and revisit food …

Wasps Survive Tornadoes, But It Impacts Nest Growth, Natalie Cummins, Sara E. Miller

Undergraduate Research Symposium

As the climate becomes more variable, extreme weather events become more common. Last May, St. Louis was hit by an EF-3 tornado. Many areas of the city suffered 90-150 mph winds and severe property damage. We knew there were established paper wasp populations in the affected areas, and so we took this opportunity to monitor emerging nests throughout the summer and fall in both tornado-affected and non-affected areas to observe any possible effect on their nest growth rate and overall size. There is currently very little literature investigating the response of insects to natural disturbances, like tornadoes. Additionally, most studies …

Antiplasmodial Activity Of Detarium Senegalense J.F.Gmel. (Fabaceae) Stembark Ethanol Extract, Cletus Anes Ukwubile, Hananiya Hamza Milagawanda

Journal of Bioresource Management

Malaria is a persistent public health impediment in sub-Saharan Africa, necessitating an incessant search for new, effective, and low-cost antimalarial agents from medicinal plants. This study was designed to evaluate the antiplasmodial efficacy of the ethanol crude extract of the stembark of Detarium senegalense. Standard methods were employed to identify the major secondary metabolites. In vivo antiplasmodial activity of the extract in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice was carried out as per the standard suppression test. The LD₅₀ was elicited in mice using a standard procedure. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of important bioactive components such as alkaloids, flavonoids, …

Efficacy Of Natural Plant Extracts Against Varroa Mite Infestation In Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera L.), Muhammad Farrukh Mushtaq, Amir Said, Abdul Majid Khan, Mahnoor Arshad, Muhammad Ammar, Abdullah ., Muhammad Farhan Nasir, Amina Bashir, Shumaila Noreen

Journal of Bioresource Management

The honeybee, Apis mellifera, is one of the most beneficial insects worldwide. Several factors stress this pollinating insect, with Varroa destructor infestation being one of the most devastating reasons. Conventional acaricides necessitate an alternative control due to the development of resistance and the accumulation of residues. Many plant extracts and oils provide a favourable solution for managing mites in honey bee colonies. This study focused on the acaricidal and insecticidal activities of three plant extracts: Indian rennet (Withania coagulans), Guggal (Commiphora wightii), and Celery (Apium graveolens) against Varroa and potential side effects on …

Evaluating Waste Reduction Efficiency Of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Bsfl) On Different Waste Types: A Comparative Study On Kitchen, Fruit, And Vegetable Waste, Hannah Mawutor Attipoe, Yvonne Afua Sika Adjei, Sharon Gyekyewaa Asare, Obadiah Opoku-Bamfoh, Gifty Boakye Appiah, Ndep Ntui Asundep, Sandra Abankwa Kwarteng

Journal of Bioresource Management

In many developing countries, food waste constitutes a significant share of municipal solid waste and is often poorly managed, causing environmental degradation. Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL), Hermetia illucens, have emerged as a promising tool for the bioconversion of organic waste. This study evaluated the waste reduction efficiency of BSFL reared on kitchen, fruit, and vegetable wastes and assessed the effect of larval density. Each waste type was subjected to four larval densities (450, 650, 850, and 1050 larvae), with larvae- free treatments serving as controls. Each feeding consisted of 700 g of waste, supplied every four days over a …

Genomic Analysis Reveals New Subspecies Of Cercyonis Scudder, 1875 (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Satyrini), Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Todd L. Stout, Michael S. Fisher, Robb Hannawacker, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Genomic analysis of Cercyonis (Cercyonis) Scudder, 1875 (Nymphalidae Rafinesque, 1815) partitions the subgenus into three species groups and reveals five new subspecies from the USA (type localities in parentheses): Cercyonis (Cercyonis) pegala koosharem Stout and Grishin, ssp. n. (Utah, Sevier Co.), Cercyonis (Cercyonis) pegala lasala Grishin, M. Fisher, and Hannawacker ssp. n. (Utah, Grand Co.), Cercyonis (Cercyonis) pegala hortoni Grishin, ssp. n. (Arizona, Gila Co.), Cercyonis (Cercyonis) meadii maculana Grishin, ssp. n. (Colorado, Montezuma Co.), and Cercyonis (Cercyonis) meadii rimana Grishin, ssp. n. (Arizona, Yavapai Co.). A neotype is designated for Satyrus boopis Behr, 1864 (USA, California, Contra Costa Co.). …

Remote Sensing Integrated Modeling Of Fall Armyworm Parasitoid Interactions In Africa Using Fractional Differential Equations, Marian Adan, Steeven Belvinos Affognon, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Klaus Greve, Christian Borgemeister, Georg Goergen

