Buenos Aires, Argentina
Utah State University
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia
Sexual Di(Et)Morphism: Using Experimental Evolution To Test Whether Resource Partitioning Promotes Divergence Of The Sexes In Drosophila Melanogaster,
2027
Wilfrid Laurier University
Sexual Di(Et)Morphism: Using Experimental Evolution To Test Whether Resource Partitioning Promotes Divergence Of The Sexes In Drosophila Melanogaster, Owen A. Jamieson
Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)
Sexual dimorphism has been a long-studied phenomenon in the field of evolutionary biology. Usually, these differences in morphology, physiology and/or behaviour between the sexes are studied through the parsimonious lens of sexual selection. However, there are natural history cases where this lens does not seem applicable. Some species show sex specific morphological traits whose presence may not be due to a direct benefit to reproduction, but a difference in how each sex interacts with the environment and differing selective pressures from the environment on either sex. Darwin even brought up examples of this kind of dimorphism and pondered their existence, …
Push-Pull Farming System Helps Insure Smallholder Maize Production Under Climate Change,
2027
Lunds Universitet
Push-Pull Farming System Helps Insure Smallholder Maize Production Under Climate Change, Yann Clough, Wilhelm May, Timothy Luttermoser, Dickens Nyagol, Nikolaos Alexandridis, Frank Chidawanyika, Mattias Jonsson, Charles A.O. Midega, Katja Poveda, Zeyaur R. Khan
All Peer-Reviewed Publications
Agroecological approaches harnessing in-field biodiversity have been highlighted as a sustainable way to reduce yield gaps, but long-term assessments of their ability to buffer production from weather extremes and increasing interannual and intraseasonal climate variability are scarce. Here, we analyze a 12-year dataset from 642 control vs. push-pull maize field pairs in western Kenya, where long-term climate trends include increasing temperatures and intensifying drought and rainfall. In push-pull, maize is intercropped with a fodder legume that improves soil fertility, suppresses weeds, and deters pests, and is bordered with fodder grasses attracting and suppressing the pests. We assess interactions between push-pull …
Harnessing Insect-Derived Oils For Enhanced Efficacy Of Plant-Based Repellents Against Disease-Transmitting Mosquitoes,
2026
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Harnessing Insect-Derived Oils For Enhanced Efficacy Of Plant-Based Repellents Against Disease-Transmitting Mosquitoes, John Bwire Ochola, Cynthia M. Mudalungu, Hosea O. Mokaya, Xavier Cheseto, Gilvian N. Onsomu, Subramanian Sevgan, Segenet Kelemu, Baldwyn Torto, Chrysantus M. Tanga
All Peer-Reviewed Publications
Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever pose a growing global health threat, worsened by resistance to synthetic pesticides. This study evaluated insect oils from Schistocerca gregaria, Ruspolia differens, and Macrotermes spp. as adjuvants in plant-based mosquito repellents. The formulations were tested for complete protection time (CPT) against Anopheles gambiae, Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from treated volunteers were analyzed. Incorporating insect oils doubled CPT compared to essential oils alone. The most effective blend of Macrotermes oil with Cymbopogon nardus (1:1) achieved CPTs of 3.50 h for An. gambiae, 2.56 …
Updated Records And Confirmed Colonies Of The Asian Needle Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Brachyponera Chinensis) In Mississippi,
2026
Mississippi State University
Updated Records And Confirmed Colonies Of The Asian Needle Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Brachyponera Chinensis) In Mississippi, Joseph A. Macgown, Kaitlin M. Baudier, Santos Portugal
Midsouth Entomologist
No abstract, this is a short communication.
