Entomology Commons^™

New State Records For Some Predatory And Parasitic True Bugs (Heteroptera: Cimicomorpha) Of The United States, Daniel R. Swanson

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Forty new state records, distributed among Anthocoridae, Cimicidae, Lasiochilidae, Lyctocoridae, Nabidae, and Reduviidae, are reported for 25 species of Cimicomorpha found in the United States.

Tgle Vol. 52 Nos. 3 & 4 Cover Pages

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover Pages for TGLE Vol. 52 Nos. 3 & 4

Tgle Vol. 52 Nos. 3 & 4 Cover Art

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cover Art for TGLE Vol. 52 Nos. 3 & 4

Tgle Vol. 52 Nos. 3 & 4 Full Issue

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Full Issue for TGLE Vol. 52 Nos. 3 & 4

The Impact Of Conventional And Organic Farming On Soil Biodiversity Conservation: A Case Study On Termites In The Long-Term Farming Systems Comparison Trials In Kenya, John J. Anyango, David Bautze, Komi K.M. Fiaboe, Zipporah O. Lagat, Anne W. Muriuki, Sibylle Stöckli, Judith Riedel, Gladys K. Onyambu, Martha W. Musyoka, Edward N. Karanja, Noah Adamtey

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: A long-term experiment at two trial sites in Kenya has been on-going since 2007 to assess the effect of organic and conventional farming systems on productivity, profitability and sustainability. During these trials the presence of significant numbers of termites (Isoptera) was observed. Termites are major soil macrofauna and within literature they are either depict as 'pests' or as important indicator for environmental sustainability. The extent by which termites may be managed to avoid crop damage, but improve sustainability of farming systems is worthwhile to understand. Therefore, a study on termites was added to the long-term experiments in Kenya. The …

Surveillance Of Culex And Aedes Mosquitoes In Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, William Noundou

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In 2018, West Nile virus (WNV) was identified as the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. In response to this very serious problem, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Public Health Department (LLCHD) reinforced their mosquito surveillance program, which constitutes one of the best available tools to fight against this serious threat to human health. The objectives of this study were to 1) expand knowledge of the activity and relative abundance of mosquito communities in understudied areas and 2) evaluate differences in mosquito communities by urban and rural location, especially focusing on known vector species. A total of 6 …

Impacts Of Invasive Rats On Hawaiian Cave Resources, Francis G. Howarth, Fred D. Stone

International Journal of Speleology

Although there are no published studies and limited data documenting damage by rodents in Hawaiian caves, our incidental observations during more than 40 years of surveying caves indicate that introduced rodents, especially the roof rat, Rattus rattus, pose significant threats to vulnerable cave resources. Caves, with their nearly constant and predictable physical environment often house important natural and cultural features including biological, paleontological, geological, climatic, mineralogical, cultural, and archaeological resources. All four invasive rodents in Hawai‘i commonly nest in cave entrances and rock shelters, but only the roof rat (Rattus rattus) habitually enters caves and utilizes areas …

Burial And Compaction Of Sandy Soils To Prevent Emergence Of Adult Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) At The Soil Surface, David F. Cook, Robert A. Deyl, Jeremy B. Lindsey, Mario F. D'Antuono, Don Telfer, Ian R. Mcpharlin

Horticulture Research Articles

Stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans L.) remain a significant pest affecting livestock and rural communities on the Swan Coastal Plain around Perth, Western Australia. Vegetable crop residues remaining after harvest enable stable fly development. Left untreated they can produce from several hundred to >1,000 stable fly/m2 of post-harvest residues. We studied the effect of burial and compaction of sandy soils on adult emergence of stable fly and house fly (Musca domestica L.) (Diptera: Muscidae). Adults of both fly species can move up through 50 cm of loose, dry sand, however at depths greater than 60 cm, emergence rapidly declines …

Designation Of Neotype Of Hemileuca Maia (Drury, 1773) And Refinement Of Its Type Locality (Bombycoidea, Saturniidae, Hemileucinae), Harry Pavulaan

