Entomology Commons^™

Synopsis Of The Genus Cerabilia, André Larochelle, Marie-Claude Larivière

Insecta Mundi

The genus Cerabilia Laporte de Castelnau (Carabidae: Abacetini) is revised for New Zealand. Thirteen species are recognized.

Seven species are described as new: Cerabilia (Cerabilia) cordata Larochelle and Larivière new species, Cerabilia (Cerabilia) kaihoka Larochelle and Larivière new species, Cerabilia (Cerabilia) laevis Larochelle and Larivière new species, Cerabilia (Cerabilia) motunau Larochelle and Larivière new species, Cerabilia (Cerabilia) rugosa Larochelle and Larivière new species, Cerabilia (Cerabilia) takaka Larochelle and Larivière new species, Cerabilia (Cerabilia) willi Larochelle and Larivière new species. …

Anthrenus (Anthrenus) Muehlei, A New Species (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae) From Iran, Graham J. Holloway, Andreas Herrmann

Insecta Mundi

A new species, Anthrenus muehlei Holloway and Herrmann (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae), from Iran is described. Images of internal and external features are presented. Only female specimens were found and described, but the bursa copulatrix contains obvious sclerites enabling easy differentiation from all other known species from the Palaearctic A. pimpinellae complex. The possible function and taxonomic implication of the sclerites is mentioned.

ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:97661C20-803E-4785-A4B0-58B16C94D9A2

New Host Records For Nearctic And Neotropical Spider Wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), Frank E. Kurczewski, Rick C. West, Cecilia Waichert

Insecta Mundi

We present new and atypical host records for 78 species, subspecies, species-groups, and variants of spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) from North America and South America. The records are listed in modified taxonomic order following the Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico, Volume 2, Apocrita (Aculeata) (Krombein 1979). These records are an extension of previous host records reported by Kurczewski (2010), Kurczewski and Edwards (2012), and Kurczewski et al. (2017, 2020, 2022b). New genus and species host records are given for the genera and subgenera Calopompilus Ashmead, Chirodamus Haliday, Pepsis Fabricius, Hemipepsis Dahlbom, Priocnessus Banks, Entypus Dahlbom, Pompilocalus Roig-Alsina, …

Feeding Behavior Of Sweet Potato Weevil, Cylas Formicarius (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Brentidae) On Three Sweet Potato, Ipomoea Batatas L. Cultivars Grown In Tarlac, Philippines, Jerah Mystica Novenario, Flor Ceballo-Alcantara

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Sweet potato is grown in tropical countries for its edible tubers, which have become an essential food source. It is usually propagated through vine-cutting, which can be obtained from harvested plants or nurseries intended for cutting production only. The recurrent use of vines may cause increased weevil infestation. The crop is known to be infested with insect pests. More importantly, the sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius, targets the tubers, thus, causing the economic losses. Sweet potato farmers in Tarlac claim that only one sweet potato cultivar is being attacked by C. formicarius, however, it was found in this experiment that …

Taxonomy Of Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) - 1: Identification And Local Distribution Of The Predominant Species On Witches’ Broom-Diseased Plants In The Philippines, Ireneo L. Lit Jr., Cristian Lucañas, Joanne Langres, Lolita Dolores, Ruby Ana Laude, Merdelyn Caasi-Lit

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Samples of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) plants infected with witches’ broom disease were gathered from 13 provinces in the Philippines. Mealybugs were observed to occur in nine out of the 13 cumulative samples. The most predominant among several mealybug species observed was identified as Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi Gimpel and Miller. P. jackbeardsleyi is not yet known to transmit phytoplasma, especially the one causing cassava witches’ broom (CWB). However, its occurrence in almost 70% of the CWB-infected samples provides circumstantial evidence that it may be related to the spread of the pathogen. This formal report of identification is in support of the …

Nebline, March/April 2024

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Seven Garden Gaffes to Avoid This Year by Sarah Browning

Youth Advance Health Equity with Community-Based Research by Emily Gratopp

Recipe of the Month: Crunchy Kohlrabi Salad by Emily Gratopp

GROBigRed Virtual Learning Series

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

2024 Lincoln Early Childhood Conference

2024 Chemigation Training

Corn Yield Challenge for 4-H and FFA Members

Lancaster County Ag VIP Awards

4-H Teens Work Together to Lead the Lock-In

4-H Horse/Livestock Judging Teams at Nationals

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Sheridan Swotek and Kim Bowen

