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2026

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Articles 91 - 120 of 184

Full-Text Articles in Entomology

Modelling The Temporal Dynamics Of Microsporidia Mb Prevalence In Anopheles Mosquitoes Under Environmental Variability, Charlène N. Mfangnia, Matteo Pedercini, Henri E. Tonnang, Jeremy K. Herren Apr 2026

Modelling The Temporal Dynamics Of Microsporidia Mb Prevalence In Anopheles Mosquitoes Under Environmental Variability, Charlène N. Mfangnia, Matteo Pedercini, Henri E. Tonnang, Jeremy K. Herren

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Releasing Microsporidia MB-positive mosquitoes is being investigated as a promising component of Integrated Vector Management (IVM) strategies for malaria control. In this study, we developed a System Dynamics model to replicate the observed interactions between humans, mosquitoes, the Plasmodium parasite, and the symbiont MB. The model accounts for the impact of environmental variables - such as humidity, rainfall, and temperature - on mosquitoes, Plasmodium, and MB, using exogenous inputs derived from daily climatic observations (rainfall, relative humidity, and temperature) recorded during the mosquito field surveys. We calibrate the model using data collected from Ahero in Kenya, available for 3 years …

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Bluebird Bait: Quantifying The Attraction Of Ectoparasites To Nestling Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia Sialis), Ella Grace Bollinger Apr 2026

Bluebird Bait: Quantifying The Attraction Of Ectoparasites To Nestling Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia Sialis), Ella Grace Bollinger

ATU Scholars Symposium

Ectoparasites, such as mosquitoes (Culicidae), blackflies (Simuliidae), and biting midges (Ceratopogonidae), have been shown to reduce population viability by lowering post-fledging survival and decreasing the lifetime reproductive success of adult birds. This issue is particularly concerning for songbirds such as the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) because their nestlings are relatively naked and have limited mobility, making them highly vulnerable to attacks by biting flies. However, the specific mechanisms attracting ectoparasites to nests remain understudied. We hypothesized that biting fly and mosquito abundance would be significantly higher at active Eastern Bluebird nests than that of empty boxes and would increase with …

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Developing A Range Prediction For The Imperiled Florida Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex Badius) Using Species Distribution Modeling, Noah Williamson Apr 2026

Developing A Range Prediction For The Imperiled Florida Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex Badius) Using Species Distribution Modeling, Noah Williamson

Honors Theses

The Florida Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex badius) was once widespread and commonplace throughout the sandhills of the Southeastern United States, providing key ecosystem services, such as seed dispersal and soil aeration. Over recent decades, however, Florida Harvester Ant populations have declined in some areas. Current literature postulates that Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA), and the insecticides used to manage them, as well as further human encroachment onto their habitat, all likely contributed to Florida Harvester Ant population declines. Thus, to better protect these organisms, pursue data-driven conservation efforts, and guide management practices, more information about their nest site selection, as well …

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An Insight Into The Venom Gland Proteome Of The Two-Spined Trap-Jaw Ant, Odontomachus Haematodus, Aaron Morgan Apr 2026

An Insight Into The Venom Gland Proteome Of The Two-Spined Trap-Jaw Ant, Odontomachus Haematodus, Aaron Morgan

Honors Theses

Ants are ecologically important and highly abundant organisms, playing key roles in many ecosystems. One recently introduced species in the southeastern United States is Odontomachus haematodus (the two-spined trap-jaw ant), a South American native that has often been misidentified, contributing to limited research on its biology and venom composition. This study aimed to provide the first detailed characterization of the venom apparatus and proteome of O. haematodus. Specimens were collected and dissected, and venom-related proteins were extracted and analyzed using SDS-PAGE and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS-ESI). Confocal microscopy was also used to visualize the sting apparatus, including F-actin filaments and …

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Land-Use Changes Shape Mosquito Assemblages, Host-Feeding And Arbovirus Infection In Baringo County, Kenya, Caroline Getugi, Elizabeth Kokwaro, Anthony Nyamache, Inga Slothouwer, Gilbert Rotich, Rosemary Sang, Sandra Junglen, David P. Tchouassi Apr 2026