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

The present paper defines the original type locality of Hemileuca maia (Drury, 1773) as Edgewood, New York, in the Long Island Pine Barrens. It has been locally known as the “Coastal Pine Barrens Buckmoth” and its range may be confined entirely to Long Island, though populations throughout southeastern coastal New England and offshore islands may be considered the same nominotypical taxon. In analyzing historical events, there are questions regarding the geographic location, and source and eventual disposition of the specimen illustrated by artist Moses Harris in Drury (1773). While there is ample evidence that Drury’s specimen of maia came from …

Surveillance Of Culex And Aedes Mosquitoes In Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, William Noundou

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In 2018, West Nile virus (WNV) was identified as the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. In response to this very serious problem, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Public Health Department (LLCHD) reinforced their mosquito surveillance program, which constitutes one of the best available tools to fight against this serious threat to human health. The objectives of this study were to 1) expand knowledge of the activity and relative abundance of mosquito communities in understudied areas and 2) evaluate differences in mosquito communities by urban and rural location, especially focusing on known vector species. A total of 6 …

Nebline, February 2020

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

High-Quality Early Child Care Is Important to Children and Communities

Taking Part is Your Civic Duty

Sweet Ideas Without Added Sugar

Berry Fun

Recipes of the Month

Pesticide Applicator Trainings

Growing Nut Trees Seminar, Feb. 20

Landlord/Tenant Cash Rent Workshop, Feb. 3

ProHort Lawn & Landscape Update

Southeast Nebraska Soil Health Conference, March 3

Backyard Bird Feeding Tips

Positive Change on Environmental Issues

What Do the Three Arrows of Recycling Mean?

2020 Flower All-America Selections

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Lincoln Littles Early Childhood Education Initiative

Lincoln Early Childhood Conference

HEART OF 4-H

Meet 2019–2020 4-H Teen Council …

Hexapod Herald - Vol. 32, No. 1, February 2020

Hexapod Herald and Other Entomology Department Newsletters

Welcome new Entomology Graduate Students!

Congratulations December Graduates!

Spring 2020 Beekeeping Workshops Planned

Student News & Activities

BugFest attendance increases last fall

Faculty Awards & News: Joe Louis, Tom Hunt, Justin McMechan, Bob Wright, Wayne Ohnesorg, Ron Seymour, Troy Anderson, Lance Meinke, Tom Weissling, Julie Peterson, Ana Vélez and Doug Golick

Publications & Books

Staff News & Activities

Online MS in Entomology Continues Growth

Spatiotemporal Variability In Allee Effects Of Invading Gypsy Moth Populations, Jonathan A. Walter, Kristine L. Grayson, Laura M. Blackburn, Patrick C. Tobin, Derek M. Johnson

Biology Faculty Publications

The Allee threshold, the critical population density separating growth from decline in populations experiencing strong Allee effects, can vary over space and time but few empirical studies have examined this variation. A lack of geographically extensive, long-term studies on low density population dynamics makes studying variability in Allee effects difficult. We used North American gypsy moth population data from 1996-2016 to quantify Allee thresholds in 11 regions of the invasion front. Allee thresholds spanned a continuum from being undetectable due to strong population growth at all densities, to being unmeasurable because populations declined across all densities. The lag-1 temporal autocorrelation …

Bug Basics: A Quizlet Style Educational Trivia Game, Glynnys D. Pentecoste

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

The goal of this project is to create and develop an augmented reality (AR) game that stimulates an interest in entomology and related ecological concepts. This project seeks to leverage AR technology to combine real-world overlays with virtual, computer-generated enhancements to foster or bolster an interest in insects and their natural habitat(s). Using scavenger hunt and geocaching strategies as the underlying conceptual paradigm, students will navigate a series of challenges to virtually collect a predetermined number of insect-related items or tokens. Using a trivia- or quizlet-style interface, knowledge of fundamental entomological concepts will be emphasized throughout. Successful navigation and completion …

Modelling And Manipulation Of Aphid-Mediated Spread Of Non-Persistently Transmitted Viruses, John P. Carr, Trisna Tungadi, Ruairí Donnelly, Ana Bravo-Cazar, Sun Ju Rhee, Lewis G. Watt, J. Musembi Mutuku, Francis O. Wamonje, Alex M. Murphy, Warren Arinaitwe, Adrienne E. Pate, Nik J. Cunniffe, Christopher A. Gilligan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Aphids vector many plant viruses in a non-persistent manner i.e., virus particles bind loosely to the insect mouthparts (stylet). This means that acquisition of virus particles from infected plants, and inoculation of uninfected plants by viruliferous aphids, are rapid processes that require only brief probes of the plant's epidermal cells. Virus infection alters plant biochemistry, which causes changes in emission of volatile organic compounds and altered accumulation of nutrients and defence compounds in host tissues. These virus-induced biochemical changes can influence the migration, settling and feeding behaviours of aphids. Working mainly with cucumber mosaic virus and several potyviruses, a number …