Beyond Nutrients: Frass Fertilizer Legacy Effects For Sustainable Nematode Management In Potato–African Nightshade Rotation Systems,
2026
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Beyond Nutrients: Frass Fertilizer Legacy Effects For Sustainable Nematode Management In Potato–African Nightshade Rotation Systems, Emmanuel O. Anedo, Dennis Beesigamukama, Benson Mochoge, Nicholas K. Korir, Solveig Haukeland, Xavier Cheseto, Moses Nyongesa, Patrick Pwaipwai, Sevgan Subramanian, Abdou Tenkouano, Chrysantus M. Tanga
All Peer-Reviewed Publications
The utilization of insect frass fertilizer in crop production systems has recently gained significant global interest, but there has been limited evidence of its residual benefits in rotational cropping systems. The legacy effects of black soldier frass fertilizers (BSFFF), conventional organic fertilizer (SAFI), inorganic fertilizer (NPK), synthetic nematicide, and their combinations on potato cyst nematode (PCN) management under potato-African nightshade rotational farming systems were investigated. Eight treatments were evaluated: BSFFF, SAFI, chitin-fortified BSFFF (BSFFF+5chitin), NPK + nematicide, combination of BSFFF and NPK so that each supplies 50% of the nitrogen required by potato (50BSFFF+50NPK), combination of SAFI and NPK so …
Caffeine Concentration: An Analysis On Bumble Bee Foraging Efficiency,
2026
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Caffeine Concentration: An Analysis On Bumble Bee Foraging Efficiency, Carson Leonard, Becky Hansis-O’Neill, Aimee Dunlap Phd
Undergraduate Research Symposium
Caffeine (trimethylxanthine) is a synthetically and naturally produced stimulant that has been shown to elicit an effect on the central nervous system of humans as well as invertebrates. Although the exact mechanisms by which caffeine alters biological processes in invertebrates are still being investigated, its physiological and behavioral effects have been extensively documented. Naturally occurring caffeine is produced by certain flowering plants, including cocoa and tea species, and has been shown to influence invertebrate behavior, particularly cognitive performance and foraging patterns. In pollinating insects, the exposure to caffeine in floral nectar may affect how pollinators evaluate, select, and revisit food …
Wasps Survive Tornadoes, But It Impacts Nest Growth,
2026
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Wasps Survive Tornadoes, But It Impacts Nest Growth, Natalie Cummins, Sara E. Miller
Undergraduate Research Symposium
As the climate becomes more variable, extreme weather events become more common. Last May, St. Louis was hit by an EF-3 tornado. Many areas of the city suffered 90-150 mph winds and severe property damage. We knew there were established paper wasp populations in the affected areas, and so we took this opportunity to monitor emerging nests throughout the summer and fall in both tornado-affected and non-affected areas to observe any possible effect on their nest growth rate and overall size. There is currently very little literature investigating the response of insects to natural disturbances, like tornadoes. Additionally, most studies …
Evaluating Waste Reduction Efficiency Of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Bsfl) On Different Waste Types: A Comparative Study On Kitchen, Fruit, And Vegetable Waste,
2026
Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Evaluating Waste Reduction Efficiency Of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Bsfl) On Different Waste Types: A Comparative Study On Kitchen, Fruit, And Vegetable Waste, Hannah Mawutor Attipoe, Yvonne Afua Sika Adjei, Sharon Gyekyewaa Asare, Obadiah Opoku-Bamfoh, Gifty Boakye Appiah, Ndep Ntui Asundep, Sandra Abankwa Kwarteng
Journal of Bioresource Management
In many developing countries, food waste constitutes a significant share of municipal solid waste and is often poorly managed, causing environmental degradation. Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL), Hermetia illucens, have emerged as a promising tool for the bioconversion of organic waste. This study evaluated the waste reduction efficiency of BSFL reared on kitchen, fruit, and vegetable wastes and assessed the effect of larval density. Each waste type was subjected to four larval densities (450, 650, 850, and 1050 larvae), with larvae- free treatments serving as controls. Each feeding consisted of 700 g of waste, supplied every four days over a …
Jpnet: A Multi-Layered Fusion Deep Learning Architecture For The Detection And Classification Of Pests In Jute Crops,