Land-Use Changes Shape Mosquito Assemblages, Host-Feeding And Arbovirus Infection In Baringo County, Kenya, Caroline Getugi, Elizabeth Kokwaro, Anthony Nyamache, Inga Slothouwer, Gilbert Rotich, Rosemary Sang, Sandra Junglen, David P. Tchouassi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Environmental transformation driven by human activity has profound implications for the ecology of mosquito vectors and the pathogens they transmit. This study investigated the influence of land-use change on mosquito assemblages, host-feeding patterns, and arbovirus infection across sylvatic-rural-peri-urban land-use types in Marigat subcounty, Rift Valley, Kenya. Adult mosquitoes were collected using CO₂-baited CDC light traps and BG-Sentinel traps across three sites: Kiborgoch conservancy (sylvatic), Ntepes village (rural) and Marigat town (peri-urban). Sampling was conducted during three sessions including September 2022, August 2023, and December 2023. The mosquitoes were morphologically identified to species, and indices of abundance, richness and diversity compared …

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Spider Mite Response, Agronomic Performance, And Stability Of A Urochloa Spp. Diversity Panel Under Field Conditions, Adrian Mating’I Kimani, David Kariuki Muruu, Paula Espitia-Buitrago, Sylvia Henga, Catherine Muui, Frank Chidawanyika, Rosa Noemi Jauregui Apr 2026

Spider Mite Response, Agronomic Performance, And Stability Of A Urochloa Spp. Diversity Panel Under Field Conditions, Adrian Mating’I Kimani, David Kariuki Muruu, Paula Espitia-Buitrago, Sylvia Henga, Catherine Muui, Frank Chidawanyika, Rosa Noemi Jauregui

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Spider mites (Oligonychus trichardti) are emerging as a major constraint to Urochloa forage productivity in East Africa; however, knowledge of genotypic variation and tolerance remains limited. Herein, 55 Urochloa genotypes were evaluated under field-infested and non-infested conditions across two seasons using an alpha-lattice design. Agronomic and physiological traits, including plant height (PH), tiller number (TN), the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), total dry weight (TDW), and mite damage indices (visual severity index (VSI) and stress tolerance index (STI)) were assessed. Infestation reduced biomass by 22.4% on average, with reductions of up to 45% in susceptible genotypes. Significant genotypic variation was …

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Organic Management Of Pillbugs And Sowbugs In Strawberries And Other Fruits, Briger Carey, Marion Murray, Emilie Demard, Jennifer R. Reeve Mar 2026

Organic Management Of Pillbugs And Sowbugs In Strawberries And Other Fruits, Briger Carey, Marion Murray, Emilie Demard, Jennifer R. Reeve

All Current Publications

Pillbugs and sowbugs are collectively known as isopods that typically feed on soil organic matter, but under certain conditions, they can be a pest of many young plants and berries. This fact sheet reviews identification, life cycle, damage, and organic management strategies for pillbugs and sowbugs.

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New Distributional Record Of Dacus Persicus (Diptera: Tephritidae), A Biocontrol Agent Of Calotropis Procera (Apocynaceae), From Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan, Muhammad Adnan Bodlah, Imran Bodlah, Aleena Kanwal, Alishbah Mohsin, Ayesha Younas, Muhammad Tariq Siddique, Hafiz Muhammad Zia Ullah Ghazali, Muhammad Salman Yousafzai Mar 2026

New Distributional Record Of Dacus Persicus (Diptera: Tephritidae), A Biocontrol Agent Of Calotropis Procera (Apocynaceae), From Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan, Muhammad Adnan Bodlah, Imran Bodlah, Aleena Kanwal, Alishbah Mohsin, Ayesha Younas, Muhammad Tariq Siddique, Hafiz Muhammad Zia Ullah Ghazali, Muhammad Salman Yousafzai

