Entomology Commons^™

Evaluation Of Greenbug And Yellow Sugarcane Aphid Feeding Behavior On Resistant And Susceptible Switchgrass Cultivars, Kyle G. Koch, Teresa Donze-Reiner, Lisa M. Baird, Joe Louis, Keenan L. Amundsen, Gautam Sarath, Jeff Bradshaw, Tiffany Heng-Moss

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is an emerging biofuel crop that serves as host for aphids. To discern the effects of plant age and possible resistance mechanisms, the feeding behavior of greenbugs (Schizaphis graminum Rondani.) and the yellow sugarcane aphid (Sipha flava Forbes.) was monitored on three diverse switchgrasses by the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique. Callose deposition and genes associated with callose metabolism were also analyzed to discern their association with plant resistance. There was a strong host effect on greenbugs feeding on lowland cultivar Kanlow at the V3 stage of development, as compared to the greenbug-susceptible …

The Influence Of Spatiotemporally Decoupled Land Use On Honey Bee Colony Health And Pollination Service Delivery, Matthew D. Smart, Clint R. V. Otto, Benjamin L. Carlson, Cali L. Roth

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Societal dependence on insects for pollination of agricultural crops has risen amidst concerns over pollinator declines. Habitat loss and lack of forage have been implicated in the decline of both managed and native pollinators. Land use changes in the Northern Great Plains of the US, a region supporting over 1 million honey bee colonies annually, have shifted away from historical grassland ecosystems bees rely on for forage toward landscapes dominated by corn, soybeans, and other row crops. We investigated how land use impacts honey bee colony population size during the growing season and subsequent colony population size for almond pollination …

Clathrin-Dependent Endocytosis Is Associated With Rnai Response In The Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera Leconte, Daniele H. Pinheiro, Ana Maria Velez, Elane Fishilevich, Haichuan Wang, Newton P. Carneiro, Arnubio Valencia-Jimenez, Fernando H. Valicente, Kenneth E. Narva, Blair D. Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The cellular uptake of dsRNA after dietary exposure is critical for RNAi efficiency; however, the mechanism of its uptake in many insects remains to be understood. In this study, we evaluated the roles of the endocytic pathway genes Clathrin heavy chain (Chc), Clathrin adaptor protein AP50, ADP ribosylation factor-like 1 (Arf72A), Vacuolar H⁺ ATPase 16 kDa subunit (Vha16), and small GTPase Rab7 and putative sid-1-like genes (silA and silC) in RNAi response in western corn rootworm (WCR) using a two-stage dsRNA exposure bioassay. Silencing of Chc, Vha16, …

Abscisic And Jasmonic Acids Contribute To Soybean Tolerance To The Soybean Aphid (Aphis Glycines Matsumura), Kaitlin M. Chapman, Lia Marchi-Werle, Thomas E. Hunt, Tiffany M. Heng-Moss, Joe Louis

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Plant resistance can provide effective, economical, and sustainable pest control. Tolerance to the soybean aphid has been identified and confirmed in the soybean KS4202. Although its resistance mechanisms are not fully understood, evidence suggests that enhanced detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an active system under high aphid infestation. We further explored tolerance by evaluating the differences in constitutive and aphid-induced defenses in KS4202 through the expression of selected defense-related transcripts and the levels of the phytohormones abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), JA-isoleucine (JA-Ile), cis-(+)-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA), and salicylic acid (SA) over several time points. Higher constitutive levels …

Parental Rnai Suppression Of Chromatin Remodeling Genes To Control Coleopteran Pests, Blair D. Siegfried, Kenneth E. Narva, Kanika Arora, Sarah E. Worden, Chitvan Khajuria, Elane Fishilevich, Nicholas P. Storer, Meghan Frey, Ronda L. Hamm, Ana Maria Velez

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

This disclosure concerns nucleic acid molecules and meth ods of use thereof for control of hemipteran pests through RNA interference - mediated inhibition of target coding and transcribed non - coding sequences in hemipteran pests. The disclosure also concerns methods for making transgenic plants that express nucleic acid molecules useful for the control of hemipteran pests, and the plant cells and plants obtained thereby.

