Entomology Commons^™

A Non-Native Forest Invader Alters Forest Structure And The Associated Arthropod Community, Matthew B. Savage

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

The emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is a non-native wood boring beetle that is causing extensive ash (Fraxinus spp.) mortality in eastern North America, affecting both urban and wildland forests and drastically altering forest structure and composition. As EAB-induced ash mortality progresses, native arthropod associates of ash forests are impacted by the effects of rapid and broad scale tree mortality. These include loss of food source, increased canopy gap formation, alterations in litter inputs causing shifting temperature and moisture regimes on the forest floor, and significant accumulation of coarse woody debris.

I assessed the sub-canopy …

Reproductive Status Of Drosophila Suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Females Influences Attraction To Fermentation-Based Baits And Ripe Fruits, Katharine A. Swoboda-Bhattarai, Douglas R. Mcphie, Hannah Burrack

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is an invasive species that is a devastating pest of soft-skinned fruit crops. Although much effort has been directed toward developing traps and attractants to monitor for D. suzukii, current monitoring tools do not reliably predict fruit infestation. The objective of this study was to determine if D. suzukii females at different developmental stages are differentially attracted to monitoring traps with fermentation-based baits and ripe fruits. Females were collected on the surface of traps, within traps, and on ripe fruits during three experiments at field locations in North Carolina, USA, and were dissected to determine their reproductive …

Invasive Species Impacts On Infrastructure, Invasive Species Advisory Committee

National Invasive Species Council

Executive Summary

Invasive species represent one of the most significant threats to ecosystems, human and animal health, infrastructure, the economy, and cultural resources. Because potentially invasive, non-native species typically enter the United States through ports of entry in urban environments, some of the first observable impacts may be to infrastructure, yet little is known about the economic costs associated with these impacts to the “built” environment. In addition, federal agencies currently lack the authority necessary to effectively prevent, eradicate, and control invasive species that impact the human-built environment. This lack of authority prevents rapid response to some of the most …

Emergence Phenology And Nematode Associates Of The Woodwasp, Sirex Nigricornis F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), In Arkansas And Mississippi Forests, Jessica Ann Hartshorn

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sirex nigricornis F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) is a native woodwasp in eastern North America that inhabits dead and dying pine trees during its univoltine development. Sirex noctilio is native to Eurasia and North Africa and was discovered in the northeastern United States in 2004 after a century of accidental introductions across the Southern Hemisphere. Since then, it has spread to seven states and southern Ontario. There is concern about its potential to negatively affect the multi-billion dollar pine timber industry of the southeastern United States. Effective monitoring tools are necessary to track the spread and establishment of S. noctilio. Deladenus siricidicola …

First Records Of The Iceryine Scale Insects Crypticerya Brasiliensis (Hempel) And Crypticerya Genistae (Hempel) (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) For Colombia, Takumasa Kondo, Penny Gullan, Ana L. B. G. Peronti, Andra Amalia Ramos Portilla, Alejandro Caballero, Nelson Villarreal- Pretelt

Insecta Mundi

Abstract. Crypticerya brasiliensis (Hempel) and Crypticerya genistae (Hempel) (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae: Iceryini) are herein reported for the fi rst time in Colombia. The above two species and Crypticerya multicicatrices Kondo and Unruh and Crypticerya zeteki (Cockerell) are briefl y diagnosed based on the adult females. The presence of C. zeteki in Colombia is confi rmed and a key to the adult females of species of the tribe Iceryini reported in Colombia is provided.

Resumen. Se reportan por primera vez a Crypticerya brasiliensis (Hempel) y Crypticerya genistae (Hempel) (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae: Iceryini) en Colombia. Las dos especies arriba mencionadas junto con Crypticerya multicicatrices …

The Cuba-Florida Plant-Pest Pathway, Cory Penca, Damian C. Adams, Jiri Hulcr

Insecta Mundi

Recent shifts in US policies towards Cuba suggest a relaxation or lifting of the embargo may occur in the

near future. With the prospects of open travel and trade with Cuba come concerns over the introduction of agricultural

pests. In an effort to assess these concerns the distribution-based introduction risk of pests listed in the 2015 Cooperative