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The invasion of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda; FAW) into Africa poses a major threat to agricultural systems, particularly maize production, necessitating effective biological control strategies. This study presents an ecological modelling framework that integrates temperature data with fractional differential equations (FDEs) to investigate interactions between FAW and its parasitoid natural enemies. By incorporating temperature-driven effects on life-history traits and ecological memory dynamics, the model captures key features of host–parasitoid interactions under variable environmental conditions. Equilibrium states corresponding to FAW extinction, parasitoid extinction, and coexistence were analytically derived, and sensitivity analysis of the FAW reproduction number highlighted its central role in …

Machine Learning-Enabled Chemical Ecology For Integrated Pest Management: From Volatiles To Field Applications, Steve B.S. Baleba, Victor O. Omondi, Pascal Aigbedion-Atalor, Emmanuel Peter, Souleymane Diallo, Komi Mensah Agboka

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Machine learning is transforming chemical ecology by accelerating the discovery and deployment of semiochemical-based tools for precision pest management. These advances are particularly important in the face of climate change, pesticide resistance, and the growing need for sustainable agricultural intensification. This review synthesizes how machine learning can be applied across the semiochemical discovery and implementation pipeline, from chemical signal detection to field deployment and decision support for integrated pest management. We review major machine learning approaches and demonstrate how they extract biologically relevant information from high-dimensional chemical, electrophysiological, behavioral, sensor, and field datasets. These methods accelerate semiochemical discovery, prioritize candidate …

Organic Pesticides: A General Overview, Marion Murray, Ann Mull

All Current Publications

Organic pesticides are naturally occurring, nonsynthetic, or minimally processed substances that control unwanted organisms in the environment. Categories include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and miticides.

Coming Soon To A Cellar Near You: Novel Range Expansion Of A Short-Bodied Cellar Spider, Physocyclus Enaulus (Araneae: Pholcidae), In A Building In Central Illinois, Usa, Ricky Gieser, Mark Davis

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A reproductive population of Physocyclus enaulus Crosby, 1926 (Pholcidae: Araneae), a short-bodied cellar spider native to the American southwest and Mexico, is documented for the first time in a single building in Illinois, far outside of their known native range. The means of introduction is unknown but is likely influenced by either accidental hitchhiking spiders or a deliberate introduction to control brown recluse populations. Cellar spiders were purchased and released in the same building to predate on brown recluse spiders, but the first P. enaulus individual was found a year prior to the release. These cellar spiders have a wide-ranging …

New Wisconsin State Records For Predatory Fungus Gnats (Diptera: Bibionomorpha: Keroplatidae), Daniel K. Young

The Great Lakes Entomologist

In Wisconsin, no published literature species records for the keroplatid genera Keroplatus and Proceroplatus exist (Diptera: Bibionomorpha: Keroplatidae). New state records are presented for Keroplatus carbonarius Bosc, Keroplatus clausus Coquillett, Keroplatus militaris Johannsen and Proceroplatus elegans (Coquillett). The new records are associated largely with Malaise trap samples from Hemlock Draw (The Nature Conservancy), in the Baraboo Hills of Sauk County, and a Malaise trap at Kemp Natural Resources Station, in Oneida County, Wisconsin. Two specimens of K. clausus and a single specimen of K. militaris discovered within the research collection at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are also reported. The specimens …

First Records Of The Rare Nearctic Water Boatman Palmacorixa Janeae (Hemiptera: Corixidae) In The United States, Kurt L. Schmude, Gerald Shepard, Adam Frankiewicz

The Great Lakes Entomologist

We report the first record of the rare water boatman, Palmacorixa janeae Brooks (Hemiptera: Corixidae), from the United States. Two hundred and forty specimens were collected in Wisconsin from Chequamegon Bay in Lake Superior. Palmacorixa gillettei Abbott, a similar species known from the area, was also identified among the samples. Most specimens, all of which were adults, were collected at night using a neuston net towed along the surface for approximately 5 minutes. The adults were found in areas that were 34 meters to 4.2 kilometers from the shore that had depths ranging from 1.0 to 5.5 meters. All representatives …

Seasonal Emergence, Egg Gallery Characteristics, And Natural Enemies Of The Eastern Ash Bark Beetle, Hylesinus Aculeatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), In Michigan, Robert A. Haack

