Entomology Commons^™

A Tale Of Too Many Trees: A Conundrum For Phylogenetic Regression, Richard Adams, Jennifer Roa Lozano, Mataya Duncan, Jack Green, Raquel Assis, Michael Degiorgio

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Just exactly which tree(s) should we assume when testing evolutionary hypotheses? This question has plagued comparative biologists for decades. Though all phylogenetic comparative methods require input trees, we seldom know with certainty whether even a perfectly estimated tree (if this is possible in practice) is appropriate for our studied traits. Yet, we also know that phylogenetic conflict is ubiquitous in modern comparative biology, and we are still learning about its dangers when testing evolutionary hypotheses. Here, we investigate the consequences of tree-trait mismatch for phylogenetic regression in the presence of gene tree-species tree conflict. Our simulation experiments reveal excessively high …

The Encyclopedia Of North American Drosophilids Volume 3: Drosophilids Of The Northwest, Thomas Werner, Tessa Steenwinkel, John Jaenike

Open Access Books

The Encyclopedia of North American Drosophilids Volume 3: Drosophilids of the Northwest provides an introduction to the flies of the family Drosophilidae of the Northwest of the United States. The book strives to facilitate identification of most of the drosophilid species in this region and provides remarks on interesting aspects of their biology and suggestions for future research on them. The book is intended for researchers, teachers, and students wishing to discover the diversity of these flies.

View the 3 Volume Series of The Encyclopedia of North American Drosophilids here: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/fruitflies/

Access The Encyclopedia of North American Drosophilids Volume 1: …

Using Stable Isotope Analysis To Investigate The Trophic Ecology Of Aquatic Insects, Shelby Ann Medlock

Master's Theses

Despite their abundance on the landscape, ponds and associated macroinvertebrate assemblages have largely been underrepresented in scientific studies, which usually focus on lakes or streams. Similar to other waterbodies, ponds can harbor high levels of invertebrate biodiversity, which is important as aquatic insects are experiencing declines due to habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and invasive species introductions. To evaluate how these threats impact pond insects and the ecosystem services they may provide, a thorough understanding of their ecology is essential. However, significant knowledge gaps remain, especially regarding trophic levels and species-specific diets. To address these knowledge gaps, I used carbon …

Nebline, March/April 2025

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Be Groundwater Aware in Your Day-to-Day Life! Becky Schuerman

National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 9-15, 2025

National Nutrition Month: Food Connects Us, Alyssa Havlovic

Recipe of the Month: Wild Vegetable Salad, Alyssa Havlovic

Prepare Your Landscape’s Spring Game Plan, Sarah Browning

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month, Mary Jane Frogge

2025 GROBigRed

Embracing the Puddle: The Joy of Rainy Day Outdoor Play, Hayley Jackson Perez

Agronomic Practices to Reduce Nitrate Losses to Groundwater, John Nelson

Ethan & Morgan Gabel Attend National 4-H Congress

4-H Horse Teams at Nationals

Teen Council 4-H’ers Team Up to Lead Overnight Lock-in

Heart of …

Ecology Of Ixodes Scapularis Say: Experimental And Observational Studies With Social Perspectives On Ticks And Tick-Borne Diseases, Kaitlin M. Mcdonald

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Tick-borne diseases are a growing concern globally. Understanding the factors that influence tick ecology and people’s understanding of that ecology is crucial for developing effective tick management and disease prevention strategies. In this work, I investigated fundamental questions about the ecology of a primary vector of medically important pathogens in the United States, the blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis Say, and identified common misconceptions about ticks and tick-borne diseases on social media. First, I examined the effects of temperature and moisture stress on the movement of adult female I. scapularis in laboratory experiments. Using a Drosophila Activity Monitor, ticks were exposed …

Global Review Of Consumer Preferences And Willingness To Pay For Edible Insects And Derived Products, Zewdu Abro, Kibrom T. Sibhatu, Gebeyehu Manie Fetene, Mohammed Hussen Alemu, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Subramanian Sevga, Menale Kassie