Agricultural Pest Survey’s (CAPS) list of priority pests of economic and environmental importance is reviewed. Of

the 59 pests on the CAPS priority pest list, 20 have been recorded in the literature as being present in the Caribbean

Basin, South America and Central …

First Record Of The Bermuda Grass Scale Odonaspis Ruthae Kotinsky, 1915 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) In Colombia, José Mauricio Montes Rodríguez, Takumasa Kondo

Insecta Mundi

The Bermuda grass scale Odonaspis ruthae Kotinsky, 1915 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) is reported for the first time in Colombia. The scale insect was collected in two localities, in northwestern and southwestern Colombia. This is the first record of the tribe Odonaspidini in Colombia. Aspects of the distribution and biology of the species are discussed. A key to separate the species of Odonaspis recorded in the Neotropical region is provided.

Se registra por primera vez la escama del pasto Bermuda Odonaspis ruthae Kotinsky, 1915 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) en Colombia. El insecto escama fue recolectado en dos localidades, una al noroccidente y …

Ovipositional Preference, Fidelity, And Fitness Of Drosophila Suzukii In A Co-Occurring Crop And Non-Crop Host System, Lauren M. Diepenbrock, Katharine A. Swoboda-Bhattarai, Hannah Burrack

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is a devastating pest of soft-skinned fruits including blackberries and raspberries. Management of this pest is focused on preventing infestation in crops, but non-crop hosts may play an important role in enabling D. suzukii to persist in the absence of cultivated hosts. Drosophila suzukii may also infest fruits of both crop and non-crop hosts concurrently. Our goals were to determine whether (1) D. suzukii prefers to oviposit in cultivated blackberry, Rubus L. subgenus rubus Watson, or American pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, a non-crop host commonly found along field edges, (2) D. suzukii prefers to oviposit into the same …

Fruit Fly Species Composition, Distribution And Host Plants With Emphasis On Mango- Infesting Species, Ivan Rwomushana, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Mango is the most widely cultivated fruit tree in tropical and sub-tropical Africa. However, the sustainability of this lucrative business is threatened by infestations of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) that annually inflict heavy economic losses on the industry. The nutritional quality of different fruit species can influence the survival and fecundity of adult fruit flies. This host-insect interaction determines the species composition, distribution and abundance of the major frugivorous tephritids. The economic impact of fruit fly pest species includes direct yield losses and the loss of export markets due to quarantine restrictions implemented to prevent the entry and establishment of …

Fruit Fly Species Composition, Distribution And Host Plants With Emphasis On Vegetable-Infesting Species, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Ivan Rwomushana

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Vegetable crops hold a key position in smallholder agricultural production systems in Africa due to the number of farmers involved, income generation, employment opportunities, and enhancement of food and nutritional security. In many developed countries, demand for vegetables continues to grow due to increased awareness of the nutritional benefits, thereby stimulating increased domestic production and also imports from Africa. However, many pests threaten the productivity of the vegetable sector. Key amongst these are tephritid fruit flies that inflict both direct and indirect losses; alien invasive species are often responsible for severe ecological and economic impacts. The highly invasive and polyphagous …

Survey For Spotted-Wing Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) In The Five-County Nursery Production Region Of Middle Tennessee, Usa, Karla M. Addesso, Jason B. Oliver, Paul A. O'Neal

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Through global trade, spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), a native of Southeast Asia, has spread to at least 3 other continents since 2008. Initial reports of the fly in new regions often are associated with damage in agriculture fields, but the fly may be present in the landscape for years before populations reach a level at which they become a pest in fruit production. In 2012, spotted wing drosophila was reported in blueberry fields in eastern Tennessee, USA, for the first time. In order to determine whether the fly was established in middle Tennessee, we conducted landscape surveys …

Benthic Collector And Grazer Communities Are Threatened By Hemlock Woolly Adelgid-Induced Eastern Hemlock Loss, Joshua K. Adkins, Lynne K. Rieske

Entomology Faculty Publications

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) is a foundation species in eastern North America where it is under threat from the highly invasive, exotic hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). Eastern hemlock is especially important in riparian areas of Central and Southern Appalachia, so we compared the spatial and temporal composition of benthic collector-gatherers, collector-filterers, and grazers in headwater streams with hemlock-dominated riparian vegetation to those with deciduous tree-dominated riparian vegetation to evaluate the extent to which adelgid-induced hemlock loss could influence composition and abundance of these two functional feeding groups. We found differences in benthic invertebrate abundance and …