Breeding Patterns And Population Genetics Of Eastern Subterranean Termites Reticulitermes Flavipes In Urban Environment Of Nebraska, United States, Ah Ab Majid, Shripat T. Kamble, H. Chen

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) has become the most destructive subterranean termite pest, on urban structures in Nebraska. In this study, we used seven microsatellite loci to infer the colony breeding system and population genetic structure among 20 infested urban structures in Nebraska. Our data revealed that 17 structures were infested by simple family colonies of R. flavipes, while, the remaining three were infested with mixed family colonies. The measure of population differentiation, FCT value (0.459) indicated that all the 20 urban colonies (10 - 410 km apart) represented pronounced levels of genetic differentiation. The Mantel test disclosed a weak and …

Rna Interference Of The Muscle Actin Gene In Bed Bugs: Exploring Injection Versus Topical Application For Dsrna Delivery, Sanjay Basnet, Shripat T. Kamble

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Bed bugs are one the most troublesome household pests that feed primarily on human blood. RNA interference (RNAi) is currently being pursued as a potential tool for insect population management and has shown efficacy against some phytophagous insects. We evaluated the different techniques to deliver dsRNA specific to bed bug muscle actin (dsactin) into bed bugs. Initially, stability of dsRNA in human blood was studied to evaluate the feasibility of feeding method. Adult bed bugs were injected with dsRNA between last thoracic segment and first abdominal segment on the ventral side, with a dose of 0.2 μg dsactin …

In-Hive Acaricides Alter Biochemical And Morphological Indicators Of Honey Bee Nutrition, Immunity, And Development, Alison M. Reeves, Scott T. O'Neal, Richard D. Fell, Carlyle C. Brewster, Troy D. Anderson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The honey bee is a widely managed crop pollinator that provides the agricultural industry with the sustainability and economic viability needed to satisfy the food and fiber needs of our society. Excessive exposure to apicultural pesticides is one of many factors that has been implicated in the reduced number of managed bee colonies available for crop pollination services. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of exposure to commonly used, beekeeper-applied apicultural acaricides on established biochemical indicators of bee nutrition and immunity, as well as morphological indicators of growth and development. The results described here demonstrate that …

Host Plants Of Spodoptera Frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) In The Americas, Débora Goulart Montezano, Alexandre Specht, Daniel Ricardo Sosa-Gómez, Vânia F. Roque-Specht, José Carlos Sousa-Silva, Silvana L. Vieira De Paula Moraes, Julie A. Peterson, Thomas E. Hunt

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is the most important noctuid pest in the Americas and has recently become an invasive pest in Africa. A detailed record of S. frugiperda’s host plants is essential to better understand the biology and ecology of this pest, conduct future studies, and develop Integrated Pest Management programmes. In this study, we collected and systematically arranged the fragmented bibliographic information on S. frugiperda feeding records. Furthermore, we registered new records of host plants for S. frugiperda based on eight years of surveys in Brazil. The literature …

Evaluation Of Foliar Insecticides For The Control Of Western Bean Cutworm In Field Corn, 2017, Katharine A. Swoboda-Bhattarai, Grace E. Hirzel, Julie A. Peterson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The objective of this field trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a single application of foliar insecticides at preventing feeding damage by the western bean cutworm (WBC), an important pest of corn and dry beans. Direct feeding by WBC larvae on developing kernels in the ear can result in yield loss, whereas WBC infestation can also lead to secondary fungal infections. WBC has undergone a rapid range expansion into the eastern Corn Belt within the last 16 yr. This study was conducted within the historic range of WBC, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Henry J. Stumpf International Wheat Center …

Z B Mayo, Jr. Obituary, Robert J. Wright, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Blair Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Emeritus Professor of Entomology at University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Dr. Z B Mayo, Jr., passed away on 25 March 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Employed at the University of Nebraska– Lincoln (UNL) from 1972 to 2010, he had a distinguished career as a researcher, teacher, mentor, and administrator. From 1972 to 1985, he conducted research on insects associated with corn production in Nebraska, with a major emphasis placed on the biology and control of corn rootworms. He and his students contributed significantly to our knowledge of corn rootworm biology and management. In 1983, he took a professional development leave and worked at …

Resistance In Rice To Tibraca Limbativentris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Influenced By Plant Silicon Content, Lincoln Luis França, Cássio Antonio Dierings, André Cirilo De Sousa Almeida, Marcio Da Silva Araújo, Elvis Arden Heinrichs, Anderson Rodrigo Da Silva, José Alexandre Freitas Barrigossi, Flávio Gonçalves De Jesus