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Hylesinus aculeatus Say (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) commonly infests the trunks and limbs of recently dead, dying, or cut ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees in eastern North America. In the Great Lakes region, H. aculeatus is univoltine, overwinters as adults, breeds in late spring and early summer, and constructs transverse biramous egg galleries. I sampled trunk and branch sections from three small-diameter white ash (F. americana L.) trees that were cut in April 1986 in Ingham County, Michigan, and then naturally infested by H. aculeatus and associates. Bolts cut from these trees and placed in an outdoor rearing cage in …

Phenology Of Ground-Dwelling Beetle Assemblages (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Staphylinidae) From Three Fir Stands Of Southern Québec (Canada), With Comparison Among Selected Species Between 1985 And 2006-2010, Claire Levesque, Gilles-Yvon Levesque

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A total of 5,303 adult epigaeic beetles (Coleoptera) were collected using pitfall traps across three balsam fir (Abies balsamea (Linnaeus) Miller) stands in southern Québec (Canada). Sampling occurred during May–September 1985 in sites representing three distinct understory vegetation types. Three dominant families (Carabidae, Leiodidae and Staphylinidae) together represented at least 93% of catches at each site. Staphylinidae were less abundant than Carabidae at two sites, whereas Carabidae and Staphylinidae were collected in similar numbers at a third stand. Associated with increased abundance and heterogeneity of the understory vegetation, we observed 1) the decrease of specialist forest carabids, often active …

Caddisfly (Trichoptera) Assemblages From The Southern Laurentian Highlands, Québec (Canada), David C. Houghton

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The caddisflies (Trichoptera) represent an important taxon for the natural functioning of aquatic ecosystems and as biological monitoring organisms; however, basic information on their assemblages is still lacking in Canada. In this study, adult caddisflies from 30 lakes and streams in the southern Laurentian Highlands of Québec were sampled during 2023–2025. A total of 186 caddisfly species were determined, including 22 species not previously reported from Québec and eight not previously reported from anywhere in Canada. Two species of Cernotina also represented the first collection of that genus within the province. Using Indicator Species Analysis, six species indicated small rivers, …

Paper Wasp Species Polistes Fuscatus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Tracks Urban Lead (Pb) Levels More Than Polistes Dominula, Lindsey R. Kemmerling, Anna L. Lovat, Allison A. Hanka, Emilie C. Snell-Rood

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Lead (Pb) is a persistent, toxic pollutant with widespread but inequitably distributed impacts, especially for humans in urban areas. The impacts of lead pollution on other organisms is largely unknown, even as they commonly experience exposure to lead alongside humans. We tested hypotheses regarding the lead concentrations of paper wasps across a gradient of pollution relative to soil and human lead levels, and correlations with wasp body condition. We collected two species of paper wasp across an urban gradient of lead pollution: Polistes fuscatus (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), native to our study location, and Polistes dominula (Christ), nonnative to our study …

Long-Term Monitoring And Response Of Papaipema Sciata Bird (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) To Prescribed Fire In Michigan (Usa), Gregory J. Norwood, Logan M. Rowe, Brett A. Degregorio, David L. Cuthrell, Aaron D. Meredith, Steven M. Gray

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The Culver’s root borer moth (Papaipema sciata) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a rare Noctuid that requires Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum) to complete its lifecycle within remnant native grasslands and open woodlands in the midwest and northeast United States. We report on 26 years of monitoring this species’ colonization of Culver’s root stems at Algonac State Park (ASP) in Michigan, where prairies have been maintained by prescribed fire since 1990. P. sciata is considered fire sensitive because eggs spend the dormant season in the combustible prairie litter and duff near host plants. The objectives were to determine the …

Could The European Thanasimus Formicarius Outcompete The North American Thanasimus Dubius (Coleoptera: Cleridae) If Introduced To North America?, Robert A. Haack, Robert K. Lawrence

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A federal quarantine was enacted in the United States (US) in the fall of 1992 in response to discovery of the Eurasian pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (L.) (Coleoptera: Scolytinae), in July 1992 in Ohio. The quarantine regulated movement of pine products (e.g., Christmas trees, nursery stock, and logs) at the county level from infested to uninfested US states. A classical biological program was considered for T. piniperda starting in 1995, focusing on the Eurasian clerid beetle Thanasimus formicarius (L.), an important predator of T. piniperda. Concerns were raised in 1996 that if T. formicarius were released in the …

Fecundity Of Thanasimus Dubius (Coleoptera: Cleridae) Rebounds After A Period Of Prey Scarcity, Robert A. Haack, Robert K. Lawrence

The Great Lakes Entomologist

We field-collected Thanasimus dubius (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) adults during spring, maintained them separately in the laboratory, and initially gave them four bark beetle adults [Ips grandicollis (Eichhoff) or Tomicus piniperda (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)] daily as prey. Using a subset of the female clerids (N = 41), we assigned them to one of four feeding groups that varied in the number of prey provided daily. For the first four weeks of a 12–week study, the four diets were: four prey daily, two prey daily, one prey daily, and one prey every 2 days. After four weeks, all females were …