Plant Community Composition And Functional Characteristics Define Invasion And Infestation Of Termites In Cocoa Agroforestry Systems, T. C.L. Djuideu, D. H.B. Bisseleua, S. Kekeunou, M. J. Meupia, F. G. Difouo, C. F. Ambele

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The effects of farm management on non-native species and the structure and function of native communities and ecosystems on crop yield is poorly documented especially in the cocoa agroforestry systems of West Africa. We assessed termite damages, cocoa plantations structural characteristic and local farmer knowledge to refine the critical role of shade trees management on subterranean crops pests and the consequences on marketable yield in five cocoa agroforestry systems. Farmers recognized termites as the most damaging subterranean pests and clearly described the type of damages they cause on cocoa trees and seedlings. Complete shade removal or very heavy shade on …

Different Plant Viruses Induce Changes In Feeding Behavior Of Specialist And Generalist Aphids On Common Bean That Are Likely To Enhance Virus Transmission, Francis O. Wamonje, Ruairí Donnelly, Trisna D. Tungadi, Alex M. Murphy, Adrienne E. Pate, Christine Woodcock, John Caulfield, J. Musembi Mutuku, Toby J.A. Bruce, Christopher A. Gilligan, John A. Pickett, John P. Carr

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) cause serious epidemics in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), a vital food security crop in many low-to-medium income countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Aphids transmit these viruses “non-persistently,” i.e., virions attach loosely to the insects' stylets. Viruses may manipulate aphid-host interactions to enhance transmission. We used direct observation and electrical penetration graph measurements to see if the three viruses induced similar or distinct changes in feeding behaviors of two aphid species, Aphis fabae and Myzus persicae. Both aphids vector BCMV, BCMNV, and CMV but A. …

Stable Flies, Stomoxys Calcitrans L. (Diptera: Muscidae), Improve Offspring Fitness By Avoiding Oviposition Substrates With Competitors Or Parasites, Steve B.S. Baleba, Baldwyn Torto, Daniel Masiga, Merid N. Getahun, Christopher W. Weldon

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Oviposition site selection by gravid female insects is an important determinant in species distribution, abundance, and population dynamics. Females may assess the suitability of a potential oviposition substrate by using cues from conspecific or heterospecific individuals already present. Here, we assessed whether the presence of conspecific or heterospecific larvae and parasites influenced oviposition decisions by the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (Linneaus). Using dual and multiple-choice oviposition bioassays, we found that gravid female S. calcitrans avoided substrates with conspecific larvae, the larvae of house flies, Musca domestica (Linneaus), and the mite Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli). Avoidance of conspecific and heterospecific larvae persisted …

Parasitoid Host Acceptance And Suitability For Sugarcane Aphid, Nathan Mercer

Entomology Research Data

Commercially available parasitoids were tested for their host acceptance and suitability on the sugarcane aphid, recent pest of sorghum.

Nebline, January 2020

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

2019 Extension Highlights

Benefit to People

Extension’s Volunteers Worth Over $800,000

Resilience Makes Nebraska Strong

35,312 Youth Engaged in 4-H Programs

Find Tips and Recipes Easier at food.unl.edu

Recipe of the Month

UNL Food Processing Center Offers Assistance to Small Food Business Start-ups

Pesticide Applicator 2020 Training Dates

Successful Farmer Series Starts Jan. 10

Landlord/Tenant Cash Rent Workshop, Feb. 3

Soil Health Conference, March 3

Upcoming Green Industry Conferences

Extension’s 2020 Master Gardener Trainings, Two Sites Available

Garden Guide Things to Do This Month

Childcare Professionals — Considering Outdoor Play in Winter?

Upcoming Early Childhood Trainings

Heart of 4-H Volunteer …