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Tibraca limbativentris Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a major pest causing economic losses to rice cultivation in Brazil. The objectives of this work were to assess different sources of silicon in the induction of plant resistance, to examine the interaction of rice varieties with silicon-based resistance, and to determine the effects of varieties and silicon on stink bug biology. The interaction of rice cultivars BRS Esmeralda, IRGA 429 (widely cultivated in Brazil), and Canela de Ferro (a resistant cultivar), and 2 sources of silicon (K silicate, and Ca + Mg silicate) were studied. Plant parameters measured were percentage of damaged stems, …

Symposium Paper Building Bridges Between Disciplines For Sustainable Crop Protection, Rangaswamy Muniappan, E. A. Heinrichs

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Plant protection is an interdisciplinary area that historically involved agronomy, plant breeding, entomology, plant pathology, statistics, and weed science. After World War II, pesticide development took precedence and chemistry, physics, and engineering were favored. This led to excessive use of synthetic pesticides, causing pest resistance to insecticides, contamination of ecosystems and undesirable health effects. As a result, the integrated pest management concept was developed in the 1960s. This expanded into new disciplines, such as mathematics, computer science, meteorology, and aeronautics to forecast pest occurrence and dispersal. It also included molecular biology and microbiology to produce biological control agents and GMOs …

Science At Engineer Cantonment, Hugh H. Genoways, Brett C. Ratcliffe, Carl R. Falk, Thomas E. Labedz, Paul R. Picha, John R. Bozell

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Conclusions

It is our contention that Thomas Say, Titian Peale, Edwin James, and their colleagues of the Stephen Long Expedition of 1819–1820 were heavily engaged in scientific research, which took the form of the first biodiversity inventory undertaken in the United States. This accomplishment has been overlooked both by biologists and historians, but it should rank among the most significant accomplishments of the expedition. The results of this inventory continue to inform us today about environmental, faunal, and floral changes along the Missouri River in an area that is known to be an ecotone between the deciduous forests of the …

New Tribal Placement And Review Of Parapucaya Prell And Pucaya Ohaus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae), Aura Paucar-Cabrera, Matthew Robert Moore

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The dynastine scarab genera Parapucaya Prell and Pucaya Ohaus have been historically classified in Pentodontini; however, that tribal classification is not supported under the current tribal circumscriptions. A discussion justifying the transfer of the genera Parapucaya and Pucaya from Pentodontini into Cyclocephalini is presented. This research is based on morphological observations (mandible shape and wing characters among others) and molecular data (genes 28S, COI, and 16S/ND1). A review of both genera is included, providing descriptions, diagnoses, distribution data, illustrations, and keys to species. A revised key to the world genera of Cyclocephalini is also included.

Los escarabajos de los géneros …

Gene Silencing In Tribolium Castaneum As A Tool For The Targeted Identification Of Candidate Rnai Targets In Crop Pests, Eileen Knorr, Elane Fishilevich, Linda Tenbusch, Meghan L. F. Frey, Murugesan Rangasamy, Andre Billion, Sarah E. Worden, Premchand Gandra, Kanika Arora, Wendy Lo, Greg Schulenberg, Pablo Valverde-Garcia, Andreas Vilcinskas, Kenneth E. Narva

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

RNAi shows potential as an agricultural technology for insect control, yet, a relatively low number of robust lethal RNAi targets have been demonstrated to control insects of agricultural interest. In the current study, a selection of lethal RNAi target genes from the iBeetle (Tribolium castaneum) screen were used to demonstrate efficacy of orthologous targets in the economically important coleopteran pests Diabrotica virgifera virgifera and Meligethes aeneus. Transcript orthologs of 50 selected genes were analyzed in D. v. virgifera diet-based RNAi bioassays; 21 of these RNAi targets showed mortality and 36 showed growth inhibition. Low dose injection- and …

Clathrin-Dependent Endocytosis Is Associated With Rnai Response In The Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera Leconte, Daniele H. Pinheiro, Ana M. Velez, Elane Fishilevich, Haichuan Wang, Newton P. Carneiro, Arnubio Valencia-Jimenez, Fernando H. Valicente, Kenneth E. Narva, Blair D. Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The cellular uptake of dsRNA after dietary exposure is critical for RNAi efficiency; however, the mechanism of its uptake in many insects remains to be understood. In this study, we evaluated the roles of the endocytic pathway genes Clathrin heavy chain (Chc), Clathrin adaptor protein AP50, ADP ribosylation factor-like 1 (Arf72A), Vacuolar H⁺ ATPase 16 kDa subunit (Vha16), and small GTPase Rab7 and putative sid-1-like genes (silA and silC) in RNAi response in western corn rootworm (WCR) using a two-stage dsRNA exposure bioassay. Silencing of Chc, Vha16, and AP50 led …