4-H Club Gives Youth With Disabilities Opportunity to Show Lambs

4-H Rabbit Show, March …

Borrelia Burgdorferi Plza Is A Cyclic-Di-Gmp Dependent Dna And Rna Binding Protein, Nerina Jusufovic, Andrew Krusenstjerna, Christina R. Savage, Timothy C. Saylor, Catherine A. Brissette, Wolfram Zückert, Paula J. Schlax, Md A. Motaleb, Brian Stevenson

Entomology Faculty Publications

The PilZ domain-containing protein, PlzA, is the only known cyclic di- GMP binding protein encoded by all Lyme disease spirochetes. PlzA has been implicated in the regulation of many borrelial processes, but the effector mechanism of PlzA was not previously known. Here, we report that PlzA can bind DNA and RNA and that nucleic acid binding requires c-di-GMP, with the affinity of PlzA for nucleic acids increasing as concentrations of c-di-GMP were increased. A mutant PlzA that is incapable of bind- ing c-di-GMP did not bind to any tested nucleic acids. We also determined that PlzA interacts predominantly with the …

Pollinator Communities And Their Ecosystem Services At Conservation Grasslands And Adjacent Croplands, Araceli Gomez Villegas

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Pollinators are intrinsically linked to the success of unmanaged and managed ecosystems by providing pollination services that aid in the reproduction of wildflowers and many crops. Land use change, habitat loss, fragmentation, and related landscape-level phenomena (for example, increased pesticide exposure) threaten pollinators and have been associated with population declines. In the Midwestern region of the United States, land conversion of native prairies and grasslands to row-crop agriculture has been one of the largest contributors to pollinator habitat loss. Conservation programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Program, have worked towards removing environmentally sensitive lands from agriculture production and enrolling them …

A Visual And Spatial Tool For Tracking, Mapping And Forecasting The Dispersal Of Biological Control Agents, Komi Mensah Agboka, John Odindi, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Onisimo Mutanga, Henri E.Z. Tonnang

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

iPydisp is an open-source, Python-based tool designed to model the spatio-temporal dispersal of insect species such as parasitoids. It provides an accessible interface for interactive spatio-temporal analysis, using cellular automata algorithms for easy data processing and updates. The tool's main features include intuitive data loading, easy setting of dispersal constraints, and dynamic visualization of dispersal patterns. iPydisp has the potential to improve our understanding of parasitoid dispersal and enhance pest management strategies.

Toxicity And Risk Of Biopesticides To Insect Pollinators In Urban And Agricultural Landscapes, Joshua Chavana, Neelendra K. Joshi

Entomology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Pollinators play important roles in providing pollination services, maintaining biodiversity, and boosting crop production. Even though pollinators are essential to the environment and agriculture, their decline has been noted across multiple studies in the recent past. Both natural and anthropogenic factors have contributed to their decline. Much of the focus has been placed on climate change, habitat loss, pests and pathogens, and synthetic pesticides, but relatively little is known about the effects of biopesticides. Biopesticides are biological control agents derived from living organisms and are classified into three groups: microbial, biochemical, and plant-incorporated protectant-based products. Biopesticides are formulated similarly to …

Ecology And Management Of The Crapemyrtle Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) On Crapemyrtle (Myrtales: Lythraceae) In The Southern United States, Caleb J. Wilson, Matthew A. Bertone

Entomology Faculty Publications

Crapemyrtle aphid [Sarucallis kahawaluokalani (Kirkaldy 1907)] (CMA) is an introduced pest of crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia spp. L.), which is among the most common ornamental tree genera in the southern United States. Native to Southeast Asia, CMA has become established on 5 other continents. CMAs produce honeydew as they feed which supports sooty mold growth and can result in leaf defoliation on infested trees. CMAs tend to be most abundant in crapemyrtles planted in locations with extensive surrounding impervious surface cover. A large community of generalist natural enemies are found in close association with CMA, which suggests that CMAs may help conserve …

A Spatio-Temporal Modelling Approach To Understand The Effect Of Urban Fruit Fly Outbreaks On Peri-Urban Orchards, Andrew Broadley, Rieks Van Klinken, Dean R. Paini, Matthew Hill, Elliot T. Howse

Horticulture Research Articles

Urban areas are well-known sources of fruit fly introduction and unmanaged populations pose a high risk of dispersal to surrounding agricultural areas. Although management of urban fruit fly populations is recognised as being important for area-wide control programmes, its relative importance is rarely quantified. Identifying possible sources of fruit fly populations is important to the success of area-wide programs, as well as to on-farm management. We developed a modelling approach to analyse the spatio-temporal connectivity of fruit fly across urban-agriculture boundaries. For a case study, we examine Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, outbreaks in two fruit growing …