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The rising global demand for protein, driven by population growth, urbanization, economic development, and climate change, underscores the need for sustainable alternative protein sources. Edible insects have emerged as a viable solution to enhance foodfeed and nutritional security while contributing to waste management. This study reviews 128 peer-reviewed publications to assess consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for edible insects and their derivatives. Findings reveal that studies predominantly focus on Europe and insect-based foods, with limited research on insect-based feeds and derived products. Consumers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America show higher acceptance of insect-based food compared to those …

Genetic Diversity Of Aedes Aegypti Populations From Kisumu And Busia Counties, Western Kenya, And Their Vector Competence For Chikungunya Virus, Victor O. Anyango, Solomon Langat, Francis Mulwa, James Mutisya, Hellen Koka, Collins Okoyo, Edith Chepkorir, Samson Konongoi, Anncarol Karanja, Glennah Kerubo, Rosemary Sang, Joel Lutomiah

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) is the primary vector of several arboviruses, including dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), yellow fever virus (YFV), and Zika virus (ZIKV). This vector is widespread globally in tropical and subtropical areas but also found in temperate areas. Kenya experienced its first chikungunya outbreak in Lamu County in 2004, followed by subsequent outbreaks in Mandera in 2016 and Mombasa in 2017. Despite the presence of Ae. aegypti in Kisumu and Busia counties, no outbreaks of chikungunya fever have been reported in these two western Kenya counties. To investigate this phenomenon, we collected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes from …

A System Dynamics Model For Predicting African Armyworm Occurrence And Population Dynamics, Bonoukpoè Mawuko Sokame, Brian Kipkorir, Komi Mensah Agboka, Saliou Niassy, Yeneneh Belayneh, Maged Elkahky, Henri E.Z. Tonnang

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This study develops a comprehensive system dynamics model to predict and manage African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) outbreaks, a major threat to cereal crops across Africa. We applied system dynamics approache with its archetypes (causal loop diagram (CLD), reinforcing (R) and balancing (B)) to analyse the population dynamics of the pest. The VENSIM modelling platform (Ventana Systems Inc., DSS 8.2) was used to implement the models and carry out the simulations. The research integrates extensive data from 1980 to 2023, encompassing the African armyworm's life cycle stages, climatic variables, and intervention strategies, to simulate potential outbreak scenarios and evaluate the impacts …

Too Much Of A Good Thing: Lessons From Compromised Rootworm Bt Maize In The Us Corn Belt, Ziwei Ye, Christina Difonzo, David A. Hennessy, Jinhua Zhao, Felicia Wu, Shawn P. Conley, Aaron J. Gassmann, Erin W. Hodgson, Bryan Jensen, Janet J. Knodel, Bradley Mcmanus, Lance J. Meinke, Andrew Michel, Bruce Potter, Nicholas J. Seiter, Jocelyn L. Smith, Joseph L. Spencer, Kelley J. Tilmon, Robert J. Wright, Christian H. Krupke

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Widespread use of genetically engineered maize targeting the corn rootworm complex (Diabrotica species) has raised concerns about insect resistance. Twelve years of university field trial and farm survey data from ten United States Corn Belt states indicate that maize hybrids expressing toxins derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt maize) exhibited declining protection from rootworm feeding with increased planting while pest pressures simultaneously decreased. The analysis revealed a tendency to overplant Bt maize, leading to substantial economic losses; this was particularly striking in eastern Corn Belt states. Our findings highlight the need to go beyond the “tragedy of the …

Steering Conservation Biocontrol At The Frontlines: A Fuzzy Logic Approach Unleashing Potentials Of Climate-Smart Intercropping As A Component Within The Integrated Management Of Fall Armyworm In Africa, Komi Mensah Agboka, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Emily Kimathi, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, John Odindi, Onisimo Mutanga, Saliou Niassy

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This study introduces a computational index that employs fuzzy sets theory to identify potential deployment sites for push-pull as a component in the integrated management of Fall Armyworm (FAW) in Africa. The index, validated through known push-pull testing sites and informed by insights from field data and practical observations, is primarily based on companion plants (Desmodium intortum and Brachiaria brizantha), livestock, and maize as covariates. The study developed a set of rules linking each selected covariate to the output as membership functions, which are later combined using an algebraic operator. It identifies extensive maize farms across Africa potentially suitable for …

