Entomology Commons^™

Mathematical Modelling Of The Interactive Dynamics Of Wild And Microsporidia Mb-Infected Mosquitoes, Charlène N.T. Mfangnia, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Berge Tsanou, Jeremy Herren

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

A recent discovery highlighted that mosquitoes infected with Microsporidia MB are unable to transmit the Plasmodium to humans. Microsporidia MB is a symbiont transmitted vertically and horizontally in the mosquito population, and these transmission routes are known to favor the persistence of the parasite in the mosquito population. Despite the dual transmission, data from field experiments reveal a low prevalence of MB-infected mosquitoes in nature. This study proposes a compartmental model to understand the prevalence of MB-infected mosquitoes. The dynamic of the model is obtained through the computation of the basic reproduction number and the analysis of the stability of …

Documenting Range Expansion Of Two Invasive Tick (Acari:Ixodidae) Species In Eastern South Dakota, Braden Wojahn

Dissertations and Theses

This project documents the expanded zoogeographic ranges of the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) within eastern South Dakota. Ticks are important when considering a “One Health” approach, as many species are competent vectors of zoonotic pathogens causing human diseases and conditions such as Lyme disease, tularemia, rickettsia, and alpha gal syndrome. The research involved constitutes two steps. First, tick surveillance was conducted in eastern counties of South Dakota, spanning March 2021 through August 2022. Surveillance took place along edge habitat at recreation areas, state and public parks, wildlife management areas and refuges, and other natural …

Chemosensory System Of Tsetse Flies (Diptera: Glossinidae), M. N. Getahun, R. W. Macharia, S. G. Nyanjom, G. F. Obiero, S. Diallo, P. O. Mireji, D. Masiga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Tsetse flies are exclusively hematophagous and vectors of trypanosomes, which cause human and animal African trypanosomiasis. They are widely distributed in Africa, with 33 extant taxa and 22 species in three sub-genera. Despite a low reproductive rate, tsetse can maintain populations large enough to cause the restriction of the economic use of large areas of tropical Africa through the transmission of trypanosomiases. This success is largely due to their ability to navigate in their environments, using olfactory signals, which elicit critical behavioural phenotypes, such as attraction to hosts for blood meals, larviposition and resting sites, as well as avoidance of …

Response Of Some Mango-Infesting Fruit Flies To Aqueous Solutions Of The Basil Plant Ocimum Tenuiflorum L, Saliou Niassy, Samira Abuelgasim Mohamed, Xavier Cheseto, Evanson Rigan Omuse, John Bwire Ochola, Fathiya Mbarak Khamis, Boubacar Badji, Sheppard Ndlela, Levi Ombura, Noelah Leah Okun, David Mfuti Kupesa, Thomas Dubois, Yeneneh Taye Belayneh, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Introduction: Horticulture is an important sub-sector for many African countries. Tephritid fruit flies continue to cause serious direct and indirect damage to the sub-sector. The male annihilation technique (MAT) using methyl eugenol (ME) is among the most revered techniques in fruit fly management. However, ME-based lures are only available to some farmers in Africa. Several basils of the genus Ocimum produce ME. Methods: In laboratory experiments, we used a dual choice olfactometer to assess the attraction of adult oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis to intact plants, 100 µL commercial methyl eugenol (ME) (positive control), 10 mg/mL of O. tenuiflorum aqueous …

Laboratory Bioassays Of A Native Arkansas Isolate Of Metarhizium Robertsii (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) And The Biopesticide Met52® For The Control Of Amblyomma Americanum (Anactinotrichidea [=Parasitoformes]: Ixodidae)., Allen Szalanski

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is the predominant human-biting tick in Arkansas and a vector of multiple pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. Increasing concerns over acaricide resistance and environmental contamination have prompted evaluation of alternative control strategies. We assessed the pathogenicity of a native Arkansas isolate of Metarhizium robertsii (Savoy P10N1) against laboratory-reared adult and nymphal A. americanum under controlled conditions. Ticks were immersed in a conidial suspension (1 × 10⁸ conidia/ml) and monitored for mortality and fungal sporulation for 77 days post-inoculation. Cumulative mortality followed a time-dependent logistic pattern, with significant fungal-induced mortality beginning at 14 …