Taxonomic Notes On The Cladodinae, Lampyrinae, And Lampyrinae/Lampyridae Incertae Sedis (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), Oliver Keller, Gavin J. Martin

Insecta Mundi

We propose several nomenclatural changes for taxa in the subfamily Cladodinae and the lampyrid tribes Cratomorphini, Lamprocerini, Lampyrini, Photinini, and Pleotomini in the subfamily Lampyrinae (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). We present evidence for the correct year of description of Calotrachelum flavolineatum Pic, 1941, Diaphanes lateapicalis breveapicalis Pic, 1954, Photinus conradti Pic, 1940, and all species described by Charles Émile Blanchard. Spellings are corrected for Diaphanes lateapicalis breveapicalis Pic, 1954, Diaphanes latipennis dartevillei Pic, 1952, Diaphanes longecarinatus Pic, 1955, Diaphanes moultoni latemarginatus Pic, 1938, Lampyris olivieriana von Heyden, 1890, and Photinus reductemarginalis Pic, 1941. We propose Lucidota puertoestrellaensis Keller and Martin nomen novum …

Effect Of Cooking Methods On Nutritional Value And Microbial Safety Of Edible Rhinoceros Beetle Grubs (Oryctes Sp.), Marliyn W. Muthee, Fathiya M. Khamis, Xavier Cheseto, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Sevgan Subramanian, James P. Egonyu

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Although edible rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes sp.) larvae are popularly consumed in many countries worldwide, they are prepared using different methods such as boiling, roasting, toasting, and deep-frying, whose effect on nutritional value and microbial safety is scarcely known. Here we investigated the effect of these methods on the nutritional value and microbial safety of Oryctes sp. larvae. Our hypothesis was that cooking the grubs using the four methods had no effect on their nutritional content and microbial loads and diversity. The grubs were analyzed for proximate composition, and fatty and amino acid profiles using standard chemical procedures; and microbial safety …

Disruption Of The Sorghum Circadian Clock Impacts Sorghum-Sugarcane Aphid Interaction Dynamics And Aphid Feeding Behavior, Kumar Shrestha, Prince Zogli, Lise Pingault, Sajjan Grover, Juan Betancurt Cardona, Joe Louis

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Circadian clocks play a pivotal role in orchestrating metabolic rhythms in response to environmental stress. Sorghum bicolor (sorghum), a multipurpose cereal crop, suffers severe growth and yield reduction due to feeding by sugarcane aphids (SCA; Melanaphis sacchari), which are phloem-feeding pests. Previously, it has been shown that sorghum utilizes a multitude of defense mechanisms to curb SCA colonization. However, our understanding of the impact of circadian clock on sorghum-aphid interaction dynamics is limited. To explore this, a time-series transcriptomics was conducted on sorghum plants in disrupted circadian rhythm with and without SCA infestation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a total of …

Hymenopteran Parasitoid Complex And Fall Armyworm: A Case Study In Eastern India, Subhajit Pal, Swarnali Bhattacharya, Tapamay Dhar, Ankita Gupta, Arunava Ghosh, Sandip Debnath, Nikhitha Gangavarapu, Prajna Pati, Nilanjana Chaudhuri, Hirak Chatterjee, Sabita Kumar Senapati, Prateek Madhab Bhattacharya, Mahesh Kumar Gathala, Alison M. Laing

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) has significantly affected maize crop yields, production efficiency, and farmers’ incomes in the Indian Eastern Gangetic Plains region since it was first observed in India in 2018. A lack of awareness by maize growers of the appropriate selection, method, and timing of insecticide application not only creates a barrier to sustainable FAW control but also contributes to increased environmental pollution, reduced human health and increased production costs. We demonstrated that FAW inflicted the most damage in early whorl growth stage of maize, regardless of whether chemical insecticides were applied. FAW egg masses and …

Taxonomic Advances Driven By The Genomic Analysis Of Butterflies, Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

This study presents new findings based on a large-scale analysis of butterfly genomic sequences. Focusing on species identification through comparative genomics, we define subspecies as populations differentiated to a lesser extent than distinct species ("species in the making"). Additionally, we propose further adjustments to the current butterfly classification. As a result, 3 subgenera, 12 species, and 4 subspecies are described as new. New subgenera are (type species in parenthesis): Hyalaus Grishin, subgen. n. (Papilio epidaus E. Doubleday, 1846) of Eurytides Hübner, [1821] (Papilionidae Latreille, [1802]) and Astria Grishin, subgen. n. (Lycaena astraea Freyer, 1851) of Glaucopsyche Scudder, 1872 …

