Entomology Commons^™

The Mayfly Family Behningiidae (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeroidea): Keys To The Recent Species With A Catalog Of The Family, Michael D. Hubbard

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Keys to the known Recent species of the mayfly family Behningiidae are presented. Also included is a catalog of references to the genera and species of the Behningiidae, along with indications of described stages and geographical distributions.

The Robber Flies (Diptera: Asilidae) Of The Albany Pinebush, Timothy L. Mccabe, Christine N. Weber

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The Albany Pinebush, a pitch pine-scrub oak sand barrens, was examined for robber flies and the results compared to historical records found in the New York State Museum, Albany. Thirty-six species were recorded of which seventeen were new records. Two species, Cyrtopogon laphriformis and Promachus bastardii, last recorded in 1914 and 1931, respectively, were not located in the survey.

Cryptopygus Bipunctatus (Collembola: Isotomidae) In North America, And C. Posteroculatus N. Comb., E. C. Bernard, R. J. Snider

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Specimens of Cryptopygus bipunctatus are reported and described from North America (Michigan) for the first time. The species is easily recognized by its lack of color, one pair of ocelli on black eyespots, and one flair of ventral manubrial setae. Michigan and European specimens are very· similar. A very similar Polish species, Isotomina posteroculata, is transferred to Cryptopygus.

Selective Pod Abortion By Baptista Leucantha (Fabaceae) As Affected By A Curculionid Seed Predator, Apion Rostrum (Coleoptera), Chris E. Petersen, Jo Ann Sleboda

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The effect of a seed predator, Apion rostrum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), on selective pod abortion from Baptisia leucantha (Fabaceae) was investigated in a restored tallgrass prairie plot. Weevil densities in and undamaged seed contents of attached and detached pods were compared over four occasions during the summer of 1993. Detached pods had similar to lower counts of weevils/pod and fewer seeds/pod than attached pods. Weevil density in pods appears only important in promoting pod abortIon through affects on seed number/pod as pods having fewer seeds are selectively aborted.

Parasitism, Adult Emergence, Sex Ratio, And Size Of Aphidius Colemani (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) On Several Aphid Species, N. C. Elliott, B. W. French, J. D. Burd, S. D. Kindler, D. K. Reed

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Aphidius colemani Viereck parasitizes several economically important aphid pests of small grain crops including the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum and the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia. The ability of A. colemani to switch from S. graminum to several species of aphids common to agricultural and associated non-agricultural ecosystems in the Great Plains, and the effects of host-change on several biological parameters that influence population growth rate were determined. Female A. colemani parasitized and developed to adulthood in nine of 14 aphid species to which they were exposed in the laboratory. All small grain feeding aphids except Sipha flava were parasi­tized. …

Extracting Additional Information From Biotic Index Samples, Richard A. Lillie, Roger A. Schlesser

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Macroinvertebrates were collected from a small midwestern stream over a 3-year period as part of a non-point source pollution study. Temporal and spatial variability in standard biotic index values (BIs) were computed and compared with variability expressed by a series of additional community measurements, including the mean tolerance value of all taxa present in a sample, irrespective of the numerical abundance of individual taxa. The mean tolerance value exhibited lower spatial and temporal variability than the standard BI; therefore, mean tolerance values may be useful in estimating a stream's long-term ambient water quality and its recovery potential. Computations of additional …

Straw Itch Mite, Pyemotes Tritici, Infestation In Brome Seed Related To Acute Dermatitis In Michigan Granary Workers, Edward D. Walker, Douglas A. Landis

The Great Lakes Entomologist

An infestation of Pyemotes tritici, the straw itch mite, apparently caused dermatitis on the arms and trunks of four workers in south-central Michigan who had unloaded a shipment of brome seed bags. Sampling of bag surfaces and contents indicated that mites occurred inside and on the surface of brome seed bags, but not in bags of other seed present at the site. One bag of fescue in contact with brome seed bags had mites on its surface. Pyemotes tritici densities on the brome seed bags ranged from 0.7 -5.6 per cm , while infestations in brome seed ranged from …

The Age Structure Of A Population Of Aedes Provocans (Diptera: Culicidae) In Southwestern Ontario, Stephen M. Smith, Richard M. Kurtz

The Great Lakes Entomologist

In a previous paper it was shown that an eastern-Ontario population of the early-spring mosquito Aedes provocans had an atypical age structure: the adult-female population aged rapidly and synchronously, achieving an advanced gonotrophic age in an unusually brief period of time. The present study examined the age structure of Ae. provocans near Waterloo, in south-western Ontario, at a site at which adult emergence occurred over a wider, more variable period and at which the preferred nectar sources for young adults were much less abundant. In Waterloo, the adult-female population aged more slowly and much less synchronously than in eastern Ontario. …

