Entomology Commons^™

Effects Of Pitfall Trap Preservative On Collections Of Carabid Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Kenneth W. Mccravy, Jason E. Willand

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Effects of six pitfall trap preservatives (5% acetic acid solution, distilled water, 70% ethanol, 50% ethylene glycol solution, 50% propylene glycol solution, and 10% saline solution) on collections of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) were studied in a west-central Illinois deciduous forest from May to October 2005. A total of 819 carabids, representing 33 species and 19 genera, were collected. Saline produced significantly fewer captures than did acetic acid, ethanol, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, while distilled water produced significantly fewer captures than did acetic acid. Significant associations between numbers of captures and treatment were seen in four species: Amphasia interstitialis …

Why Are There So Few Insect Predators Of Nuts Of American Beech (Fagus Grandifolia)?, Charles E. Williams

The Great Lakes Entomologist

American beech, Fagus grandifolia Ehrh., is a common nut-bearing tree of eastern North America. Compared to other North American nut-bearing tree species of comparable geographic range, the nut-infesting insect fauna of American beech is species-poor: only the filbertworn, Cydia latiferreana (Wlsm.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), infests nuts of American beech. Why are there so few insect predators of nuts of American beech? Using data from published studies, I explore two hypotheses that may help to explain the species-poor nut-infesting insect fauna of American beech. First, might chemical defense of beechnuts, and/ or low nutritional value, restrict the number of insect predators that …

Efficacy Of Morphological Characters For Distinguishing Nymphs Of Epitheca Cynosura And Epitheca Spinigera (Odonata: Corduliidae) In Wisconsin, Robert B. Dubois, Kenneth J. Tennessen, Matthew S. Berg

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Attempts to distinguish exuviae and last-instar nymphs of Epitheca cynosura (Say) and Epitheca spinigera (Selys) (Odonata: Corduliidae) using lateral spine characters have proven to be unreliable, and recent use of setae counts on only one side of the prementum or one labial palp have led to confusion because these structures often hold unequal numbers of setae on the two sides of the same specimen. Based on exuviae of 67 reared E. cynosura and 55 reared E. spinigera from lakes throughout Wisconsin, we tested the efficacy of previously used character states for distinguishing these species and searched for new characters to …

Great Diversity Of Insect Floral Associates May Partially Explain Ecological Success Of Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron Radicans Subsp. Negundo [Greene] Gillis, Anacardiaceae), David S. Senchina, Keith S. Summerville

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Little is known about insect floral associates of poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans, Anacardiaceae), despite the species’ ubiquity and importance in nature and society. Poison ivy’s pollination syndrome and results from prior studies suggest that the plant is not specialized for any particular pollinator type; however, a systematic survey exploring this hypothesis has been lacking. For this study, insect floral associates of Toxicodendron radicans subsp. negundo from a central Iowa site were observed during the flowering season of 2005. Thirty- seven distinct insect floral associates were observed: 8 coleopterans (beetles), 7 dipterans (flies), 2 hemipterans (true bugs), 19 hymenopterans …

Using Degree-Day Methodology To Ascertain Early Flight Periods Of Michigan Butterflies And Skippers, Owen A. Perkins

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Butterflies and skippers have been collected in Michigan for over 130 years and the accompanying data labels continue to provide significant information. Both collection date and site information for voucher specimens provide the data that is used to ascertain the daily maximum-minimum temperatures for the year in which the specimens were collected. This information may then be used to calculate the degree-day accumulations above a base value over those specific dates.

The Michigan Entomological Society - Michigan Lepidoptera Survey (MLS) is a team of lepidopterists who have endeavored to create a composite database of all voucher specimens in museum and …

New Record Of Vanessa Virginiensis (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) As A Host Of Thyrateles Procax (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), David B. Maclean, John Luhman

The Great Lakes Entomologist

On 4 August, 2005 a male Thyrateles procax (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) emerged from a pupa of Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) which was contained within a screened cage in Cook County, MN. This is the first published record of Vanessa virginiensis as a host of Thyrateles procax. Adults of T. procax appear to be rare, as only two old records (both males) are known from Minnesota (University of Minnesota, Insect Collection)

A New State Record For Olixon Banksii (Hymenoptera: Rhopalosomatidae) In Missouri., Diane L. Wood, M. Anthony Maupin

The Great Lakes Entomologist

(excerpt)

The cosmopolitan family Rhopalosmatidae is comprised of four genera and 37 species (Townes 1977, Goulet and Huber 1993, Fernandez and Sarmiento-M 2002, Lohrmann and Ohl 2007).