Validating Indigenous Farmers’ Practice In The Management Of The Fall Armyworm Spodoptera Frugiperda (J. E. Smith) In Maize Cropping Systems In Africa, Saliou Niassy, Evanson Rigan Omuse, John Emanuel Khang’Ati, Ines Bächinger, David Mfuti Kupesa, Xavier Cheseto, Benjamin W. Mbatha, Robert S. Copeland, Samira Abuelgasim Mohamed, Mphatso Gama, Joyce Mulila Mitti, Yeneneh Belayneh, Nicolas Delabays, François Lefort, Sunday Ekesi, Sevgan Subramanian

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Before the invasion of the fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda into Africa, smallholder farmers had been using indigenous practices such as applying fish soup to plants to manage stemborer pests. Although farmers have since begun adapting this practice against FAW, no attempt has been made to scientifically evaluate this practice. Therefore, we assessed the efficacy of applying fish soup to maize plants that were artificially infested with FAW under semi-field conditions. Our results showed that foliar damage is inversely correlated with the concentration of a fish soup and sugar solution, with the highest (100%) concentration resulting in the lowest foliar …

Decomposition Of Bark Beetle-Attacked Trees After Mortality Varies Across Forests, N. A. Clay, J. D. Tang, C. M. Siegert, J. T. Thomason, N. Benedetto, D. Day, K. Pace, O. Leverón, R. W. Hofstetter, J. J. Riggins

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bark beetle outbreaks result in massive amounts of deadwood which are a significant carbon reservoir that can impact forest ecosystems. Additionally, bark beetle-introduced symbiotic fungi in beetle-generated deadwood can increase termite presence and feeding. This could alter decomposition rates and saproxylic communities of bark beetle-generated deadwood. However, the fate of bark beetle-generated deadwood after tree mortality has received little attention despite the possibility bark beetles could alter decomposition processes and deadwood residence times at landscape scales following outbreaks. We tested the hypothesis that beetle-attacked trees decompose faster than unattacked trees. In Honduras, and Mississippi and Arizona, USA, we felled one …

Influence Of Microbes In Mediating Sorghum Resistance To Sugarcane Aphids, Edith Ikuze, Stephanie Cromwell, Paul A. Ayayee, Joe Louis

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Gut microbiomes profoundly influence insect health and mediate interactions between plant hosts and their environments. Insects, including aphids, harbour diverse obligate symbionts that synthesize essential nutrients and facultative symbionts that enhance host fitness in specific ecological contexts. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a significant cereal crop cultivated worldwide that has been negatively affected by the presence of an invasive piercing-sucking insect pest, the sugarcane aphid (SCA; Melanaphis sacchari). We previously identified SC265 and SC1345 as the resistant and susceptible sorghum lines, respectively, among the founder nested association mapping (NAM) population. Here, using these resistant and susceptible lines, we …

Dietary And Therapeutic Benefits Of Edible Insects: A Global Perspective, Chrysantus Mbi Tanga, Sunday Ekesi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Edible insects are gaining traction worldwide for research and development. This review synthesizes a large and well-established body of research literature on the high nutritional value and variety of pharmacological properties of edible insects. Positive benefits of insect-derived products include immune enhancement; gastrointestinal protection; antitumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capacities; antibacterial activities; blood lipid and glucose regulation; lowering of blood pressure; and decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, the pharmacological mechanisms of these active components of edible insects in humans have received limited research attention. In addition, we discuss health risks (safety); application prospects; regulations and policies governing their production and …

Contrasting Tick Species Behaviors: A Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (Cure), Sara Benham, Shovan Dutta, Rohan Maddamsetti, Clayton Wright, Alena Anderson, David T. Gauthier, Holly D. Gaff

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

Tick-borne diseases are on the rise throughout the world, and there is a need to better understand tick behavior in order to identify potential new interventions. Ticks have a complex life history and can survive months off-host. There is a lack of large-scale data on off-host tick behavior, which leaves a gap in understanding of tick biology outside of tick-host interactions. Introducing undergraduate students to authentic research early in their studies can help prepare them for independent inquiry in upper-level classes. To address the student needs and fill gaps in tick research, students in introductory biology courses recorded observations of …

Eristalis Tenax Movement Behavior In Response To Light, Temperature, And Food, Jeffery J. Zheng, Zdena M. Janderova, Jason D. Lang

Georgia Journal of Science

Drone flies, Eristalis tenax (Diptera: Syrphidae), are important generalist pollinators and visit flowers globally that range widely in color. The flies’ photoreceptors allow them to sense light wavelengths between 300-600 nm and E. tenax exhibit a positive phototactic response. To understand the effects of light on E. tenax movement, we conducted two-choice behavioral tests to determine their phototactic response to different wavelengths of light across the spectrum (ultraviolet to red light, plus full spectrum white light). The drone flies moved most and quickest toward sunlight, with almost twice the percentage of flies moving toward sunlight than toward black and …