Journal of Bioresource Management

The tephritid species Dacus persicus Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae) exhibits strict host specificity to Calotropis species and is known as a destructive seed feeder of Calotropis procera. During field surveys, D. persicus larval stages were obtained from infested fruits of C. procera whereas adults were collected through sweep net sampling. This study documents the occurrence of D. persicus from southern district of Punjab, thereby extending its known distribution within the province beyond previous records from northern Punjab. Adult’s specimens were reared from field collected fruits and net-sweeping. Adults were identified based on detailed morphological examination of external characters and female …

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Seasonal Activity Pattern Of Ambrosia Beetles In Southeast Virginia, Umme H. Akter, Sajrim Chowdhury, Deborah A. Waller Mar 2026

Seasonal Activity Pattern Of Ambrosia Beetles In Southeast Virginia, Umme H. Akter, Sajrim Chowdhury, Deborah A. Waller

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are wood-boring insects that influence forest ecosystems through fungal symbioses, rapid host colonization, and invasive species dynamics. Despite their ecological importance, seasonal activity patterns remain poorly characterized in southeastern Virginia. This study integrates field trapping and statistical modeling to examine species-specific seasonal activity across two forested sites in Norfolk, Virginia. Beetles were monitored using ethanol and essential oil-baited bottle traps alongside ethanol-soaked bolt traps. Overall abundance peaked in April, indicating strong early-season emergence. Ethanol-baited traps captured 3-7 times more beetles than essential oil traps, and negative binomial generalized linear models confirmed bait type as a significant …

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Trapping Ambrosia Beetles (Curculionidae) With Ethanol-Soaked Tree Bolts In Southeastern Virginia., Sajrim Chowdhury, Umme H. Akter, Deborah A. Waller Mar 2026

Trapping Ambrosia Beetles (Curculionidae) With Ethanol-Soaked Tree Bolts In Southeastern Virginia., Sajrim Chowdhury, Umme H. Akter, Deborah A. Waller

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Native and invasive ambrosia beetles infest a wide variety of tree species in southeastern Virginia and cause significant damage. We investigated trapping ambrosia beetles by using ten different tree species as lures. One objective of the study was to determine the most effective lure for each species of ambrosia beetle related to tree species and the diameter of the bolt. Sections of tree limbs of two different diameters and 25cm in length were soaked in ethanol and hung from trees in several natural locations, both near water and away from water. Beetles attracted to the lures bored into the bolts …

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Louisiana Species Of The Genus Xestia Hübner And The Genus Agnorisma Lafontaine, Vernon Antoine Brou Jr., Charlotte Dozar Brou Mar 2026

Louisiana Species Of The Genus Xestia Hübner And The Genus Agnorisma Lafontaine, Vernon Antoine Brou Jr., Charlotte Dozar Brou

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

We address three species of the genus Xestia Hübner recorded for the state of Louisiana: Xestia dilucida (Morrison), Xestia elimata (Guenée) and Xestia c-nigrum (Linnaeus), and we also address new state capture records for Agnorisma badinodis (Grote) and Agnorisma bollii in Louisiana.

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Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglossus Occidentalis), Emilie Demard Mar 2026

Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglossus Occidentalis), Emilie Demard

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides information on the western conifer seed bug, including native range, life cycle, plant hosts, symptoms and damage, and management options.

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Is The Long-Horned Grasshopper Ruspolia Differens (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) A Novel, Nutritious, Functional, And Safe Alternative Food Product? A Review, Margaret Kababu, Collins Mweresa, Dorothy Nakimbugwe, Geoffrey Ssepuuya, Karlmax Rutaro, Nicodemus Matojo, Faith Nyamu, Robert Mbeche, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi, Chrysantus Tanga Mar 2026

Is The Long-Horned Grasshopper Ruspolia Differens (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) A Novel, Nutritious, Functional, And Safe Alternative Food Product? A Review, Margaret Kababu, Collins Mweresa, Dorothy Nakimbugwe, Geoffrey Ssepuuya, Karlmax Rutaro, Nicodemus Matojo, Faith Nyamu, Robert Mbeche, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi, Chrysantus Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Ruspolia differens Serville (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) is among the most widely consumed edible insect in Eastern and Central Africa, where it contributes to both household nutrition and income generation. As a nutrient-dense food source, it offers a promising alternative to curb food insecurity and malnutrition. Despite this, the consumption and use of the grasshopper is limited to its seasonal availability when it is collected from the wild. Coupled with this, is limited evidence on its domestication despite research advances to optimize conditions for mass production. This review was conducted to highlight research advances and gaps on production, processing, nutritional profile, and …