Gomphus Spicatus (Odonata: Gomphidae) Rediscovered In Illinois And Libellula Semifasciata (Odonata: Libellulidae) Recorded Near Wisconsin, Robert B. Dubois, Craig R. Stettner

The Great Lakes Entomologist

(excerpt)

Gomphus spicatus Hagen (Odonata: Gomphidae), commonly called dusky clubtail, is a common and widely distributed dragonfly in a variety of ponds, lakes, and slow streams throughout its range in the north-eastern and northcentral United States and adjacent areas of southern Canada (Donnelly 2004).

Erythrodiplax Umbrata (Odonata: Libellulidae): New For Michigan, Julie A. Craves, Darrin S. O'Brien

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Two band-winged dragonlets, Erythrodiplax umbrata (Linnaeus), collected in Wayne County, Michigan on 6 October 2007 represent the first records for this genus and species in the state, as well as the northernmost record for the species. They were found during a period in which many individuals were seen or photographed in Ohio, which prior to 2006, had only two records.

Can Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus Planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Emerge From Logs Two Summers After Infested Trees Are Cut?, Toby R. Petrice, Robert A. Haack

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is a serious invasive pest of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in North America. Much of EAB’s range expansion has been attributed to human-assisted movement of infested items such as ash logs and firewood. It is unclear the amount of time that logs cut from live EAB-infested ash trees should be restricted from movement until they are no longer capable of producing viable EAB adults. In March and April 2004, we cut log sections from EAB-infested green ash (F. pennsylvanica Marsh) trees in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Michigan. Log sections …

Abundance Of Rice Root Aphid Among Selected Plant Species And On Plants Grown With Different Soil-Surface Media, Louis S. Hesler, S. Dean Kindler

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The rice root aphid, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominalis (Sasaki), is distributed worldwide and colonizes a wide range of plants. However, relatively little is known about the suitability of different host plants, optimal rearing techniques, and the aphid’s impact on plant fitness. To improve understanding of these factors, laboratory experiments were conducted to compare the abundance of rice root aphid on plants grown using three different soil-surface media and among selected monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. Rice root aphid was more abundant on plants grown with a sandy soil surface than a surface with fine wood chips or only bare non-sandy soil. Rice root …

Secondary Predation On The Horsehair Worm Gordius Robustus (Nematomorpha: Gordiida), Philip A. Cochran

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The gut contents of a brown trout (Salmo trutta) included horsehair worms (Gordius robustus, Nematomorpha: Gordiida) emerging from a camel cricket (Ceuthophilus sp., Orthoptera: Gryllacrididae). This provides more evidence of secondary ingestion than most previous reports of predation on horsehair worms, but it also illustrates the difficulty of distinguishing in practice between direct and secondary predation.

Lycaeides Melissa Samuelis (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) Response To An Aggregation Of Lytta Sayi (Coleoptera: Meloidae) On Lupinus Perennis (Fabaceae, Jodi A. I Swanson, Paula K. Kleintjes Neff

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Lycaeides melissa samuelis Nabokov, frequently called the Karner blue butterfly, is a Federally endangered species found in savanna/barren type ecosystems of New England and the Great Lakes region of North America. We observed sporadic and localized feeding aggregations of Lytta sayi LeConte (Coleoptera: Meloidae) on Lupinus perennis L. (Fabaceae) occupied by L. m. samuelis during the summers of 2000-2004, in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. In 2004, we quantified the phenology and behavior of an aggregation (> 900 beetles) within a 1,020 m2 stand of lupine and measured its effect upon adult L. m. samuelis behavior. The L. sayi aggregation formed …

Alfalfa Snout Beetle, Otiorhynchus Ligustici L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Methods For Egg Collection And Larval Rearing, Elson J. Shields, Gabor Neumann, Antonio M. Testa

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The alfalfa snout beetle, Otiorhynchus ligustici L., is the most serious pest of alfalfa in northern New York State. Recent research efforts focused on the biological control of this insect require the availability of all life stages. With a 2-year lifecycle and a mandatory diapause, the artificial rearing of a laboratory culture appears to be a non-viable option at present, but methods described here can be used to obtain sufficient numbers of eggs and larvae over an extended period of time for research purposes. The crowding of adult beetles in egg production units (cups) had a significant, negative effect on …