The Long-Term Effects Of Prescribed Fire On Floral Abundance And Bumble Bee Abundance In Mixed-Oak Forests Of Southeastern Ohio, Moses Shafer

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Pollinators are declining due to climate change and habitat loss driven by agriculture and urbanization. In fire-adapted ecosystems, fire promotes the biodiversity of plants by creating space, reducing competition, and increasing light and nutrient availability. However, little is known regarding the effects of fire on floral abundance of plants used by Bombus. The overall goal of this project was to assess the long-term effects of fire on floral abundance and Bombus abundance. Our specific questions were: (1) How does fire frequency influence floral abundance?, (2) How does fire frequency influence floral abundance of species specifically utilized by bumble bees?, …

Checklist And Key To The Millipede Species Of Georgia, United States, With Notes On Distribution, Lance Andrew, Bruce Snyder

Graduate Research Showcase

Millipedes are an exceptionally diverse class of animals that have an impact on soil structure and nutrient cycling. Despite their abundance, importance, and wide distribution, they are understudied compared to other animal taxa, and biogeographical information is scant. Georgia, though the largest state by land area east of the Mississippi River, has largely been overlooked by regional millipede checklists. Without baseline species distributions and abundances to inform wildlife management decisions, sufficient measures cannot be taken to preserve millipede biodiversity, especially in light of recent changes in climate and land use. Taxonomic resources for millipede identification in North America are also …

Prevalence Of Insecticide Resistance Gene In Aedes Albopictus Population In Illinois Regions, Merylann Ochieng

2024 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents

Mosquitoes are vectors known to transmit many pathogens and parasites that cause serious human diseases such as Malaria, Dengue, Yellow and Chikungunya fever, Encephalitis, and Filariasis (Becker et al., 2010) (Franklinos et al., 2019). Aedes albopictus specie transmits Zika, Chikungunya, yellow Fever and Rift valley fever viruses (Leta et al., 2018). Aedes species are geographically invading new areas due to globalization and environmental changes (Lwande et al., 2020). Temperature increase, severe rainfall, and high humidity encourage diseases to spread to new areas where new vectors may act as carriers (Näslund et al., 2021). Aedes albopictus are expanding further along the …

Efficacy Of Cloves As A Repellent For Pest Ants (Formicidae), Aadee Malavade

2024 REYES Proceedings

I examined the efficacy of cloves for repellent activity against foraging ants. Control baits consisting of a cracker/paper substrate topped with granulated sugar or chapati (Indian bread) were presented next to treatment baits (cracker/paper, granulated sugar and spice spread over the sugar) to ants in natural habitats. After an hour, the numbers of ants recruiting to the control and treatment baits were recorded. A timed study of ants with 30-minute duration was done to understand behavior of ants over time. Data were analyzed with the sign test. Cloves showed promise as ant repellents.

Ants And Their Response To Chili Powder, Antu Biswas

2024 REYES Proceedings

Spices can be used as an eco-friendly ant repellent. In this study, I tried to observe the ants’ response to chili powder and whether or not the spice can be an effective ant repellent.

The Efficacy Of Dry Peppermint Leaves As An Ant Repellent, Amal Chacko

2024 REYES Proceedings

Ant (Formicidae) infestation is a typical residential disturbance, often necessitating the use of chemical repellents that pose environmental and health dangers. This study looks into the possibilities of a natural alternative, dry peppermint (Mentha piperita L) leaves as a chemical repellent. Given the diversity of ant species and their variable responses to stimuli, this study seeks to determine the efficiency of dried peppermint leaves as a general ant repellent. A pilot study will be carried out to determine the repellent qualities of this spice against a specific ant species. The precise aims include evaluating if dry peppermint leaves …

Ants And Spices: Investigating The Repellent Effects Of Household Spices On Ants: A Study Of Chili, Coriander, And Cumin Powders, Abhishikta Pradhan

2024 REYES Proceedings

The aim of this study was to test the ant-repellent potential of household spices, namely chili powder, coriander powder, and cumin powder, against ants (Formicidae). The experiments were conducted using sticky note paper as a substrate, on which granulated sugar was placed as bait. In the control baits, only granulated sugar was used, while in the treatment baits, granulated sugar mixed with each spice was used. The baits were placed near ant nests. One hour after placing the baits, the number of ants on the control and treatment baits was counted for each control-treatment pair (five pairs in total, with …