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Identification And Full Genome Sequencing Of Previously Unknown Sandfly-Borne Phleboviruses Using A Newly Established Capture-Based Next-Generation Sequencing Approach, Edwin O. Ogola, Inga Slothouwer, Gilbert Rotich, Anne Kopp, Armanda D. Bastos, Caroline Getugi, Julia Melchert, Terence C. Jones, Dorcus C. Omoga, Rosemary Sang, Baldwyn Torto, David P. Tchouassi, Sandra Junglen Mar 2026

Identification And Full Genome Sequencing Of Previously Unknown Sandfly-Borne Phleboviruses Using A Newly Established Capture-Based Next-Generation Sequencing Approach, Edwin O. Ogola, Inga Slothouwer, Gilbert Rotich, Anne Kopp, Armanda D. Bastos, Caroline Getugi, Julia Melchert, Terence C. Jones, Dorcus C. Omoga, Rosemary Sang, Baldwyn Torto, David P. Tchouassi, Sandra Junglen

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Sandfly-borne phleboviruses cause febrile illness and neuroinvasive disease in humans. While infections are reported in the Mediterranean region, the discovery of previously unknown phleboviruses in sandflies from Kenya suggests a wider geographic distribution. Detection and characterization of novel phleboviruses are often hindered by low-quality and low-viral-load samples. We developed a capture-based target enrichment next-generation sequencing approach that showed a 99%-100% fold enrichment of viral genomes from primary material and provides a robust tool for generating complete genomes of both known and previously unknown viruses. From a collection of 15,652 sandflies in Kenya, we recovered seven complete coding sequences of Embossos, …

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Three Butterfly Genera Across The Central Texas Suture Zone, Qian Cong, Jing Zhang, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin Mar 2026

Three Butterfly Genera Across The Central Texas Suture Zone, Qian Cong, Jing Zhang, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Genome-scale analyses of butterfly specimens across the Central Texas Suture Zone revealed that several taxa currently treated as subspecies exhibit genomic differentiation similar to that observed between species. Further investigation and genomic sequencing of additional specimens from across the ranges of these taxa support this conclusion and result in the following changes to nomenclature and taxonomy. Two new subspecies of Nymphalidae Rafinesque, 1815 are described: Asterocampa louisa monterra Grishin, ssp. n. (type locality in Mexico: Nuevo León) and Asterocampa clyton plana Grishin, ssp. n. (type locality in USA: Texas, Denton Co.). The following taxa are recognized as species, not subspecies: …

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Michigan Tech’S Insect Collection: An Important Historical Resource In The Upper Peninsula, Thomas E. Panella, Tara L. Bal Mar 2026

Michigan Tech’S Insect Collection: An Important Historical Resource In The Upper Peninsula, Thomas E. Panella, Tara L. Bal

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Regional insect collections can be valuable resources when covering under-represented areas, unique time periods, or unique collectors. Houghton and Baraga County Michigan are two predominantly forested counties in the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan. The main campus for Michigan Technological University is based in Houghton, MI with a forestry field campus in Baraga County that was acquired in 1954. The university has had forest entomology research in some capacity at least since the 1930’s with faculty, students, and members of the community preserving and submitting various specimens in the decades since then, making it a unique collection demographically. The collection …

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Dawn To Dusk Division Of Monarda Fistulosa Foraging Time By Bumble Bee Species (Bombus Spp.) And Likelihood To Return The Next Day, Elise Bernstein, Clara Costello, Mary Yang, Rosa Weinand, Noah Sullivan, Maya Cintorino, Charlie Vang, Miller Johnson, Ahmed Hussein, Gaochong Vang, Rashad Bowen, Kristen Gresl, Elaine Evans Mar 2026