The Mysteries Of Insect Rnai: A Focus On Dsrna Uptake And Transport, Ana Maria Vélez, Elane Fishilevich

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

RNA interference (RNAi) is becoming a practical tool to control insect pests. Many mysteries of how double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is transported into, within, and between cells to generate an efficient RNAi response in insects are still to be unraveled. This review provides an overview of the evidence that supports a key role of endocytosis in the uptake of dsRNA on both cellular and tissue levels. Additionally, other components of cellular membrane transport and their impact on the efficiency of RNAi in insects are explored. It is now evident that the membrane transport and potentially dsRNA release from the endosome may …

Rapid And Persistent Rnai Response In Western Corn Rootworm Adults, Ke Wu, Caitlin E. Taylor, Elane Fishilevich, Kenneth E. Narva, Blair Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

RNA interference (RNAi) has proven effective for controlling pest insects such as western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Previous studies have shown that WCR adults display a robust RNAi response to orally-administered double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). However, it is unclear how quickly the response occurs after ingestion or how long RNAi effect lasts after WCR stop ingesting diet containing dsRNA. In the current study, WCR adult females were provided with diet treated with dsRNAs of Laccase 2 and Argonaute 2, two nonessential genes, for 8 days. RNAi response in WCR females commenced as early as 10 h …

Knockdown Of Rna Interference Pathway Genes In Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera, Identifies No Fitness Costs Associated With Argonaute 2 Or Dicer-2, Carolina Camargo, Ke Wu, Elane Fishilevich, Kenneth E. Narva, Blair Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The use of transgenic crops that induce silencing of essential genes using double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) through RNA interference (RNAi) in western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is likely to be an important component of new technologies for the control of this important corn pest. Previous studies have demonstrated that the dsRNA response in D. v. virgifera depends on the presence of RNAi pathway genes including Dicer-2 and Argonaute 2, and that down-regulation of these genes limits the lethality of environmental dsRNA. A potential resistance mechanism to lethal dsRNA may involve loss of function of RNAi pathway genes. However, …

The Ancognatha Erichson (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) Of Ecuador, With Description Of A New Species, Aura Paucar-Cabrera, Brett C. Ratcliffe

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Descriptions, diagnoses, locality and temporal records, distributional maps, and illustrations of the 11 species of Ancognatha Erichson occurring in Ecuador are provided. Four new country records are reported for Ecuador, and a new species is described. A female lectotype at the Natural History Museum (London) for Ancognatha jamesoni Murray is designated. A key to the Ecuadorian species is included.

Se proporcionan descripciones, diagnosis, localidades y meses de colecta, mapas de distribuci´on e ilustraciones de las 11 especies de Ancognatha Erichson que se encuentran en Ecuador. Se reportan cuatro registros nuevos para el pa´ıs y se describe una especie nueva. …

Ganganomala Saltini Ratcliffe, Jameson, And Zorn, A Newgenus And Species Ofanomalini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) From Bangladesh And Nepal, With A Revised Circumscription Of The Tribe, Brett C. Ratcliffe, Mary Liz Jameson, Carsten Zorn

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Ganganomala saltini Ratcliffe, Jameson, and Zorn, a new genus and new species of Anomalini (subtribe Anomalina), is described fromBangladesh and Nepal. To place the new genus within the context of the tribe and subtribe, we provide a key to the four subtribes of world Anomalini, a list of comparative characters and character states for diagnosis and classification of Old World Anomalina, and comparative diagnostic characters for genera of Old World Anomalina. Circumscription, description, diagnosis, and illustrations for the new genus and species are provided. As a result of this research, the Anomalina includes 50 genera and subgenera, and advances our …

Description Of A New Species Of Stenocrates Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) From Peru, Brett C. Ratcliffe, Luis Figueroa

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

A new species of Stenocrates Burmeister, 1847 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) from Peru is described: Stenocrates lissothorax Ratcliffe and Figueroa.Adescription, diagnosis, distribution, and illustrations of the new species are provided. This represents the 52nd species in the genus, and the 15th species known from Peru.