Survey Of Mosquito Larval Habitats At The Ksu Field Station, Rose Sofia, Eli Lovvorn, Aspen Hartman, Andrew Haddow

Symposium of Student Scholars

The greater Atlanta metropolitan area hosts numerous mosquito species that are nuisance biters and can transmit arthropod-borne diseases to humans. We surveyed the Kennesaw State University (KSU) Field Station – an incredibly biodiverse location – where student, staff, and faculty-led groups engage in outdoor research and teaching activities. The KSU Field Station located in Cobb County, GA is a heavily trafficked 25-acre property that may attract various mosquito species capable of transmitting pathogens to humans and animals alike. On August 27th, 2024, our team investigated the KSU Field Station to quantify and record potential water-holding containers that serve as mosquito …

Book Review For Hoebeke, E. Richard, James R. Labonte, And Kent E. Loeffler. 2024. Adventive Weevils Recorded From North America: A Review And Illustrated Manual For Their Identification (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea, Excluding Scolytinae). The Coleopterists Society Special Publication 5: 1-603, 226 Color Plates., Wayne Gall

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Book Review for Hoebeke, E. Richard, James R. LaBonte, and Kent E. Loeffler. 2024. Adventive weevils recorded from North America: A review and illustrated manual for their identification (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea, excluding Scolytinae). The Coleopterists Society Special Publication 5: 1-603, 226 color plates.

Rediscovery Of Eucerceris Zonata (Say, 1823) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), A Species Thought To Be Extirpated In Canada, Ludovic Leclerc, Deanna Dodgson, Matthias Buck

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Eucerceris zonata (Say) (Hymenoptera: Philanthidae), a weevil wasp species that was thought to be extirpated in Canada is rediscovered in Manitoba and Quebec. Collection records and validated citizen science observations confirm the continued presence of E. zonata in Canada during the last decade and a half. The newly discovered populations inhabit sand areas both in Manitoba and Quebec. Potential threats to the species at these sites are discussed.

Notes And New Records For Parasitoids Of Exotic Drosophilids In Indiana, Usa (Hymenoptera: Figitidae And Braconidae), Elizabeth Y. Long, M Andrew Johnston

The Great Lakes Entomologist

We report the first detection of two parasitoids of the invasive spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), in Indiana, USA: Leptopilina japonica Novković & Kimura (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and Asobara c.f. rufescens (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). These wasps, newly reported here from Indiana, were detected in the drowning solution of Scentry spotted-wing drosophila monitoring traps located in a blueberry orchard in northern Indiana. These parasitoids were detected in monitoring traps from 10-June-2024 until 19-Aug-2024, with more detections of L. japonica than A. c.f. rufescens. We also report detection of the African fig fly, Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae), in the drowning solution of …

New Wisconsin State Records For Symmerus (Diptera: Ditomyiidae) And Synneuron (Diptera: Canthyloscelidae), Daniel K. Young

The Great Lakes Entomologist

In Wisconsin, only a single, dubious published record for Ditomyiidae exists. New state records are presented for Symmerus (Symmerus) lautus, Symmerus (Psilosymmerus) vockerothi, and Symmerus (Psilosymmerus) sp., along with a discussion of the putitively incorrect literature record. Canthyloscelidae has not been previously recorded from the state; a single male of Synneuron decipiens is reported. The new records are associated largely with Malaise trap samples from the Kemp Natural Resources Station, Oneidea County, and Hemlock Draw (The Nature Conservancy), in the Baraboo hills of Sauk County. A single specimen of S. …

Flowers Of Black-Seeded And Yellow-Seeded Oilseed Pennycress (Thlaspi Arvense): Abundance, Timing, And Potential Insect Visitors, Frank Forcella, Riley Ellarson, Russ W. Gesch, Alex Hard, Nicholas J. Heller, Sarah Jandricic, M D. Marks, Yesuf Mohammed, William L. Perry, Winthrop B. Phippen, Lucas M. Roberts, Samantha Wells, Tad L. Wesley, Julia Zhang