Dawn To Dusk Division Of Monarda Fistulosa Foraging Time By Bumble Bee Species (Bombus Spp.) And Likelihood To Return The Next Day, Elise Bernstein, Clara Costello, Mary Yang, Rosa Weinand, Noah Sullivan, Maya Cintorino, Charlie Vang, Miller Johnson, Ahmed Hussein, Gaochong Vang, Rashad Bowen, Kristen Gresl, Elaine Evans

The Great Lakes Entomologist

There is a growing public interest in increasing pollinator habitat in urban areas. Monarda fistulosa is a commonly planted perennial species chosen for pollinator habitats of various sizes, from residential gardens to large-scale prairie restoration projects. Previous research has confirmed a preference for M. fistulosa among various bee species. We monitored and marked bumble bees visiting M. fistulosa over a 14-hour period, seeking to understand the daily pattern of bee visitation. We also observed bumble bees on the following day to determine the probability of marked individual bumble bees continuing to forage on M. fistulosa or to switch to a …

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New Records Of The American Bumble Bee, Bombus Pensylvanicus, In Michigan, Sharron Z. Miller, Logan M. Rowe, Lillyanna Widdicombe, Robert P. Jean, Rufus Isaacs Mar 2026

New Records Of The American Bumble Bee, Bombus Pensylvanicus, In Michigan, Sharron Z. Miller, Logan M. Rowe, Lillyanna Widdicombe, Robert P. Jean, Rufus Isaacs

The Great Lakes Entomologist

We report recent detections of the American bumble bee, Bombus pensylvanicus (De Geer) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), in 16 counties of Michigan, USA. This bee species is currently listed as state endangered in Michigan. The current report provides an update on the distribution of B. pensylvanicus in Michigan from collections made between 2020 and 2024, including detections from at least 21 locations in the Lower Peninsula, expanding the known distribution in this state. These samples were from four pollinator survey projects with records from photographs and collections and two online participatory science programs where users uploaded photographs of this species while verified …

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Assessing The Performance Of A 3d Printed Pennsylvania-Style Black Light Moth Trap, Christopher B. Brown, Eva S. Conley, Peter White Mar 2026

Assessing The Performance Of A 3d Printed Pennsylvania-Style Black Light Moth Trap, Christopher B. Brown, Eva S. Conley, Peter White

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Passive light traps have long been a popular method used for trapping moths and other night-flying insects. Recent changes in the availability of equipment necessitate the development of accessible and effective alternatives for insect monitoring. This study assesses the performance of a 3D-printed Pennsylvania-style black light moth trap compared to the formerly available commercial BioQuip trap and investigates the impact of funnel size on catch rates. Our 3D-printed trap was compared to the BioQuip trap over ten trap-nights in Central Michigan. Results indicate that commercial BioQuip traps consistently captured significantly more moths than the 3D-printed prototype. An additional experiment evaluating …

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Initial Changes In Ground Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Species Assemblages Near Seasonal Ponds Surrounded By Forests Under Different Harvesting Practices, Robert A. Haack, Toby Petrice, Robert E. Acciavatti, Robert L. Davidson, Brian J. Palik Mar 2026

Initial Changes In Ground Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Species Assemblages Near Seasonal Ponds Surrounded By Forests Under Different Harvesting Practices, Robert A. Haack, Toby Petrice, Robert E. Acciavatti, Robert L. Davidson, Brian J. Palik

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Seasonal ponds often form after spring snowmelt in forests of the Great Lakes region. Although such seasonal ponds are common, few US states set buffer-width guidelines to protect them when harvesting the adjacent upland forest. The objectives of this study were to determine if the carabid beetle assemblages near seasonal ponds differed from those in the adjacent upland forests prior to any logging, and then if these assemblages changed in response to various levels of tree harvesting within and adjacent to the 15-m-wide buffers that surrounded the seasonal ponds. The traps were placed within the buffers at about 7.6 m …

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Geography Of Periodical Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) In Portions Of Northeast Illinois And Northwest Indiana, Carl A. Strang Mar 2026

