Entomology Commons^™

Nest Architecture As A Tool For Species Discrimination Of Hypotrigona Species (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini), N. N. Ndungu, A. A. Yusuf, S. K. Raina, D. K. Masiga, C. W.W. Pirk, K. Nkoba

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Hypotrigona species are difficult to identify morphologically. Here, we show that nest sites and nest architecture can be used to discriminate three Hypotrigona species found in Kenya. Hypotrigona gribodoi, H. araujoi and H. ruspolii colonies from Kakamega forest and H. gribodoi from Mwingi, were collected and placed in a meliponiary at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE). The following parameters were recorded: nest sites, internal nest entrances, external nest entrance colour and size, sizes (in terms of volume) of brood cells, honey and pollen pots, arrangement of brood cells and presence or absence of involucrum (cerumen covering …

Characterization Of Pyrethroid Resistance In The Western Corn Rootworm Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera Leconte, Dariane Sagaseta De Oliveira Souza

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a major pest of maize (Zea mays L.) in the United States and has continuously challenged our ability to develop sustainable pest management solutions. Resistance to chemical insecticides, crop rotation, and most recently transgenic plants that express toxins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) have been well documented among WCR populations. Furthermore, US regulatory insecticide prohibitions and the lack of new active ingredients have reduced the options for WCR control. Pyrethroid insecticides are one of the few remaining chemical options. Therefore, the recent confirmation …

Influence Of Temperature On Selected Life-History Traits Of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens) Reared On Two Common Urban Organic Waste Streams In Kenya, Marwa Shumo, Fathiya M. Khamis, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Komi K.M. Fiaboe, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi, Arnold Van Huis, Christian Borgemeister

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

In sub-Saharan Africa, urban populations are projected to increase by 115% in the coming 15 years. In addition, economic growth and dietary shifts towards animal source foods have put high pressure and demand on agricultural production. The high ecological footprint of meat and dairy production, as well as high feed costs, prevent the livestock sector from meeting the increasing demand in a sustainable manner. Insects such as the black soldier fly (BSF) have been identified as potential alternatives to the conventionally used protein sources in livestock feed due to their rich nutrient content and the fact that they can be …

2018 Soybean Insect Losses In The Southern Us, F. R. Musser, A. L. Catchot Jr., S. P. Conley, J. A. Davis, C. Difonzo, J. K. Greene, G. M. Lorenz, D. Owens, T. Reed, D. D. Reisig, P. Roberts, T. Royer, N. J. Seiter, S. D. Stewart, S. Taylor, K. Tilmon, R. T. Villanueva, M. O. Way

Midsouth Entomologist

Estimated insect management costs and losses due to insects in soybean during the 2018 growing season were collected and compiled from 17 states to provide a record of insect pressure and management practices for the year. The estimates have been made annually in some southern states for up to 15 years, but this year was the first or second year of participation for 10 states. Participating states represented 40% of soybean acreage grown in the United States, with near 100% participation in southern states. Overall, the stink bug complex was the costliest insect pest in soybean followed by corn earworm. …

Program And Abstracts Of The 65th Annual Conference Of The Mississippi Entomological Association, October 22-23, 2018, Mississippi Entomological Association

Midsouth Entomologist

No abstract provided.

Manipulating Natural Enemy Behavior To Improve Biological Control: Attractants And Repellents Of A Weaver Ant, Anais Chailleux, Aurélien Stirnemann, Jimmy Leyes, Emilie Deletre

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Farmers may not want certain natural enemies of insect pests to be present in their fields all year round, due to the detrimental effects they might have on themselves or on their crop. We explored the potential for manipulating the behavior of the African weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda, which may bite humans while being a major natural enemy against the invasive fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, in Africa. Our aim was to find repellents that might help to protect farmers when working in the fields, while also coming up with ways of increasing weaver ant populations, by finding carbohydrate sources from …

A Determining Factor For Insect Feeding Preference In The Silkworm, Bombyx Mori, Zhong-Jie Zhang, Shuai-Shuai Zhang, Bao-Long Niu, Dong-Feng Ji, Xiao-Jing Liu, Mu-Wang Li, Hua Bai, Subba Reddy Palli, Chen-Zhu Wang, An-Jiang Tan

Entomology Faculty Publications

Feeding preference is critical for insect adaptation and survival. However, little is known regarding the determination of insect feeding preference, and the genetic basis is poorly understood. As a model lepidopteran insect with economic importance, the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, is a well-known monophagous insect that predominantly feeds on fresh mulberry leaves. This species-specific feeding preference provides an excellent model for investigation of host-plant selection of insects, although the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains unknown. Here, we describe the gene GR66, which encodes a putative bitter gustatory receptor (GR) that is responsible for the mulberry-specific feeding preference …

Synopsis Of New World Sigalphinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) With The Description Of Two New Species And A Key To Genera, Michael J. Sharkey, Angélica Maria Penteado-Dias, M. Alex Smith, Winnie Hallwachs, Daniel Janzen

Entomology Faculty Publications

We describe and illustrate Paphanus paloi sp. n., first generic record for Brazil, and Minanga patriciamadrigalae, first generic record for Costa Rica. We present illustrated keys for the New World genera of Sigalphinae, and the New World species of Paphanus and Minanga. Minanga patriciamadrigalae sp. n. was reared from caterpillars of Chloropteryx nordicariaDHJ01 (Geometridae).