A Preliminary Checklist Of Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) Intercepted In Korea On Dracaena And Ficus Plants (Asparagales: Asparagaceae, Rosales: Moraceae) Imported From Southern Asia, Soo-Jung Suh, Ik-Hwa Hyun

Insecta Mundi

The checklist revealed 40 species of scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) intercepted at Korean ports of entry on dracaena and ficus plants from southern Asia from 1996 to 2014. Brief diagnostic criteria and related information of the intercepted species are given to assist in the identifiation of specimens of scale insects intercepted from these plant hosts. Additionally, this preliminary checklist of scale insects could be utilized as a basis for preventive measures in quarantine.

Effects Of Plant Virus And Its Insect Vector On Encarsia Formosa, A Biocontrol Agent Of Whiteflies, Xiaoyuan Liu, Wensheng Xiang, Xiaoguo Jiao, Youjun Zhang, Wen Xie, Qingjun Wu, Xuguo Zhou, Shaoli Wang

Entomology Faculty Publications

In this study, we investigated the tritrophic interactions among a persistently transmitted plant virus, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), its insect vector, the sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci, and a parasitoid, Encarsia formosa Gahan, one of the most extensively used biological control agents. As an emerging invasive pest worldwide, the two most damaging whiteflies are B. tabaci B and Q cryptic species. On healthy tomato plants, parasitoid-induced mortality was significantly higher in B. tabaci B than in Q. In contrast, similar mortality levels of B and Q were observed on TYLCV-infected plants. A higher rate of parasitism was consistently observed …

Bemisia Tabaci Q Carrying Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus Strongly Suppresses Host Plant Defenses, Xiaobin Shi, Huipeng Pan, Hongyi Zhang, Xiaoguo Jiao, Wen Xie, Qingjun Wu, Shaoli Wang, Yong Fang, Gong Chen, Xuguo Zhou, Youjun Zhang

Entomology Faculty Publications

The concurrence of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) with the spread of its vector Bemisia tabaci Q rather than B in China suggests a more mutualistic relationship between TYLCV and Q. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that viruliferous B and Q have different effects on plant defenses. We found the fecundity of nonviruliferous B, nonviruliferous Q, viruliferous Q and viruliferous B was 11.080, 12.060, 10.760, and 11.220 respectively on plants previously attacked by the other biotype, however, on their respective noninfested control leaves fecundity was 12.000, 10.880, 9.760, and 8.020 respectively. Only viruliferous B had higher fecundity on viruliferous …

Impact And Management Of Megacopta Cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), Nicholas Seiter

All Dissertations

Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), known informally as the kudzu bug or bean plataspid, was found in Georgia in 2009 and has since spread rapidly throughout the southeastern United States. A known feeder on soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, in its native Asian range, M. cribraria has been commonly encountered in soybean fields in the southeastern United States since its first detection in the crop in Georgia and South Carolina during 2010. In addition, its overwintering behavior sometimes results in nuisance infestations in homes. The primary objectives of this research were to determine the potential impacts of M. cribraria on …

Influence Of Edible Fruit Coatings On Drosophila Suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Oviposition And Development, Katharine A. Swoboda-Bhattarai, Hannah Burrack

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is a highly invasive vinegar fly recently detected in the United States that severely threatens the viability of soft skinned fruit production. Insecticides mitigate some of this damage, but alternative methods to manage D. suzukii infestation are needed. We tested three edible coatings to determine if they could prevent or reduce oviposition by D. suzukii females or affect immature survivorship and development in two important host crops, blueberry and raspberry. None of the coatings prevented oviposition, but some reduced the number of eggs laid. Two carnauba wax-based coatings, PrimaFresh 45 and Raynox, dramatically reduced survivorship of immature …

Molecular Markers Reveal Narrow Genetic Base And Culturing-Associated Genetic Drift In Teretrius Nigrescens Lewis Populations Released For The Biological Control Of The Larger Grain Borer In Africa, B. A. Omondi, J. Van Den Berg, D. Masiga, F. Schulthess