Geography Of Periodical Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) In Portions Of Northeast Illinois And Northwest Indiana, Carl A. Strang

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Brood XIII periodical cicadas (Magicicada Davis) in DuPage County, Illinois, emerged in 2024 in an area that extended as much as 10.6 km beyond the edge of the previous main emergence in 2007. The implied dispersal of gravid females is greater than has been reported elsewhere and may reflect adaptation to a historical landscape of scattered wooded islands within a matrix of prairie. A series of four-year-early emergences in northeast Illinois, first described in print in 1969 and subsequently occurring prior to each succeeding main emergence, was quantified for the first time in 2020. The largest densities of singing …

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Biology, Phenology, And Host Range Of A Seed-Feeding Weevil, Ceutorhynchus Constrictus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), A Biological Control Agent For Garlic Mustard, Alliaria Petiolata, In North America, Ghislaine Cortat, Hariet L. Hinz, Esther Gerber, Elizabeth J. Katovich, Mary E. Marek-Spartz, Roger L. Becker, Robert S. Bourchier, Danielle Fife Mar 2026

Biology, Phenology, And Host Range Of A Seed-Feeding Weevil, Ceutorhynchus Constrictus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), A Biological Control Agent For Garlic Mustard, Alliaria Petiolata, In North America, Ghislaine Cortat, Hariet L. Hinz, Esther Gerber, Elizabeth J. Katovich, Mary E. Marek-Spartz, Roger L. Becker, Robert S. Bourchier, Danielle Fife

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Ceutorhynchus constrictus Marsham is a seed-feeding weevil and potential biocontrol agent of the invasive plant garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata (Bieb.) Cavara & Grande (Brassicaceae), in North America. Ceutorhynchus constrictus is native to Europe, has a single generation per year and eggs are laid into developing seeds within the seedpods of bolting garlic mustard plants. Females use their prolonged rostrum to bore holes through seedpods into the developing seed, deposit a single egg and then cover the opening with secretion. Larvae feed on ripening seeds and progress through three instars before exiting seedpods in late June, to pupate and overwinter in …

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Cover Art For Tgle Vol. 58 Nos. 3 & 4 Mar 2026

Cover Art For Tgle Vol. 58 Nos. 3 & 4

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover Art for TGLE Vol. 58 Nos. 3 & 4

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Cover Pages For Tgle Vol. 58 Nos. 3 & 4 Mar 2026

Cover Pages For Tgle Vol. 58 Nos. 3 & 4

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover pages for TGLE Vol. 58 Nos. 3 & 4

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Full Issue For Tgle Vol. 58 Nos. 3 & 4 Mar 2026

Full Issue For Tgle Vol. 58 Nos. 3 & 4

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Full issue for TGLE Vol. 58 Nos. 3 & 4

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The Modern Sisyphus Blows Leaves: Attitudes And Impacts Regarding Leaf Litter Removal On A Suburban Campus, A. C. Nony, M. R. Mcclung, M. L. Reid Mar 2026

The Modern Sisyphus Blows Leaves: Attitudes And Impacts Regarding Leaf Litter Removal On A Suburban Campus, A. C. Nony, M. R. Mcclung, M. L. Reid

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Leaf litter habitat disruption in suburban spaces stems from the prevalence of “lawn culture,” that is, the accepted societal norm that land immediately surrounding humans or meant for human recreational use should be clean, tidy, controlled, and aesthetically pleasing, above other considerations. When leaf litter on residential and recreational lawns is cleared, it removes vital habitat for organisms of several taxa, especially species that rely on litter as a moisture and temperature-controlled substrate for overwintering. We administered an opinion survey to students, staff, and faculty at Hendrix College, a highly residential and suburban campus in Conway, Arkansas, to assess views …

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A Haplotype Reference Panel And Genotype Imputation Framework For The Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens), Peter Muchina, Johnson Kinyua, Fathiya Khamis, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Maria Altaf Satti, Grum Gebreyesus, Goutam Sahana, Zexi Cai Mar 2026