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Pennycress is being developed in the Midwestern USA as a new oilseed crop that provides numerous ecosystem services. These services include being an early spring source of pollen and nectar for flower-visiting insects. Most past research on pennycress flower visitors used wild genotypes of pennycress. All wild genotypes have seed coats that are black, which occurs because of high levels of proanthocyanadins (PACs). Concentrations of PACs are minimal in newly developed genotypes with yellow-colored seed coats. However, little is known regarding flower abundance and timing nor insect visitation preferences for black-seeded genotypes (BSG) or yellow-seeded genotypes (YSG) of pennycress. Flower …

The Effect Of Temperature And Vegetative Substrate On The Short-Distance Dispersal Behavior Of An Invasive Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) To A Protected Dune Thistle, Alyssa S. Hakes, Tina Czaplinska, Monica Paniagua-Montoya

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The invasion of a seed-eating weevil, Larinus carlinae (Olivier, 1807) poses a threat to the persistence of native Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri), a federally-threatened plant in sand dune communities of the western Great Lakes. At Whitefish Dunes (Sturgeon Bay, WI. USA), seed predation by weevils is higher for thistles surrounded by native marram grass (Ammophila breviligulata) than for those located in sandy habitats. In this study, we observed how the local abiotic and biotic environment affects the short-distance dispersal behavior of L. carlinae. Weevils were captured on site and individually released on the sand approximately …

Host Plant Resistance Of Viburnum Taxa For The Viburnum Leaf Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Fredric Miller, Chad Rigsby

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Thirty-five native and exotic Viburnum taxa were evaluated in a series of no-choice (NC) and multiple-choice (MC) laboratory feeding bioassays, and field defoliation studies for their relative susceptibility, palatability, and preference for viburnum leaf beetle (VLB) (Pyrrhalta viburni Paykull) larvae and adults. Overall, larval field defoliation was consistent with adult field defoliation, and adult VLB field defoliation mirrored the results from the NC laboratory feeding studies. Collectively, there was no significant difference in field defoliation between Asian and North American Viburnum taxa but leaf thickness was a good predictor for both the percent leaf tissue removed in NC laboratory …

Occurrence Of Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila Suzukii) In Wild Berries In Forested Areas Of Marquette And Keweenaw Counties, Upper Peninsula Of Michigan, Alexis M. Shatrau, Erika I. Hersch-Green

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Spotted-wing Drosophila (SWD, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, Diptera: Drosophilidae) is an invasive fly that targets unripe soft-fruits causing premature ripening, dehiscence, and rotting. While the presence of SWD in agricultural systems is well-documented, much less is known about the host range of SWD in wild areas, especially in more northern latitudes where colder temperatures and short summers are thought to restrict their life-cycles and limit population growth. In 2019 and 2020, we collected wild berries from two counties in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with long, cold winters, to determine the prevalence, host range, and seasonal/temporal variation of SWD. We found …

Initial Responses Of Carabidae (Coleoptera) To Intensive Biomass Harvesting And Soil Compaction In Aspen Stands Of The Huron-Manistee National Forest, Oscoda County, Michigan, Robert Haack, Robert E. Acciavatti, Robert L. Davidson, Toby Petrice

The Great Lakes Entomologist

During the 1990s, the United States Forest Service implemented several studies to measure the impacts of organic matter removal and soil compaction on forest productivity in forest ecosystems throughout the country. One site was in northeastern Lower Michigan on the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Oscoda County. This site was dominated by mature quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and bigtooth aspen (P. grandidentata Michx.) growing on sandy loam soils. The three organic-matter removal treatments at the site included: 1. stem-only harvesting (SOH); 2. whole-tree harvesting (WTH); and 3. whole-tree harvesting plus forest floor removal (FFR). The three soil compaction …

Susceptibility Of English Oak (Quercus Robur) To The Twolined Chestnut Borer, Agrilus Bilineatus (Coleoptera: Buprestidae): Observations From Michigan, Robert A. Haack, Richard W. Blank

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The twolined chestnut borer, Agrilus bilineatus (Weber), is a native North American buprestid beetle that normally infests oak (Quercus) trees stressed by drought or defoliation. However, during the 1980s and early 1990s, A. bilineatus preferentially infested English oak (Quercus robur L.) trees that initially appeared healthy at two experimental plantings in southern Michigan as well as on the Michigan State University (MSU) campus in East Lansing, Michigan. At both experimental plantings the English oaks were intermixed with native white oaks (Quercus alba L.) and had a border of native northern red oaks (Quercus rubra L.). …