2026
American International University - Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Jpnet: A Multi-Layered Fusion Deep Learning Architecture For The Detection And Classification Of Pests In Jute Crops, Mejbah Ahammad, Md. Ashraful Babu, Muhammad Sajjad Hossain, Md. Fayz-Al-Asad, Nadim Ahmed, Md. Khaled Hossain, Md. Mortuza Ahmmed, M. Mostafizur Rahman, Mufti Mahmud
Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications
Detecting and classifying insect pests is a critical challenge in agricultural pest management, as infestations can reduce crop yield and quality. This study introduces JPNet, a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture that uses multi-layer feature fusion to detect and classify insect pests affecting jute crops. The architecture integrates complementary feature representations extracted at different network depths, preserving fine-grained visual characteristics alongside high-level semantic information. JPNet is evaluated on the JutePest dataset, which comprises approximately 6,460 RGB images spanning 17 pest classes. Preprocessing and data augmentation—including resizing, normalization, rotation, shifting, zooming, and flipping—improve the consistency and diversity of the training data. …
Efficacy Of Natural Plant Extracts Against Varroa Mite Infestation In Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera L.),
2026
Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Efficacy Of Natural Plant Extracts Against Varroa Mite Infestation In Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera L.), Muhammad Farrukh Mushtaq, Amir Said, Abdul Majid Khan, Mahnoor Arshad, Muhammad Ammar, Abdullah ., Muhammad Farhan Nasir, Amina Bashir, Shumaila Noreen
Journal of Bioresource Management
The honeybee, Apis mellifera, is one of the most beneficial insects worldwide. Several factors stress this pollinating insect, with Varroa destructor infestation being one of the most devastating reasons. Conventional acaricides necessitate an alternative control due to the development of resistance and the accumulation of residues. Many plant extracts and oils provide a favourable solution for managing mites in honey bee colonies. This study focused on the acaricidal and insecticidal activities of three plant extracts: Indian rennet (Withania coagulans), Guggal (Commiphora wightii), and Celery (Apium graveolens) against Varroa and potential side effects on …
Antiplasmodial Activity Of Detarium Senegalense J.F.Gmel. (Fabaceae) Stembark Ethanol Extract,
2026
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Antiplasmodial Activity Of Detarium Senegalense J.F.Gmel. (Fabaceae) Stembark Ethanol Extract, Cletus Anes Ukwubile, Hananiya Hamza Milagawanda
Journal of Bioresource Management
Malaria is a persistent public health impediment in sub-Saharan Africa, necessitating an incessant search for new, effective, and low-cost antimalarial agents from medicinal plants. This study was designed to evaluate the antiplasmodial efficacy of the ethanol crude extract of the stembark of Detarium senegalense. Standard methods were employed to identify the major secondary metabolites. In vivo antiplasmodial activity of the extract in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice was carried out as per the standard suppression test. The LD50 was elicited in mice using a standard procedure. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of important bioactive components such as alkaloids, flavonoids, …
Nontarget Analysis Of The Volatile And Semivolatile Chemical Profile Of Wildland Firefighter Gear: Insight Into Occupational Exposure And Health Implications,
2026
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Nontarget Analysis Of The Volatile And Semivolatile Chemical Profile Of Wildland Firefighter Gear: Insight Into Occupational Exposure And Health Implications, Patrica Ivy Agorsor, Husam Kafeenah, Margaret D. Taiwo, Robin M. Verble, Michael O. Eze
Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works
Prescribed fire releases a complex mixture of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds to the environment. Firefighters are directly exposed to these hazardous mixtures through occupational activities. This study investigated the volatile and semivolatile chemical contamination profile of firefighter protective gear and the effectiveness of laundering as a decontamination strategy. Our results revealed that firefighter gear accumulated a broad spectrum of combustion-derived contaminants, predominantly composed of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and derivatives, phenolic compounds, and aromatic hydrocarbons. Representative compounds identified included toluene, biphenyl, naphthalene, 1-methynaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, acenaphthene, phenol, alkylated phenols, and chlorinated phenols. Quantitative analysis revealed representative combustion-derived compounds at concentrations (mean …