Biology, Genetic Diversity, And Conservation Of Wild Bees In Tree Fruit Orchards, Olivia Mae Kline, Ngoc T. Phan, Mitzy F. Porras, Joshua Chavana, Coleman Z. Little, Lilia Stemet, Roshani S. Acharya, David J. Biddinger, Gadi V.P. Reddy, Edwin G. Rajotte, Neelendra K. Joshi

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are the most economically important agricultural pollinator in North America, as well as being the most frequently studied bee species. Many agricultural systems, such as fruit tree orchards, benefit from having a diversity of bee species present. In this article, we present information about the types of bees that can be found in orchards and explore their mating behaviors, life cycles, genetic differences, flower preferences, and foraging activities. Many orchard-pollinating bees, including bumble bees (Bombus spp.), mason bees (Osmia spp.), and mining bees (Andrena spp.), are often less studied than honey …

Investigation Of Fungal Pathogens And Woodboring Beetles Of Sugarbush Stands In The Central Appalachian Region, Molly A. Sherlock

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The production of maple syrup is a valuable source of income and cultural identity for many rural communities throughout the central Appalachian region. Regardless, maple syrup producers face difficulties maintaining the health and productivity
of their stands due to various impacts of climate change, which have given rise to extreme weather events that exacerbate damage caused by pests and diseases. To ensure the long-term sustainability of the maple syrup industry, it is crucial to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the current biotic threats within the region, particularly woodboring insects and fungal pathogens. However, insufficient information exists regarding the community assemblages …

Temporal, Phenotypic, And Quantitative Characterization Of Thyroid Infiltrating Mononuclear Cells During Development Of Spontaneous Autoimmune Thyroiditis In Obese Strain Chickens, Katelyn M. Clark, Chrysta N. Beck, Gisela F. Erf

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

The Obese strain (OS) of chickens spontaneously develops autoimmune thyroiditis (SAT) and is a well-established biomedical model for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in humans. Both conditions are characterized by the infiltration of thyroid glands with mononuclear immune cells resulting in the destruction of thyroid tissue and impairment of the thyroid’s endocrinological functions. Past studies described immune cell infiltration in thyroids of the OS chickens, but the time-course, cell composition, and relative amounts of the various immune cells infiltrating the thyroids have not been well defined. In this project, frozen and stored thyroid glands that were previously collected at 1, 4, 7, 14, …

Rice Biomass Response To Various Phosphorus Fertilizers In A Phosphorus-Deficient Soil Under Simulated Furrow-Irrigation, Jonathan B. Brye, Kristofor R. Brye, Diego Della Lunga

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

Wastewater-recovered phosphorus (P), in the form of the mineral struvite (MgNH4PO4∙6H2O), may provide a sustainable alternative to decreasing rock-phosphate reserves. Struvite can be generated via precipitation methods, potentially reducing the amount of P runoff to aquatic ecosystems. The objective of this greenhouse tub study was to evaluate the effects of chemically and electrochemically precipitated struvite (CPST and ECST, respectively) on aboveground plant response in a hybrid rice cultivar grown using furrow-irrigation compared to other common fertilizer-P sources [i.e., triple super phosphate (TSP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP)] using three replications of fertilizer treatment in a P-deficient silt loam (Typic Glossaqualfs). Aboveground …

Hide And Seek: An Exploration Of Antipredator And Predator Avoidance Mechanisms In Orthopodomyia Signifera In Response To Predation From Toxorhynchites Rutilus, Nathaniel Dahlberg