A New Genus And Seven New Species Of Onciderini Thomson, 1860 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) From Central And South America, Eugenio H. Nearns, Francisco E. De L. Nascimento

Insecta Mundi

Thomsonista Nearns and Nascimento, a new genus of Onciderini Thomson, 1860 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae), is described and illustrated. Seven new species of Onciderini are described and illustrated: Hesychotypa antonkozlovi from Ecuador; Hesychotypa danilevskyi from Panama; Lingafelteria pandolfii from Brazil; Oncideres antonkozlovi and Oncideres erwini from Peru; Oncideres johnmarvini from Costa Rica and Panama; and Thomsonista antonkozlovi from Colombia.

Thomsonista Nearns y Nascimento, un nuevo género de Onciderini Thomson, 1860 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae), es descrito e ilustrado. Siete nuevas especies de Onciderini son descritas e ilustradas: Hesychotypa antonkozlovi de Ecuador; Hesychotypa danilevskyi de Panamá; Lingafelteria pandolfii de Brasil; Oncideres antonkozlovi y …

New Species And Taxonomical Notes In Gorybia Pascoe, 1866 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae), James E. Wappes, Juan Pablo Botero, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Three new Gorybia Pascoe, 1866 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae: Piezocerini), species from Bolivia are described: G. martinsi Wappes, Botero and Santos-Silva new species; G. galileoae Wappes, Botero and Santos-Silva, new species; and G. clarkeorum Wappes, Botero and Santos-Silva, new species. In addition, G. bispinosa Martins, Galileo and Limeira-de-Oliveira, 2009 is proposed as a synonym of G. castanea (Gounelle, 1909) and G. maculosa Martins, 1976 as a synonym of G. apatheia Martins, 1976.

Global Responses Of Resistant And Susceptible Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor) To Sugarcane Aphid (Melanaphis Sacchari), Hannah M. Tetreault, Sajjan Grover, Erin Scully, Tammy Gries, Nathan A. Palmer, Gautam Sarath, Joe Louis, Scott E. Sattler

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari) has emerged as a significant pest for sorghum. The use of sugarcane aphid-resistant sorghum germplasm with integrated pest management strategies appears to be an excellent solution to this problem. In this study, a resistant line (RTx2783) and a susceptible line (A/BCK60) were used to characterize the differences in plant responses to the sugarcane aphid through a series of experiments, which examined global sorghum gene expression, aphid feeding behavior and inheritance of aphid resistance. The global transcriptomic responses to sugarcane aphids in resistant and susceptible plants were identified using RNA-seq and compared to the …

Notes On Some Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) Associated With Acanthococcus Lagerstroemiae (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) In The Republic Of Korea, Soo-Jung Suh

Insecta Mundi

A survey of the parasitoids associated with Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) in the Republic of Korea in 2014 resulted in the documentation of one species of Aphelinidae, Marietta picta (Andre), and two species of Encyrtidae, Metaphycus eriococci (Timberlake) and Zaomma eriococci (Ferrière). Of these, M. eriococci and Z. eriococci are newly recorded from Korea. In addition, one species of encyrtid is newly recognized as a parasitoid associated with A. lagerstroemiae from Korea. In this paper, the list of parasitoid species of A. lagerstroemiae that occur in Korea is updated and a brief diagnosis and photographs of these species are …

A Revision Of The Aphodiini Genus Cnemargulus Semenov, 1903 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Scarabaeidae), Stefano Ziani

Insecta Mundi

The aphodiine genus Cnemargulus Semenov (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Scarabaeidae) is revised. Two species are recognized as belonging to the genus. A new synonymy (C. krulikovskyi Semenov vs C. pusio Semenov) is proposed. A new country record for Iran is given. Lastly, a key to species is provided.