Distribution And Status Of Silphium Herb Gall Wasps (Cynipoidea: Aulacideini: Antistrophus) And Their Associated Endophytic Communities In Wisconsin, Richard A. Henderson, Louis F. Nastasi, Jay Watson, Scott Sauer

The Great Lakes Entomologist

At least six described species of the herb gall wasp genus Antistrophus Walsh (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Aulacideini) are dependent on the plant genus Silphium L., a plant group emblematic of now-endangered Midwestern tallgrass prairies. The distribution and conservation status of Antistrophus gall wasps is mostly a mystery, and these insects have only recently been recorded from Wisconsin. We surveyed the state for Antistrophus gall wasps on four Silphium species, whole-leaf rosinweed (S. integrifolium Michx.), compass plant (S. laciniatum L.), cup plant (S. perfoliatum L.), and prairie dock (S. terebinthinaceum Jacq.) to determine their distribution and abundance in Wisconsin. We report new …

Cover Art For Tgle Vol. 59 Nos. 1 & 2

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover Art for TGLE Vol. 59 Nos. 1 & 2

Cover Pages For Tgle Vol. 59 Nos. 1 & 2

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover Pages for TGLE Vol. 59 Nos. 1 & 2

Full Issue For Tgle Vol. 59 Nos. 1 & 2

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Full issue for TGLE Vol. 59 Nos. 1 & 2

Spider Biodiversity And Insecticide Sensitivity Across Active And Restored Cranberry Bogs On Nantucket, Tyler J. Kulak

Graduate Masters Theses

Spiders are one of the most diverse groups of organisms on the planet with over 53,000 species described as of 2026. They provide a suite of ecosystem services including their regulation of problematic pests in agricultural systems, appearing in high biomasses across a breadth of ecological niches. While beneficial as pest regulators, they are also susceptible to the same management techniques as pest organisms and are especially vulnerable to chemical control. Cranberry production in Massachusetts likely benefits from spider ecosystem services, but diversity research on spiders in these systems is limited. This study compares the diversity of spider populations from …

American Plum Borer In Utah Orchards (Euzophera Semifuneralis), Emilie Demard, Marion Murray, Claudia Nischwitz

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides information on American plum borer in Utah orchards, also known as APB. This pest primarily damages fruit trees. APB moths were detected in traps in 2026, but to date, no tree damage has been found. This fact sheet discusses hosts, identification, and management methods.

Clara S. Ludlow: Mississippi A & M Graduate And American Military Entomology Pioneer, Bradley Brazzeal

Midsouth Entomologist

The systematic study of the mosquitoes of the world did not begin until the early years of the 20^th century. Among the early entomologists to specialize in the field was Clara S. Ludlow, who graduated from Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College. Her research began in the Philippines in 1901, while American troops were still fighting in the Philippine-American War, and for over 20 years she researched mosquitoes in connection with the U.S. Army. This article explores Ludlow’s scientific career and the legacy of her research.

Effect Of Food Resource, Preservation Method, And Preservation Duration On Larval Size Of Forensically Important Fly Species (Order: Diptera), John Zukowski

Student Theses

Forensic entomology is a vital discipline that can aid in the proceedings of criminal cases. Larval age and development are important aspects to consider when utilizing blow flies (Family: Calliphoridae) for estimates pertaining to the initial time of colonization (TOC), which contributes to postmortem interval (PMI) estimations. Thus, it is important to understand the factors that influence larval size and development, since larval size is commonly used as a proxy for age. Larvae of three species of flies, Lucilia sericata (Meigen), Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy), and Phormia regina (Meigen), were reared on five different food resources. Specimens of L. sericata and …

Eusocial Caste Specialization Under Abiotic And Biotic Stress In A Stingless Bee, Tetragonisca Angustula, Kristin M. Robinson

Dissertations

Eusocial insects rely on division of labor to achieve high colony efficiency and provide essential ecosystem services, but specialization may also constrain colony resilience when workers operate near their physiological or behavioral limits under abiotic and biotic stressors. How specialization mediates these responses remains poorly understood, particularly in stingless bees (Tribe: Meliponini). Using the agriculturally relevant stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula, which possesses a specialized soldier subcaste, I investigated how a high degree of worker specialization influences physiological tolerance and predator responses across worker subcastes.

In this dissertation, I quantified variation in thermal tolerance and desiccation resistance among worker subcastes …