Entomology Commons^™

Occurrence Of Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) On Birds In Northwestern Lower Michigan, 2011-2019, William C. Scharf, Lisa Aukland, Gary W. Shugart, Sarah A. Hamer

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Abstract

Monitoring tick infestation of wildlife provides baseline tick

occurrence data that may have human or animal health implications. We collected 312 ticks of four species from 5,122 birds of 93 species while monitoring bird migration during 15 fall and spring seasons between 2011 and 2019 in the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Twenty-seven of 93 bird species hosted ticks with an overall prevalence (=at least one tick) of 3.6% (185/5,122). Median burden was one tick/per infested bird with a range of 1-16 ticks per infested bird. Tick species collected were primarily Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (Packard) and Ixodes scapularis Say, with …

Multi-Year Biological Control Of Black Vine Weevil, Otiorhynchus Sulcatus, With Persistent Entomopathogenic Nematodes, Elson J. Shields, Antonio M. Testa

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Abstract:

The black vine weevil (BVW), Otiorhynchus sulcatus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), has a worldwide distribution and is a serious pest of many agricultural crops with a host plant species range of 140 plants. Common economic losses occur in small fruits, including strawberries, ornamental and nursery plants, caused primarily by the root feeding larvae resulting in reduced vigor and plant death.

The susceptibility of BVW to entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) is well established with numerous authors publishing papers using a wide array of EPN species from commercial sources and very high application rates for use as a biopesticide. The concept of using …

Minnesota State Records For Osmia Georgica, Megachile Inimica, And Megachile Frugalis (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae), Including A New Nest Description For Megachile Frugalis Compared With Other Species In The Subgenus Sayapis, Colleen D. Satyshur, Thea A. Evans, Britt M. Forsberg, Robert B. Blair

The Great Lakes Entomologist

In this note, we report the first Minnesota state records of Osmia (Helicosmia) georgica Cresson 1878,Megachile (Sayapis) inimica Cresson 1872, and Megachile (Sayapis) frugalis Cresson 1872, which were collected in 2018. We also provide the first description of the nest structure of M. frugalis. All three species typically have more southern distributions. The nest of M. frugalis shows similar structure to other species in the subgenus Sayapis Titus, such as M. inimica and M. pugnata, particularly in that the longitudinal nest cell walls lack a lining of leaf pieces, and the cell partitions are made from …

New State Records For Some Flat Bugs (Heteroptera: Aradidae) Of The United States, Daniel R. Swanson

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Twelve new state records are reported for eleven previously described species in six genera of Aradidae found in the United States.

A Synopsis Of The Flat Bugs (Heteroptera: Aradidae) Of Michigan, Daniel R. Swanson

The Great Lakes Entomologist

An overview of the 28 species of Aradidae found in Michigan is presented, along with an identification key, distribution maps, and relevant literature. Eleven new state records are presented for the following species: Aradus approximatus Parshley, Aradus duzeei Bergroth, Aradus falleni Stål, Aradus insolitus Van Duzee, Aradus intectus Parshley, Aradus montanus Bergroth, Aradus proboscideus Walker, Aradus shermani Heidemann, Aradus uniformis Heidemann, Quilnus niger (Stål) (all Aradinae), and Neuroctenus simplex (Uhler) (Mezirinae).

Cover Art For Tgle Vol. 53 Nos. 3 & 4

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover Art for TGLE Vol. 53 Nos. 3 & 4

Cover Pages For Tgle Vol. 53 Nos. 3 & 4

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover Pages for TGLE Vol. 53 Nos. 3 & 4

Physical Mapping Of The Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) Darlingi Genomic Scaffolds, Míriam Silva Rafael, Leticia Cegatti Bridi, Igor V. Sharakhov, Osvaldo Marinotti, Maria V. Sharakhova, Vladimir A. Timoshevskiy, Giselle Moura Guimarães-Marques, Valéria Silva Santos, Carlos Gustavo Nunes Da Silva, Spartaco Astolfi-Filho, Wanderli Pedro Tadei

Biology Faculty Publications

The genome assembly of Anopheles darlingi consists of 2221 scaffolds (N50 = 115,072 bp) and has a size spanning 136.94 Mbp. This assembly represents one of the smallest genomes among Anopheles species. Anopheles darlingi genomic DNA fragments of ~37 Kb were cloned, end-sequenced, and used as probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with salivary gland polytene chromosomes. In total, we mapped nine DNA probes to scaffolds and autosomal arms. Comparative analysis of the An. darlingi scaffolds with homologous sequences of the Anopheles albimanus and Anopheles gambiae genomes identified chromosomal rearrangements among these species. Our results confirmed that physical mapping …

Full Issue For Tgle Vol. 53 Nos. 3 & 4

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Full issue for TGLE Vol. 53 Nos. 3 & 4