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

In biological control, successful establishment of a natural enemy species depends on its adaptability in the introduced range including its ability to re-establish desired ecological interactions with the pest. These are affected by genetic parameters hitherto largely unresolved in biological control. The larger grain borer (LGB), Prostephanus truncatus, an invasive species from meso-America, is the most important post-harvest pest of maize in Africa. We studied the genetic structure of Teretrius nigrescens, a predatory beetle previously released for the control of the pest in Africa, to test the hypothesis that establishment patterns were a result of ecotype-environment mismatch and to follow …

Notes And New Distributional Records Of Invasive Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) In The Southeastern United States, Joe A. Macgown, Heath Richter, Richard L. Brown

Midsouth Entomologist

The spread and establishment of alien species into new regions is becoming commonplace with increased global trade and a warming climate. Ants are among the most successful of these species due to their relatively small size and adaptability. The southeastern United States has been particularly susceptible to the introduction of alien ant species as a result of its geographic location and large number of shipping ports. A subset of these alien species is considered invasive based on their overall negative impacts to natural ecosystems and to humans. During recent years, several of these species have shown marked dispersal in the …

Temporal Food Preference And Effectiveness Of Selected Bait Products Against Pachycondyla Chinensis (Emery) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Ying Mo

All Theses

Pachycondyla chinensis (Emery), commonly known as the Asian needle ant is a well-established invasive species in urban and woodland areas in South Carolina. Foraging ants are found around or under places such as sidewalks, flowerbeds, mulch, tree bases, stones, and logs where human outdoor activity takes place in urbanized area. It is not an aggressive ant, but it has a powerful sting that causes severe allergic reactions in some people. It also has a negative impact on native ant species in forest environments. Food preference was studied, followed by an evaluation of selected bait products against P. chinensis.
Protein, carbohydrate, …

An Assessment Of The Invasive Poison Hemlock And Its Insect Associates In Kentucky, Christine D. Allen

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum (Apiaceae), is an invasive plant in North America with a unique toxic chemistry. Previous research on this plant has focused on identifying herbivores as potential biological control agents or describing the toxic plant alkaloids. However, none have examined the role of higher trophic levels in the food web surrounding poison hemlock. Generalist predators and food web interactions are an important component of studies investigating invasion effects, as plant or animal introductions can alter ecosystem functioning. In this study, predators in poison hemlock were sampled at the foliar and epigeal levels, resulting in 956 Carabidae and 321 …

Western Australia's Biosecurity, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia, Department Of Environment And Conservation, Western Australia, Department Of Fisheries, Western Australia, Forest Products Commission, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

Biosecurity is the protection of the economy, environment and human health from the negative impacts of pests, weeds and diseases, including the management of invasive species if they become established (definition adopted by AusBIOSEC).

This requires steps to prevent the entry of harmful organisms, as well as the timely and efficient management of them if they do enter.

Biosecurity threats range from catastrophic diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease, which causes rapid and widespread animal deaths, to more subtle and slower spreading problems such as invasive weeds, mussels that foul vessel hulls and fungus-induced dieback disease of trees. These …

Taxonomy, Biogeography And Pest Status Of Marmara Sp. In Northern Mexico And California Citrus Production, Paul Semet

Master's Theses

A novel lepidopteran sex pheromone lure which was thought to be species-specific to the citrus pest Marmara gulosa (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) Guillén (McElfresh et al. 2009) has attracted male moths exhibiting two distinct morphologies. The morphological features examined were the sclerotized parts that make up the male genitalia; which include the valvular lobes, costal lobes, cucullar lobes, and the aedeagus. The sclerotized parts were methodically dissected and mounted on microscope slides. Digital images captured of the slide-mounted specimens proved to be inconsistent with the illustrations provided in the original Marmara gulosa species description (Guillén et al. 2001).