Genomic Analysis Reveals New Subspecies Of Cercyonis Scudder, 1875 (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Satyrini),
2026
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Genomic Analysis Reveals New Subspecies Of Cercyonis Scudder, 1875 (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Satyrini), Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Todd L. Stout, Michael S. Fisher, Robb Hannawacker, Nick V. Grishin
The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey
Genomic analysis of Cercyonis (Cercyonis) Scudder, 1875 (Nymphalidae Rafinesque, 1815) partitions the subgenus into three species groups and reveals five new subspecies from the USA (type localities in parentheses): Cercyonis (Cercyonis) pegala koosharem Stout and Grishin, ssp. n. (Utah, Sevier Co.), Cercyonis (Cercyonis) pegala lasala Grishin, M. Fisher, and Hannawacker ssp. n. (Utah, Grand Co.), Cercyonis (Cercyonis) pegala hortoni Grishin, ssp. n. (Arizona, Gila Co.), Cercyonis (Cercyonis) meadii maculana Grishin, ssp. n. (Colorado, Montezuma Co.), and Cercyonis (Cercyonis) meadii rimana Grishin, ssp. n. (Arizona, Yavapai Co.). A neotype is designated for Satyrus boopis Behr, 1864 (USA, California, Contra Costa Co.). …
Remote Sensing Integrated Modeling Of Fall Armyworm Parasitoid Interactions In Africa Using Fractional Differential Equations,
2026
Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung
Remote Sensing Integrated Modeling Of Fall Armyworm Parasitoid Interactions In Africa Using Fractional Differential Equations, Marian Adan, Steeven Belvinos Affognon, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Klaus Greve, Christian Borgemeister, Georg Goergen
All Peer-Reviewed Publications
The invasion of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda; FAW) into Africa poses a major threat to agricultural systems, particularly maize production, necessitating effective biological control strategies. This study presents an ecological modelling framework that integrates temperature data with fractional differential equations (FDEs) to investigate interactions between FAW and its parasitoid natural enemies. By incorporating temperature-driven effects on life-history traits and ecological memory dynamics, the model captures key features of host–parasitoid interactions under variable environmental conditions. Equilibrium states corresponding to FAW extinction, parasitoid extinction, and coexistence were analytically derived, and sensitivity analysis of the FAW reproduction number highlighted its central role in …
Machine Learning-Enabled Chemical Ecology For Integrated Pest Management: From Volatiles To Field Applications,
2026
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Machine Learning-Enabled Chemical Ecology For Integrated Pest Management: From Volatiles To Field Applications, Steve B.S. Baleba, Victor O. Omondi, Pascal Aigbedion-Atalor, Emmanuel Peter, Souleymane Diallo, Komi Mensah Agboka
All Peer-Reviewed Publications
Machine learning is transforming chemical ecology by accelerating the discovery and deployment of semiochemical-based tools for precision pest management. These advances are particularly important in the face of climate change, pesticide resistance, and the growing need for sustainable agricultural intensification. This review synthesizes how machine learning can be applied across the semiochemical discovery and implementation pipeline, from chemical signal detection to field deployment and decision support for integrated pest management. We review major machine learning approaches and demonstrate how they extract biologically relevant information from high-dimensional chemical, electrophysiological, behavioral, sensor, and field datasets. These methods accelerate semiochemical discovery, prioritize candidate …
Organic Pesticides: A General Overview,
2026
Utah State University
Organic Pesticides: A General Overview, Marion Murray, Ann Mull
All Current Publications
Organic pesticides are naturally occurring, nonsynthetic, or minimally processed substances that control unwanted organisms in the environment. Categories include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and miticides.