Organic Waste Substrates Induce Important Shifts In Gut Microbiota Of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens L.): Coexistence Of Conserved, Variable, And Potential Pathogenic Microbes, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Jacqueline Wahura Waweru, Yosef Hamba Tola, Abel Anyega Onyoni, Fathiya M. Khamis, Sunday Ekesi, Juan C. Paredes

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The sustainable utilization of black soldier fly (BSF) for recycling organic waste into nutrient-rich biomass, such as high-quality protein additive, is gaining momentum, and its microbiota is thought to play important roles in these processes. Several studies have characterized the BSF gut microbiota in different substrates and locations; nonetheless, in-depth knowledge on community stability, consistency of member associations, pathogenic associations, and microbe–microbe and host–microbe interactions remains largely elusive. In this study, we characterized the bacterial and fungal communities of BSF larval gut across four untreated substrates (brewers’ spent grain, kitchen food waste, poultry manure, and rabbit manure) using 16S and …

Potential Control Of The Seed Bug Elasmolomus Pallens By Entomopathogenic Fungi And Assessment Of Its Risks For The Transmission Of Aflatoxins, Fidelis Umaru Fredrick

Student Works (2020-2029)

Elasmolomus pallens is a post-harvest insect pest which causes yield loss of peanuts and sesame in Africa and Asia. In view of mitigating the use of synthetic insecticides on the environment, this study evaluated the potential of entomopathogenic fungi for the biological control of E. pallens and assessment of the bug rostrum for its risks of aflatoxins transmission. Adults bugs were dipped briefly in different conidial concentrations of the isolates and observed at 25 ± 2 ℃, 80 ± 10 RH and 14: 10 L: D for 10 days. Dose-response bioassay employed dipping and filter paper methods for both 0.05% …

Temporal And Spatial Blood Feeding Patterns Of Urban Mosquitoes In The San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico, Matthew W. Hopken, Limarie J. Reyes-Torres, Nicole Scavo, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Zaid Abdo, Daniel Taylor, James Pierce, Donald A. Yee

Faculty Publications

Urban ecosystems are a patchwork of habitats that host a broad diversity of animal species. Insects comprise a large portion of urban biodiversity which includes many pest species, including those that transmit pathogens. Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) inhabit urban environments and rely on sympatric vertebrate species to complete their life cycles, and in this process transmit pathogens to animals and humans. Given that mosquitoes feed upon vertebrates, they can also act as efficient samplers that facilitate detection of vertebrate species that utilize urban ecosystems. In this study, we analyzed DNA extracted from mosquito blood meals collected temporally in multiple neighborhoods of …

Re-Analysis Of Abdominal Gland Volatilome Secretions Of The Africanweaver Ant, Oecophylla Longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Bethelihem Mekonnen, Xavier Cheseto, Christian Pirk, Abdullahi Yusuf, Sunday Ekesi, Emilie Deletre, Baldwyn Torto

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The African weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda, is used as a biological control agent for the management of pests. The ant has several exocrine glands in the abdomen, including Dufour’s, poison, rectal, and sternal glands, which are associated with pheromone secretions for intra-specific communication. Previous studies have analyzed the gland secretions of Dufour’s and poison glands. The chemistry of the rectal and sternal glands is unknown. We re-analyzed the secretions from Dufour’s and poison glands plus the rectal and sternal glands to compare their chemistries and identify additional components. We used the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique to collect gland headspace volatiles …

Nebline, February 2021

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Staying active in winter

Nebraska Extension’s Physical Activity Resources

At-Home Workout: No Equipment Needed

Recipe of the Month

2021 Flower All-America Selections Winners

Garden Guide Things to Do This Month

ProHort Lawn & Landscape Update

Know Your Bugs Before You Treat: Bed vs. Bat

More Than Counting: Incorporating Math Into Daily Interactions With Preschoolers

Pesticide Applicator Trainings

Total Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water

HEART OF 4-H Volunteer Award, Laura Cook

Meet 2020–2021 4-H Teen Council

4-H Club Gives Youth With Special Needs Opportunity to Show Lambs

Pick-A-Pig Club Accepting New Members

Companion Animal Webinar Series

4-H Rabbit Show, March 20 …

Exploring The Influence Of Different Habitats And Their Volatile Chemistry In Modulating Sand Fly Population Structure In A Leishmaniasis Endemic Foci, Kenya, Iman B. Hassaballa, Baldwyn Torto, Catherine L. Sole, David P. Tchouassi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Phlebotomine sand flies transmit many viral protozoan and bacterial pathogens of public health importance. Knowledge of the ecologic factors influencing their distribution at local scale can provide insights into disease epidemiology and avenues for targeted control. Animal sheds, termite mounds and houses are important peri-domestic and domestic habitats utilized by different sand flies as resting or breeding habitats. However, our knowledge for selection of these habitats by sand flies remains poor. Here, we tested the hypothesis that these habitat types harbor different composition of sand fly species and differ in their volatile chemistry that could influence sand fly selection. To …