The morphologies of all …

Swarming Of The Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) In Southern Mississippi, A. R. Lax, B. A. Wiltz

Midsouth Entomologist

Swarms of Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, (FST) in Southern Mississippi were monitored from mid-April through late June, 2007-2009. Distribution of swarming colonies was recorded at 69 traps within Poplarville (Pearl River County) and an additional 45-65 traps, along transects in Pearl River, Lamar, Forrest, and Stone Counties. Swarms were first detected during the week ending April 27 and continued through the final collection dates in late June. In Poplarville, FST colonies were ubiquitous, with 68 of 69 traps catching alates on at least one of the 2009 sampling dates. Along highway transects, FST was collected from 36% of …

Two Additional Invasive Scarabaeoid Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) In Hawaii, Mary Liz Jameson, Darcy E. Oishi, Brett C. Ratcliffe, Grant T. Mcquate

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

Two species of dynastine scarab beetles are reported for the first time on the island of Hawaii: the Pasadena masked chafer, Cyclocephala pasadenae (Casey) (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) from North America and Temnorhynchus retusus (Fabricius) (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Pentodontini) from Africa. The Pasadena masked chafer is established on the island of Hawaii, is a recognized pest of turf grass, and is a concern for agriculture and native Hawaiian arthropod species. Temnorhynchus retusus is not known to be an agricultural pest, but its spread on the islands could pose a problem for Hawaiian native species. We provide an overview of each species, characteristics …

Barrow Island Ute Guide - Non-Indigenous Insects, Spiders And Snails, Mike Grimm, Kristofer Collett, Peter Davis, Marc Widmer, Andras Szito, Rob Emery, Peter Mangano

Biosecurity published reports

Barrow Island, the second largest island in Western Australia, is a Class A Nature Reserve and home to a variety of rare and endangered fauna and flora, some of which occur nowhere else. The island lies about 70 km off the north-west coast of Western Australia and 150 km west of Karratha.

Oil discoveries in the 1960s and the development of massive Northwest Shelf gas reserves since the 1990s made Barrow Island an important site for these industries. Strict environmental and quarantine conditions are placed on industry seeking permits to drill oil wells and construct gas processing plants. Oil production …

A New Species Of Invasive Gall Wasp (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae) On Blue Gum (Eucalyptus Globulus) In California, John La Salle, Gevork Arakelian, Rosser W. Garrison, Michael William Gates

USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory

The blue gum gall wasp, Selitrichodes globulus La Salle & Gates, n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae), is described as an invasive gall inducer on blue gum, Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (Myrtaceae), in California.

Reproductive Tactics Of Aphidophagous Lady Beetles: Comparison Of A Native Species And An Invasive Species That Is Displacing It, Yukie Kajita

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has been introduced to North America in recent decades, raising concerns of adverse impacts on native lady beetles, including the congeneric C. transversoguttata richardsoni (Brown). The central focus of my dissertation is to understand the importance of reproduction, in particular, in promoting invasion of C. septempunctata and its replacement of native lady beetles in alfalfa fields of western North America.

Studies were conducted to compare reproductive tactics of the invasive C. septempunctata and the native C. transversoguttata, by addressing: 1) maximum rate of reproduction of overwintered lady beetles, 2) population dynamics of the invasive …

Economic Threshold For Soybean Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae), D. W. Ragsdale, B. P. Mccornack, R. C. Venette, B. D. Potter, I. V. Macrae, E. W. Hodgson, M. E. O'Neal, K. D. Johnson, R. J. O'Neil, C. D. Difonzo, Thomas E. Hunt, P. A. Glogoza, E. M. Cullen

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), reached damaging levels in 2003 and 2005 in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, in most northern U.S. states and Canadian provinces, and it has become one of the most important pests of soybean throughout the North Central region. A common experimental protocol was adopted by participants in six states who provided data from 19 yield-loss experiments conducted over a 3-yr period. Population doubling times for Þeld populations of soybean aphid averaged 6.8 d±0.8 d (mean±SEM). The average economic threshold (ET) over all control costs, market values, and yield was 273 ± 38 (mean …

Frozen Beetle Treats Are Environmentally Friendly, W. John Hayden

Biology Faculty Publications

At my rural household, the most vexatious insect pest has got to be the ubiquitous Japanese beetle. Native to Japan, these pests have infested most of eastern North America, with isolated infestations appearing in some western states. One reason that Japanese beetles are so bad is that they deliver a double-whammy: the larvae (grubs) consume roots and are particularly destructive of turf and pasture grasses while the adults consume leaves and flowers of a wide variety of plants, leaving behind skeletonized versions of the plant parts consumed.