A Haplotype Reference Panel And Genotype Imputation Framework For The Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens), Peter Muchina, Johnson Kinyua, Fathiya Khamis, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Maria Altaf Satti, Grum Gebreyesus, Goutam Sahana, Zexi Cai

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Low-coverage whole genome sequencing (lcWGS) combined with genotype imputation provides a cost-efficient alternative to high-coverage sequencing for large-scale genotyping. Although widely implemented in human and livestock genomics, this strategy has not yet been systematically optimized for insects of industrial importance. The black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens ) is increasingly used in global waste bioconversion and sustainable protein production, but genomic resources remain limited. Here, we develop the first BSF haplotype reference panel, containing ∼29.8 million high-quality SNPs from 168 high-coverage genomes, and benchmark imputation performance using a validation experiment in which 33 high-coverage individuals were down-sampled to low coverage …

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Resurgence Of Visceral And Cutaneous Leishmaniasis In Kajiado County, Kenya: A Coordinated Response And Entomological Survey, Damaris Matoke-Muhia, Barrack O. Owino, Steve Kiplagat, Hannah N. Mwangi, Johnstone M. Ingonga, Daniel Njenga, Benny B. Septer, Mwatela Kitondo, Daniel Mwiti, Charles Magiri, Hellen Nyakundi, Juliet Onditi, Sarah Weihl, Catherine Wenger, Abhay Satoskar, Jandouwe Villinger, Shaden Kamhawi, Joseph Ndungu, Richard Wamai, Daniel K. Masiga Mar 2026

Resurgence Of Visceral And Cutaneous Leishmaniasis In Kajiado County, Kenya: A Coordinated Response And Entomological Survey, Damaris Matoke-Muhia, Barrack O. Owino, Steve Kiplagat, Hannah N. Mwangi, Johnstone M. Ingonga, Daniel Njenga, Benny B. Septer, Mwatela Kitondo, Daniel Mwiti, Charles Magiri, Hellen Nyakundi, Juliet Onditi, Sarah Weihl, Catherine Wenger, Abhay Satoskar, Jandouwe Villinger, Shaden Kamhawi, Joseph Ndungu, Richard Wamai, Daniel K. Masiga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated emergence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in 2021, in Kajiado County in Kenya, representing a newly recognized region of endemic transmission. METHODS: The investigation involved community sensitization, medical camps, and entomological surveys across eight villages. We screened 100 individuals with indicative symptoms of leishmaniasis, and also carried out an entomological survey. RESULTS: We found 10 patients of VL, predominantly in children under 15. Of 22 suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases, eight were confirmed with Leishmania tropica. Entomological surveys identified 4781 sandflies, with Sergentomyia species being most abundant. DNA of Leishmania donovani was detected in multiple Sergentomyia species …

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Role Of Developmental Plasticity In Tethered Flight Performance Of The Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera Dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), Thabang P. Moropa, Steve B.S. Baleba, Christopher W. Weldon Feb 2026

Role Of Developmental Plasticity In Tethered Flight Performance Of The Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera Dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), Thabang P. Moropa, Steve B.S. Baleba, Christopher W. Weldon

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This study investigated the effect of nutrition on development of wings and adult body condition of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), an exotic pest of Asian origin and a species of economic importance in South Africa. Six host fruit types were used to rear B. dorsalis: mango, guava, orange, grapefruit, papaya and apple. One day after emergence, adults were used for tethered flight assessments using computerised flight mills. Additional flies were assessed in terms of wing morphology using geometric morphometrics, flight muscle mass, and lipid content. There were significant differences in the larval and pupal developmental time as well as larval and …

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Observations Of Puddling Butterflies In Maryland, Usa, Aydin Örstan Feb 2026

Observations Of Puddling Butterflies In Maryland, Usa, Aydin Örstan

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Six butterfly species in four families were observed puddling on damp soil, scat and carrion in various locations in Montgomery County, Maryland and on small islands in the Potomac River. Four species preferred damp soil to nearby mud, but the reason for this behavior is unknown. The presence of butterflies on small islands in the Potomac River is documented for the first time.

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