Moths Of The Douglas Lake Region (Emmet And Cheboygan Counties), Michigan: Viii. Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera), Brian Scholtens

The Great Lakes Entomologist

98 species of Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) including 46 state records are documented from Emmet and Cheboygan Counties at the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. This is the first comprehensive listing of this family from anywhere in the region, probably because positive identification in this family often requires genitalic dissection. This list brings the total number of Lepidopteran species known from the University of Michigan Biological Station area to 1265.

A Survey Of Native Bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) At Lakeplain Prairie And Prairie Fen Habitats In Michigan, Logan M. Rowe, Zachary M. Portman, David Cuthrell, Dan Cariveau, Meredith Holm

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Michigan’s lakeplain prairie and prairie fen natural communities contain refugia for many at-risk species of insects, including species that are listed at the federal and state level. Wild bees are a group of insects crucial for maintaining robust plant-pollinator communities. Numerous species of bees are presumed to be in decline. However, baseline community surveys are lacking and needed to document the status of species occupying these natural communities. In 2021, Michigan Natural Features Inventory completed wild bee surveys in lakeplain prairie (lakeplain wet-mesic prairie and lakeplain wet prairie) and prairie fens in Michigan using a combination of aerial netting and …

Cover Art For Tgle Vol. 57 Nos 3 & 4

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover Art for TGLE Vol. 57 Nos 3 & 4

Cover Pages For Tgle Vol. 57 Nos 3 & 4

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover Pages for TGLE Vol. 57 Nos 3 & 4

Full Issue For Tgle Vol. 57 Nos 3 & 4

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Full Issue for TGLE Vol. 57 Nos 3 & 4

Data Augmentation And Machine Learning Algorithms For Multi-Class Imbalanced Morphometrics Data Of Stingless Bees, Daisy Salifu, Lorna Chepkemoi, Eric Ali Ibrahim, Kiatoko Nkoba, Henri E.Z. Tonnang

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The study focusses on handling of multiclass imbalanced data on classification of stingless bee samples by employing data balancing techniques, namely Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) and Adaptive Synthetic (ADASYN) approach. These techniques are applied in combination with machine learning (ML) algorithms; specifically Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM), to assess the models’ predictive performance to infer stingless bee samples identities. We studied ML classifier models: RF, RF + SMOTE, RF + ADASYN, SVM, SVM + SMOTE and SVM + ADASYN on the six-class imbalanced dataset of stingless bees morphometrics. Multi-class area under curve (AUC), F1-score, G-mean, balanced …

Thriving Hives: Processing And Using Beeswax - Candles And Cosmetics, Brynn Meredith, Teresa Hunsaker, Andree' Walker Bravo

All Current Publications

Beeswax is a substance produced by bees for constructing honeycomb in a hive. When raw wax is harvested from the hive, it may be quite dirty and can have many different kinds of debris stuck in it. Because of this, it is important that you clean and process the wax before using it. This fact sheet will teach you how to process the wax that you harvest and provide some suggestions on how you can use it in your home.

3d Printing Insect Models For K-12 Education, Henry L. Whittemore, Jason Oliver, Karla M. Addesso

Extension Publications

No abstract provided.

Long-Term Agricultural Management Reduces Abundance And Alters Community Structure Of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Cynthia M. Fiser, Nathan L. Haan, Douglas A. Landis

Entomology Faculty Publications

Carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) are beneficial predators and bioindicators of ground-dwelling arthropod diversity in agricultural landscapes. We studied changes in community composition, activity density, and diversity of carabids in a long-term agroecosystem study spanning 30 years in the US Midwest. We contrasted carabid community metrics measured by pitfall trap sampling in two conservation-oriented treatments in a corn-soybean-wheat rotation. One treatment uses conventional practices but with reduced agrochemical inputs (Reduced Input), while the other has no synthetic inputs (Biologically Based). Since a 1994–95 study on the same site, in 2019 overall carabid activity density had declined a minimum of 58–76 % …