Effects Of An Unregistered Insecticide On Adult Spotted Wing Drosophila Mortality And Field Infestation Rates, 2015, Katharine A. Swoboda-Bhattarai, Hannah Burrack

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The effectiveness of an unregistered material at reducing Drosophila suzukii (SWD) infestation rates in blackberry field plots and its toxicity to adult SWD in laboratory bioassays was tested during the 2015 growing season. Field trials were conducted at the Sandhills Research Station near Jackson Springs, NC, in a 0.11-acre planting consisting of two rows of ‘Ouachita’ blackberries. Six treatments, including an untreated check (UTC), were applied to 5-plant plots and were arranged in an RCB design with four replicates per treatment, blocked by row, with two blocks per row. Delegate was the standard material. Some of the treatments were combined …

Predation On Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) In Cotton And Soybean Agroecosystems [Predator Gut Contents], Kacie J. Athey, John R. Ruberson, Dawn Olson, James D. Harwood

Entomology Research Data

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are significant pests of cotton and soybeans in the southeastern United States with annual control costs exceeding $14 million in these crops. Three of the most prominent stink bug pests are the southern green (Nezara viridula), brown (Euschistus servus) and green (Chinavia hilaris) stink bugs. To determine trophic linkages between generalist arthropod predators and these pests, species-specific 16S molecular markers were designed and used to detect the presence of prey DNA in predator gut-contents. Over 2700 predators were collected over two growing seasons in cotton and soybean in southern Georgia …

Predation On Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) In Cotton And Soybean Agroecosystems [Predator Capture Numbers], Kacie J. Athey, John R. Ruberson, Dawn Olson, James D. Harwood

Entomology Research Data

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are significant pests of cotton and soybeans in the southeastern United States with annual control costs exceeding $14 million in these crops. Three of the most prominent stink bug pests are the southern green (Nezara viridula), brown (Euschistus servus) and green (Chinavia hilaris) stink bugs. To determine trophic linkages between generalist arthropod predators and these pests, species-specific 16S molecular markers were designed and used to detect the presence of prey DNA in predator gut-contents. Over 2700 predators were collected over two growing seasons in cotton and soybean in southern Georgia …

Resistance To Greenbugs In The Sorghum Nested Association Mapping Population, Sajjan Grover, Braden Wojahn, Suresh Varsani, Scott E. Sattler, Joe Louis

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The greenbug, Schizaphis graminum, is a serious pest of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). For the past several decades, resistant sorghum hybrids have been used to control greenbug populations. However, the durability of plant resistance is frequently challenged by evolution of new greenbug biotypes, and there is a continuous need for screening of resistant germplasm for its effective management in the field. Natural variation in sorghum plants/populations provides distinct approaches to identify novel sources of resistance against greenbugs. In this study, we used the recently developed sorghum nested association mapping (NAM) population parental lines to understand sources of sorghum resistance to greenbugs. …

Functional Analysis Of Rip Toxins From The Drosophila Endosymbiont Spiroplasma Poulsonii, Mario Gonzalo Garcia-Arraez, Florent Masson, Juan Camilo Paredes Escobar, Bruno Lemaitre

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Insects frequently live in close relationship with symbiotic bacteria that carry out beneficial functions for their host, like protection against parasites and viruses. However, in some cases, the mutualistic nature of such associations is put into question because of detrimental phenotypes caused by the symbiont. One example is the association between the vertically transmitted facultative endosymbiont Spiroplasma poulsonii and its natural host Drosophila melanogaster. Whereas S. Poulsonii protects its host against parasitoid wasps and nematodes by the action of toxins from the family of Ribosome Inactivating Proteins (RIPs), the presence of S. Poulsonii has been reported to reduce hosts …

Rna Sequencing, Selection Of Reference Genes And Demonstration Of Feeding Rnai In Thrips Tabaci (Lind.) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), Satnam Singh, Mridula Gupta, Suneet Pandher, Gurmeet Kaur, Neha Goel, Pankaj Rathore, Subba Reddy Palli

Entomology Faculty Publications

Background: Thrips tabaci is a severe pest of onion and cotton. Due to lack of information on its genome or transcriptome, not much is known about this insect at the molecular level. To initiate molecular studies in this insect, RNA was sequenced; de novo transcriptome assembly and analysis were performed. The RNAseq data was used to identify reference and RNAi pathway genes in this insect. Additionally, feeding RNAi was demonstrated in T. tabaci for the first time.

Results: From the assembled transcriptome, 27,836 coding sequence (CDS) with an average size of 1236 bp per CDS were identified. About 85.4% of …

Divergent Switchgrass Cultivars Modify Cereal Aphid Transcriptomes, Kyle G. Koch, Erin D. Scully, Nathan A. Palmer, Scott M. Geib, Gautam Sarath, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Jeff D. Bradshaw

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Schizaphis graminum Rondani (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Sipha flava Forbes (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are two common pests of bioenergy grasses. Despite the fact that they are both considered generalists, they differ in their ability to colonize Panicum virgatum cultivars. For example, S. flava colonizes both P. virgatum cv. Summer and P. virgatum cv. Kanlow whereas S. graminum can only colonize Summer. To study the molecular responses of these aphids to these two switchgrass cultivars, we generated de novo transcriptome assemblies and compared the expression profiles of aphids feeding on both cultivars to profiles associated with feeding on a highly susceptible sorghum host …