Master's Theses

There have been many observations of larval Orthopodomyia signifera coexisting with the predator Toxorhynchites rutilus. There are three hypotheses that could explain how Or. signifera resists predation from Tx. rutilus. The first hypothesis states that larvae adapt behavioral changes that limit predation. The second hypothesis states thoracic setae serve as a physical defense that prevents Tx. rutilus from grasping Or. signifera. The third hypothesis states Or. signifera possess a chemical defense indicated by aposematic coloration. To test the first hypothesis larval Or. signifera were exposed to conspecific and heterospecific predation cues and their behavior was observed. Both cues …

Photonic Monitoring Of Atmospheric Fauna, Adrien P. Genoud

Dissertations

Insects play a quintessential role in the Earth’s ecosystems and their recent decline in abundance and diversity is alarming. Monitoring their population is paramount to understand the causes of their decline, as well as to guide and evaluate the efficiency of conservation policies. Monitoring populations of flying insects is generally done using physical traps, but this method requires long and expensive laboratory analysis where each insect must be identified by qualified personnel. Lack of reliable data on insect populations is now considered a significant issue in the field of entomology, often referred to as a “data crisis” in the field. …

Nicotiana Glauca Graham (Solanaceae) Bioactivity And Toxic Effects On Mortality, Feeding Behavior And Pupation Choice Of Drosophila Melanogaster Larvae (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Abir Bouzar, Sarra Habbachi, Ibtissem Samai, Makarem Rahat, Nour El Imene Boublata, Saadane Fatma Zohra, Wafa Habbachi, Benhissen Saliha, Abdelkrim Tahraoui

Journal of Bioresource Management

Nicotiana glauca is a medicinal plant used by traditional healers as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory medicines. The leaves of N. glauca are very rich in indolic alkaloids which give it a larvicidal power which allows us to use it as a bio-insecticide.In the present study we were perfomed in the direct (mortality) and indirect (food attractiveness and pupation) toxic effects of the aqueous extract of N. glauca on the mortality and feeding behavior of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The treatment was administered to 2nd instar larvae (L2) and the mortality rate was monitored for 15 days. Similarly we …

Effect Of The Exogenous Foliar Sprays Of Micro-Doses Of Fructose And Glucose, On Egg-Laying Of Cydia Pomonella L. And Its Oviposition Site Selection In Apple Orchard, Abdelkader Tiffrent, Nadia Lombarkia

Journal of Bioresource Management

A better understanding of the new concept of ‘sweet immunity’, represented by the use of sugars to reduce the susceptibility of plants to pests, would help implication of this knowledge within a new apple orchard protection strategy against Cydia pomonella. Behavioral and effect of two sugars, fructose (100 ppm), glucose (100 ppm), and chemical insecticide (deltamethrin) on egg-laying of C. pomonella were evaluated on two varieties (Golden delicious and Royal gala). The spraying of the two sugars, besides the insecticide, during the first, the third flight on the Golden delicious variety and the fourth flight on the …

Factors Responsible For Resistance In Okra Against Aphid, Aphis Gossiypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae), Shazia Rehman, Bashir Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Muhammad Ilyas, Ayesha Irum, Muhammad Arif, Imtiaz Khan, Sehrish Jamil, Muhammad Muzaffar Raza, Muhammad Jamil, Noor Muhammad, Faran Muhammad

Journal of Bioresource Management

Aphids are herbivores that feed on plant’s sap and are widespread throughout the globe. To assess the factors affecting the infestation of Aphis gossypii (Glover) and to use antixenosis a trial was conducted using 5 okra genotypes (Sabz Pari, Advanta, Durga, Kaveri, and Shandar) during spring, 2017 at “Agriculture Research Institute” (ARI) Tarnab, under Random Complete Block Design (RCBD) in field and Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in lab with 3 and 8 replications, respectively. Weekly data gathering for mean percent infestation of A. gossypii on each genotype to note variation among genotypes. The aphid infestations (2.5 Aphid leaf^-1) …

Greenhouse Biocontrol In Utah: Beneficial Insects And The Pests They Target, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

This guide provides information on biocontrol in Utah and pests that are targeted by beneficial pests, such as aphids, fungus gnats, mealybugs, scales, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies. Symptoms, monitoring, lifecycles, and biocontrol options are included.