Female Fighting And Host Competition Among Four Sympatric Species Of Melittobia (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Robert W. Matthews, Leif D. Deyrup

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Melittobia is a genus of parasitic wasps well known for high levels of inbreeding and violent male combat. Casual observations of groups of sisters of M. femorata placed with hosts revealed a surprising incidence of body mutilations (broken or missing tarsi, antennae, and wings). Replicated conspecific groups of 1, 2, or 3 females of M. femorata, M. digitata, and M. australica and interspecific groups of M. femorata and M. australica (2:1) were observed over their first 10 days in newly established cultures, and the incidence of mutilation was recorded. In some groups females were dye-fed, allowing us to subsequently chart …

Fungal Pathogens Infecting Soybean Aphid And Aphids On Other Crops Grown In Soybean Production Areas Of Michigan, Takuji Noma, Michael J. Brewer

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Seasonal prevalence of fungal pathogens infecting soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), was assessed from 2004 to 2006 in two Michigan soybean production areas. In 2005 and 2006 field-collected soybean aphids were incubated, and fungal infection was detected at both sites early in August 2005 during soybean pod development and high soybean aphid densities. Significantly higher proportions of winged aphid morphs were infected (20 and 90% infection at the two sites) than wingless aphid morphs (1 and 3% infection). All cases of mycosis examined involved one pathogen species, Pandora neoaphidis (Remaudiére & Hennebert) Humber (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae). In 2004 and …

Do Generalist Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Females Select Dark Green Leaves Over Yellowish – Or Reddish-Green Leaves For Oviposition?, Rodrigo J. Mercader, Rory Kruithoff, J. Mark Scriber

The Great Lakes Entomologist

In late August and September, using leaves from the same branches, the polyphagous North American swallowtail butterfly species Papilio glaucus L. (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) is shown to select mature dark green leaves of their host plants white ash, Fraxinus americana L. (Oleaceae) and tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera L. (Magnoliaceae) rather than the pale green or yellowish- green mature leaves in laboratory oviposition arenas. In early August, similar results were observed for black cherry, Prunus serotina Ehrh. (Rosaceae). Dark green leaves were preferred over light green and yellowish green leaves. These green leaves of black cherry were the most nutritious leaves for …

Notes On Dianthidium Simile (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) In Michigan, Mark F. O'Brien

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Dianthidium simile (Cresson) is a small ground-nesting megachilid bee restricted to sandy areas in Michigan, often bordering lakeshores. Females dig their nests in sand, at the base of dried clumps of grass. Nests are small clusters of cells, formed from conifer resin and sand grains, with each 1-1.5 cm in length by 8.5 mm in diameter. Collection records and field observations indicate a flight period from late June to early September. This is the first report on the behavior of this species.

Presence Of The “Threatened” Trimerotropis Huroniana (Orthoptera: Acrididae) In Relation To The Occurrence Of Native Dune Plant Species And The Exotic Centaurea Biebersteinii, Jordan M. Marshall, Andrew J. Storer

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Trimerotropis huroniana Wlk. is a “Threatened” species in Michigan and Wisconsin with a distribution limited to open dune systems in the northern Great Lakes region of North America. Pitfall traps were utilized in the Grand Sable Dunes of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI, along with an herbaceous plant survey, to identify the relationship of T. huroniana with native dune plant species, Ammophila breviligulata Fern. (American beachgrass, Poaceae), Artemisia campestris L. (field sagewort, Asteraceae), and the exotic invasive plant Centaurea biebersteinii DC. [=Centaurea maculosa, spotted knapweed, Lamarck] (Asteraceae). The absence of C. biebersteinii resulted in an increased likelihood of …

Behaviors Of Adult Agrilus Planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Cesar R. Rodriguez-Soana, James R. Miller, Therese M. Poland, Tina M. Kuhn, Gard W. Otis, Tanya Turk, Daniel L. Ward

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A 2-year study was conducted in Canada (2003) and the United States (2005) to better understand searching and mating behaviors of adult Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. In both field and laboratory, adults spent more time resting and walking than feeding or flying. The sex ratio in the field was biased towards males, which tended to hover around trees, likely looking for mates. There was more leaf feeding damage within a tree higher in the canopy than in the lower canopy early in the season, but this difference disappeared over time. In choice experiments, males attempted to mate with individuals of both …