Parental Rnai Suppression Of Kruppel Gene To Control Hemipteran Pests, Blair D. Siegfried, Kenneth E. Narva, Kanika Arora, Sarah E. Worden, Chitvan Khajuria, Elane Fishilevich, Nicholas P. Storer, Meghan Frey, Ronda L. Hamm, Ana Velez

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

This disclosure concerns nucleic acid molecules and methods of use thereof for control of hemipteran pests through RNA interference - mediated inhibition of target coding and transcribed non - coding sequences in hemipteran pests. The disclosure also concerns methods for making transgenic plants that express nucleic acid molecules useful for the control of hemipteran pests, and the plant cells and plants obtained thereby.

Concepts In Animal Parasitology: Example Chapter Section, Manuscript Of The Aspidogastrea By Klaus Rohde, Klaus Rohde

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

This is an example chapter section for Concepts in Animal Parasitology. It is a manuscript of the section titled The Aspidogastrea, written by by Klaus Rohde. This is an example of a section written without using the optional template for Parts 2-5 of the textbook. The associated images are included in a supplemental file.

Can Increasing Grass-Fungal Endophyte Symbiotic Diversity Enhance Grassland Ecosystem Functioning?, Mahtaab Bagherzadeh

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is important in maintaining agroecosystem sustainability. Plant-microbe symbioses, such as exists between the grass tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceum) and the asexual fungal endophyte Epichloë coenophiala, can be utilized to enhance agroecosystem functions, such as herbivore resistance. “Novel” E. coenophiala strains that vary in the production of mammal- and insect-toxic compounds have been identified, inserted into tall fescue cultivars, and are planted in pastures globally. Novel fungal endophyte-tall fescue associations may have divergent ecosystem function effects. This study assessed effects of different fescue-endophyte symbiotic combinations on pasture ecosystem function, including aboveground …

Using An In Vitro System For Maintaining Varroa Destructor Mites On Apis Mellifera Pupae As Hosts: Studies Of Mite Longevity And Feeding Behavior, Noble I. Egekwu, Francisco Posada, Daniel E. Sonenshine, Steven Cook

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Varroa destructor mites (varroa) are ectoparasites of Apis mellifera honey bees, and the damage they inflict on hosts is likely a causative factor of recent poor honey bee colony performance. Research has produced an arsenal of control agents against varroa mites, which have become resistant to many chemical means of their control, and other means have uncertain efficacy. Novel means of control will result from a thorough understanding of varroa physiology and behavior. However, robust knowledge of varroa biology is lacking; mites have very low survivability and reproduction away from their natural environment and host, and few tested protocols of …

Kit 16: Children's Library Kit, Lauren Segreto

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Kit 16A- Insect Adaptation This kit serves as an introduction to a variety of insect adaptations. Learn about how insects adjust to their environment with this selection of images and sounds of various insects. Insects communicate with sound, with visuals, they walk, run, fly, and sometimes even swim, some insects are capable of camouflage, and others are pollinators. This kit provides a book focusing on the chirping of crickets, the reasons they chirp, as well as how they do it as well as a variety of pictures of other insects and their different adaptations that allow then to survive in …

Macroinvertebrates Of The Teton River Drainage, Maggie P .J. Heumann

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

About the Teton River 3

Maps of the Teton River 4-5

Macroinvertebrate & Life History Overview 6-8

Major Macroinvertebrate Groups

Mayflies 9-16: Ameletidae • Baetidae • Ephemerellidae • Heptageniidae • Leptohyphidae • Leptophlebiidae • Siphlonuridae

Caddisflies 17-22: Brachycentridae • Glossosomatidae • Hydropsychidae • Limnephilidae • Rhyacophilidae

Stoneflies 23-30: Capniidae • Chloroperlidae • Nemouridae • Perlidae • Perlodidae • Pteronarcyidae • Taeniopterygidae

True Flies 31-38: Athericidae • Ceraptopogonidae • Chironomidae • Culicidae • Empididae • Simuliidae • Tipulidae

Beetles 39-42: Dytiscidae • Elmidae • Haliplidae

Dragonflies & Damselflies 43

True Bugs (Hemiptera) 44

Worms & Leeches 45

Mollusks & Snails 46 …

Let’S Go Find A Bug, Jonathan Mcghee

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

The insect world is largely a mystery to many people. In fact, large parts of the insect world are mysteries to even those that study them. With the help of an extraordinary camera man, a vision, and the spirit of adventure, we set off on an endeavor to bring the minute insect world to the everyday person. Please join us as we capture a small amount of the biodiversity of Southern California and bring it right to your front door. Let’s go find a bug.