Pests Of Hemp In Utah, Marion Murray, Macahl Evans, Claudia Nischwitz, Austin Taylor, Cody Zesiger

All Current Publications

This guide includes information on insect and disease pests of hemp, organized by pest group. Much of the content is a result of a two-year arthropod and plant disease survey of field-grown hemp operations in northern Utah. Some pests included in this guide were not found in that survey but may be likely to occur in the future. Beneficials and natural enemies are also covered, and information on pesticides is included.

Establishment Of The Invasive Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis Cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) In Pakistan: A Potential Threat To Cultivated, Ornamental And Wild Opuntia Spp. (Cactaceae), Muhammad Ather Rafi, Harry Pavulaan, Muhammad Islam, Muhammad Ashfaq, Haseeb Kamran, Walija Fayaz, Gul Naz Parveen, Riffat Sultana, Ahmad Zia, Waqar Ahmed, Qudrat Ullah, Muhammad Qasim, Falak Naz, Nazeer Ahmed, Muhammad Tariq Khan, Muhammad Saeed, Jalal Hayat Khan

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Subsequent to the significant accomplishment of biological control of Opuntia weeds in Australia, the larvae of the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (native to parts of South America), were released in many countries for the biological control of native Opuntia species (Simmonds and Bennett, 1966). Inauspiciously, larvae were also released in the Caribbean, where the moth spread naturally and by the human support all over the region (García-Turudi et al., 1971). Its enhanced dissemination rate and the biological potential for invasiveness, suggests that the cactus moth is likely to become an invasive pest of Opuntia in the Southeast United States, Mexico, …

Description Of A New Species Of Aleuroparadoxus Quaintance And Baker (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) From Guatemala, José Francisco García Ochaeta, Anil Kumar Dubey

Insecta Mundi

Puparia of a new whitefly, Aleuroparadoxus marisae García-Ochaeta and Dubey, new species (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), collected on leaves of Brosimum alicastrum Sw. in Santa Ana, Petén, Guatemala, and on Pimenta dioica (L). Merr. in Calzada Mopán, Dolores, Petén are described and illustrated. Drawings of morphological structures and differential diagnosis of the puparium are provided, and differences from congeners are discussed. A key to puparia of the Aleuroparadoxus Quaintance and Baker species is included.

Pavement Ants (Tetramorium Immigrans Santschi), Ryan S. Davis, Lori R. Spears, Austin Taylor

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes pavement ants. It covers identification, biology and habits, and management.

Japanese Beetle (Popillia Japonica Newman), Lori R. Spears, Diane G. Alston, Joey Caputo, Erin Hodgson, Cory Stanley, Kristopher Watson

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes Japanese beetles and reviews damage symptoms, life cycle, monitoring, and management.

Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa Mandarinia Smith), Lori R. Spears, Carson Wise, Ryan Davis

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes Asian giant hornet and reviews similar-looking insects, its life cycle, predatory strategies, monitoring and management, and the related public health concerns.

Honey Bee Nutrition Through The Ages, Kaitlyn Bresnaham

Biology Student Scholarship

Honey bee nutrition can tell us a lot about the state of the hive. It is known that summer worker bees and winter worker bees have different protein and carbon content, but not much research has been done on nutritional content throughout the life history stages of honey bees. I am examining differences in carbon and nitrogen content in the bees for the three different castes at various life stages. The results could allow for more efficient planting of pollinator friendly plants based on the nutritional needs of the colony, or could affect how beekeepers do supplemental feedings when necessary. …

Effect Of Dietary Protein On Honey Bee Pollen Foraging Behavior, Katherine Burke

Biology Student Scholarship

Bees obtain nutrients from flowers. Pollen provides proteins and fats; nectar provides carbohydrates. Pollen is important for providing essential amino acids which honey bees must obtain from their diet for proper development. Commercial honey bee colonies, however, pollinate monocultures, which contain one crop type thus, one unbalanced nutritional resource. We examined how a lack of protein diversity affects honey bee pollen foraging behavior. Bees were raised on three diet treatments: no manipulation, all 10 essential amino acids (EAAs, i.e., protein building-blocks), or only 6/10 EAAs. Bee-collected pollen was trapped upon return to the hive and nutritional content was analyzed. We …

Examples Of Insect Mouthparts, Bethia H. King

Books, Book Chapters, & Supplemental Materials

Renderings of mouthparts for honey bees, house flies, grasshoppers, lepidopterans, mosquitoes, and hemipterans.