The Role Of Trialeurodes Vaporariorum-Infested Tomato Plant Volatiles In The Attraction Of Encarsia Formosa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), Pascal M. Ayelo, Abdullahi A. Yusuf, Christian W.W. Pirk, Samira A. Mohamed, Anaїs Chailleux, Emilie Deletre

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Natural enemies locate their herbivorous host and prey through kairomones emitted by host plants and herbivores. These kairomones could be exploited to attract and retain natural enemies in crop fields for insect pest control. The parasitoid Encarsia formosa preferentially parasitises its whitefly host, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, a major pest of tomato Solanum lycopersicum, thus offering an effective way to improve whitefly control. However, little is known about the chemical interactions that occur in E. formosa-T. vaporariorum-S. lycopersicum tritrophic system. Using behavioural assays and chemical analyses, we investigated the kairomones mediating attraction of the parasitoid to host-infested tomato plants. In Y-tube olfactometer …

Can Black Soldier Fly Desmodium Intortum Larvae-Based Diets Enhance The Performance Of Cobb500 Broiler Chickens And Smallholder Farmers' Profit In Kenya?, Mary M. Mutisya, Mawufe K. Agbodzavu, John N. Kinyuru, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Mathew Gicheha, Girma Hailu, Daisy Salifu, Zeyaur Khan, Saliou Niassy

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of broiler chickens fed on 3 black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia illucens) and Greenleaf desmodium (Desmodium intortum)-based meals. We evaluated growth performance, carcass quality, and profitability under various commercial pathways (doorstep, retail, whole, and assorted). Desmodium and BSFL powders were formulated into 3 ratios: T1 25:75, T2 50:50, and T3 75:25. A commercial feed was used as a control. One hundred and twenty mixed-sex 1-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb) were reared in pens for 42 d in a completely randomized design. The chickens were weighed weekly to monitor their growth rate. After the …

The Fungus Leptosphaerulina Persists In Anopheles Gambiae And Induces Melanization, Godfrey Nattoh, Joel L. Bargul, Gabriel Magoma, Lilian Mbaisi, Hellen Butungi, Enock Mararo, Evan Teal, Jeremy Keith Herren

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Anopheles mosquitoes are colonized by diverse microorganisms that may impact on host biology and vectorial capacity. Eukaryotic symbionts such as fungi have been isolated from Anopheles, but whether they are stably associated with mosquitoes and transmitted transstadially across mosquito life stages or to subsequent generations remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that a Leptosphaerulina sp. fungus isolated from the midgut of An. gambiae can be stably associated with An. gambiae host and that it imposes low fitness cost when re-introduced through co-feeding. This fungus is transstadially transmitted across An. gambiae developmental stages and to their progeny. It is present in …

Indigenous Knowledge Of Rift Valley Fever Among Somali Nomadic Pastoralists And Its Implications On Public Health Delivery Approaches In Ijara Sub-County, North Eastern Kenya, Geoffrey Otieno Muga, Washington Onyango-Ouma, Rosemary Sang, Hippolyte Affognon

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a zoonotic disease whose outbreak results in heavy economic and public health burdens. In East Africa, RVF is mainly experienced in arid and semi-arid areas predominantly inhabited by the pastoralists. These areas experience sudden, dra-matic epidemics of the disease at intervals of approximately 10 years, associated with widespread flooding and the resultant swarms of mosquitoes. Pastoralists’ indigenous knowledge and experience of RVF is critical for public health interventions targeting prevention and control of RVF. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design combining both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. A total of 204 respondents …

Enoclerus Hefferni, A New Species Of Checkered Beetle (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae) From Honduras, With Additions To The Honduran Enoclerus Gahan Fauna, Jacques Rifkind

Insecta Mundi

Enoclerus hefferni Rifkind, new species (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), is described from Hon­duras. This beetle represents the second known Honduran endemic Enoclerus Gahan species. New country records for 12 species of Enoclerus are presented for Honduras.

The Enoclerus Gahan fauna of Honduras is poorly known, and heretofore only seven species (E. gibbus Ekis, 1976, E. hoegei (Gorham, 1882), E. irregularis Barr, 1978, E. nigromaculatus (Chevrolat, 1843), E. pilatei (Chevrolat, 1874), E. salvini (Gorham, 1876), and E. zebra (Chevrolat, 1843)) have been recorded for that country. Most of these species have broader distributions north into Guatemala and southern Mexico, or south …