Coming Soon To A Cellar Near You: Novel Range Expansion Of A Short-Bodied Cellar Spider, Physocyclus Enaulus (Araneae: Pholcidae), In A Building In Central Illinois, Usa,
2026
Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Coming Soon To A Cellar Near You: Novel Range Expansion Of A Short-Bodied Cellar Spider, Physocyclus Enaulus (Araneae: Pholcidae), In A Building In Central Illinois, Usa, Ricky Gieser, Mark Davis
The Great Lakes Entomologist
A reproductive population of Physocyclus enaulus Crosby, 1926 (Pholcidae: Araneae), a short-bodied cellar spider native to the American southwest and Mexico, is documented for the first time in a single building in Illinois, far outside of their known native range. The means of introduction is unknown but is likely influenced by either accidental hitchhiking spiders or a deliberate introduction to control brown recluse populations. Cellar spiders were purchased and released in the same building to predate on brown recluse spiders, but the first P. enaulus individual was found a year prior to the release. These cellar spiders have a wide-ranging …
New Wisconsin State Records For Predatory Fungus Gnats (Diptera: Bibionomorpha: Keroplatidae),
2026
University of Wisconsin
New Wisconsin State Records For Predatory Fungus Gnats (Diptera: Bibionomorpha: Keroplatidae), Daniel K. Young
The Great Lakes Entomologist
In Wisconsin, no published literature species records for the keroplatid genera Keroplatus and Proceroplatus exist (Diptera: Bibionomorpha: Keroplatidae). New state records are presented for Keroplatus carbonarius Bosc, Keroplatus clausus Coquillett, Keroplatus militaris Johannsen and Proceroplatus elegans (Coquillett). The new records are associated largely with Malaise trap samples from Hemlock Draw (The Nature Conservancy), in the Baraboo Hills of Sauk County, and a Malaise trap at Kemp Natural Resources Station, in Oneida County, Wisconsin. Two specimens of K. clausus and a single specimen of K. militaris discovered within the research collection at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are also reported. The specimens …
First Records Of The Rare Nearctic Water Boatman Palmacorixa Janeae (Hemiptera: Corixidae) In The United States,
2026
University of Wisconsin, Superior
First Records Of The Rare Nearctic Water Boatman Palmacorixa Janeae (Hemiptera: Corixidae) In The United States, Kurt L. Schmude, Gerald Shepard, Adam Frankiewicz
The Great Lakes Entomologist
We report the first record of the rare water boatman, Palmacorixa janeae Brooks (Hemiptera: Corixidae), from the United States. Two hundred and forty specimens were collected in Wisconsin from Chequamegon Bay in Lake Superior. Palmacorixa gillettei Abbott, a similar species known from the area, was also identified among the samples. Most specimens, all of which were adults, were collected at night using a neuston net towed along the surface for approximately 5 minutes. The adults were found in areas that were 34 meters to 4.2 kilometers from the shore that had depths ranging from 1.0 to 5.5 meters. All representatives …
Seasonal Emergence, Egg Gallery Characteristics, And Natural Enemies Of The Eastern Ash Bark Beetle, Hylesinus Aculeatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), In Michigan,
2026
USDA Forest Service
Seasonal Emergence, Egg Gallery Characteristics, And Natural Enemies Of The Eastern Ash Bark Beetle, Hylesinus Aculeatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), In Michigan, Robert A. Haack
The Great Lakes Entomologist
Hylesinus aculeatus Say (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) commonly infests the trunks and limbs of recently dead, dying, or cut ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees in eastern North America. In the Great Lakes region, H. aculeatus is univoltine, overwinters as adults, breeds in late spring and early summer, and constructs transverse biramous egg galleries. I sampled trunk and branch sections from three small-diameter white ash (F. americana L.) trees that were cut in April 1986 in Ingham County, Michigan, and then naturally infested by H. aculeatus and associates. Bolts cut from these trees and placed in an outdoor rearing cage in …