Growth Of Pseudocotalpa Giulianii Larvae In Sand From Different Dune Sources, Cosset Hernandez Pena, Mandy Mountain

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Pseudocotalpa giulianii (PSGU) is an endemic species known to inhabit two sand dunes in Nye County, Nevada: Big Dune Recreational Area and Lava Dune. Differences in sand properties between Big Dune and Lava Dune could impact survival and growth of the larvae of P. giulianii. Use of permitted off-road vehicles (ORV) in Big Dune can impact its habitats and cause disturbances to local populations, including the Giuliani Dune Scarab as ORV activity is correlated with changes in dune vegetation. Lava Dune has no permitted ORV activity, however, differences in sand composition, including eroded basalt, have the potential to influence the …

Investigating The Involvement Of The Tick Vector In The Induction Of Alpha-Galactose Hypersensitivity (Alpha-Gal Syndrome, Red Meat Allergy) In The United States., Gary Crispell

Dissertations

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS or sometimes called red meat allergy) is a result of the development of specific IgE antibodies to the oligosaccharide galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) after a person has had exposure to tick bites. This dissertation investigates four common tick species found in North America: the lone-star tick (Amblyomma americanum), the Gulf-Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum), the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), and the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) for the presence of α-gal by utilizing a combination of immunoproteomic approaches and carbohydrate analysis techniques.

Anti-α-gal IgM antibodies (M86) were used in immunoblotting to detect …

Description Of The Immature Stages Of Dacus Bivittatus (Diptera: Tephritidae), The Greater Pumpkin Fruit Fly, Gary J. Steck, Shepard Ndlela, Louis A. Somma, Jessica Diaz, Matthew R. Moore, Jessica Awad

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

We describe the egg, three instars, and pupa of Dacus bivittatus Bigot using optical and scanning electron microscopy and compare them with those of other Dacus Fabricius species for which these stages have been described as well as those of two important pest species of Zeugodacus Hendel that infest cucurbits. A new anatomical term, lateral lips, is introduced to describe a feature of the facial mask. A feature of the egg that has not been reported previously for Tephritidae is described here: a peculiar arrangement of aeropyles in an irregular line partially encircling the egg near the posterior end. A …

Spotted Lanternflies: Their Harm And How To Help, Sao Mai Nguyen

D.U.Quark

No abstract provided.

Demonstration Farm Provides Educational Opportunity For Ipm, Nick Volesky, Mair Murray

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The mission of USU Extension’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is to increase the use of sustainable pest management practices within urban and rural landscapes to provide economic, human, and environmental health in Utah. In the spring of 2022, the IPM program established a vegetable farm to test and demonstrate IPM practices. The farm served as an experiential learning classroom for almost 50 farmers and home gardeners.

On The Firefly (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) Species Of Carl Linnaeus, Oliver Keller

Insecta Mundi

The firefly species described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 and 1767 (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) were checked to determine the actual dates of publication. Nine out of twelve species were originally described in 1758 and not in 1767 as published in the majority of firefly literature. Lampyris hespera Linnaeus, 1767 as a junior synonym of Aspisoma lampyris (Linnaeus, 1758) is established.

Se revisaron las especies de luciérnagas descritas por Carl Linnaeus in 1758 y 1767 (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) para la determinación de fechas de publicación. Nueve de las doce especies fueron originalmente descritas en 1758 y no en 1767 como aparece publicado en …