Prediction Models For Flight Activity Of The Cranberry Girdler (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) In Wisconsin, Stephen D. Cockfield, Daniel L. Mahr

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Cranberry girdler, Chrysoteuchia topiaria, was monitored with pheromone traps in Wisconsin cranberry farms. Cumulative 50% capture was related to degree-days after first catch using air or soil temperature. An air temperature of O°C and soil temperature of 2°C were chosen as base temperatures for calculation of degree-days because they yielded estimates with the lowest coefficients of variation. Weibull functions were fitted to the relation- ship between cumulative percent capture and time or degree-days after first trap catch using air or soil temperatures. The models that predicted the date of 50% capture were evaluated with data from two other farms. …

Seasonal Patterns Of Flight And Attack Of Maple Saplings By The Ambrosia Beetle Corthylus Punctatissimus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) In Central Michigan, Stephen W. Larsen, Carol L. Howell, Kurt J. Densmore, Richard A. Roeper

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Window traps with ethanol were used to observe seasonal flight patterns of Corthylus punctatissimus in central Michigan. Flights peaked in early July with a second peak seven weeks later in late August. Similarly, wilting of attacked maple (Acer) saplings began to appear a week after initial Corthylus flights, and showed twopeaks, one in mid-July and again with another peak, seven weeks later, in early September. The second peak of activity is presumably from reemerged adults, and not a second generation.

Feeding Patterns And Attachment Ability Of Altica Subplicata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) On Sand-Dune Willow, Aron J. Gannon, Catherine E. Bach, Glenn K. Walker

The Great Lakes Entomologist

To investigate feeding patterns of a specialist herbivore, Altica subplicata, larvae and adults were caged separately on host plants, Salix cordata, and leaf damage was estimated. Young, relatively more pubescent leaves near the tops of the shoots were consumed more than older leaves. Larvae clearly preferred the young, pubescent leaves and avoided the oldest leaves. Adults showed a stronger preference for the first five young leaves, but amount of consumption did not differ among the older leaves.

Attachment ability on smooth and pubescent leaves was examined as a possible factor influencing feeding patterns. Scanning electron microscopy of tarsal …

Diapause Dynamics And Host Plant Utilization Of Colias Philodice, Colias Interior And Their Hybrids (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), David N. Karowe

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Abnormal diapause dynamics and, to a lesser extent, reduced efficiency of host utilization by hybrid larvae constitute potential post-zygotic barriers to gene flow between a multivoltine legume-feeder, Colias philodice (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) and a univoltine Vaccinium-feeder, C. interior. At the time when C. interior larvae enter diapause, approximately 50% of hybrid larvae ceased feeding but did not enter diapause, and subsequently starved. Hybrid larvae readily accepted the host plants of both parental species. However, relative to C. philodice, hybrid larvae displayed a significantly reduced fifth instar relative growth rate (RGR) when fed the primary legume host, Medicago sativa. …

First Record Of Aphis Helianthi (Homoptera: Aphididae) As A Pest Of Celery, M. G. Kortier Davis, E. Grafius

The Great Lakes Entomologist

In 1989, the aphid Aphis helianthi severely damaged five of 10 scouted celery fields in west central Michigan. In 1990 and in 1991, A. helianthi again was a problem. reaching pestiferous levels in three of 10 and two of 10 scouted fields. respectively. This insect has not been reported previously as a pest of celery or any other commercial crop. Insecticide efficacy studies showed that some of the most commonly used insecticides are ineffective against A. helianthi. Resistance or tolerance to insecticides may explain its new status as a pest.

Life History Aspects Of Anthopotamus Verticis (Ephemeroptera: Potamanthidae), W. P. Mccafferty, Y. J. Bae

The Great Lakes Entomologist

The study of the larval development and life cycle of a population of the mayfly Anthopotamus verticis from the Tippecanoe River, Indiana was based on monthly and weekly sampling in 1990 and 1991. Larval head width and tusk length were directly correlated with body size; whereas wingpad development represented an exponential relationship with body size. Relative maturation of larvae was efficiently assessed, however. by using wingpad development. The morphology of eggs is described. Larval growth and development took place mainly from March to Au~st. Although emergence is protracted from mid-July to mid-August, the major recruitment of new larvae occurred in …

Phyllium (Phyllium) Brossardi Sp. Nov. (Phasmida, Phylliidae), A New Species Of Leaf Insect From Northern Borneo, Royce T. Cumming, Stéphane Le Tirant, Sierra N. Teemsma

Insecta Mundi

A new species of leaf insect, Phyllium (Phyllium) brossardi Cumming, Le Tirant, and Teemsma, new species (Phasmida, Phylliidae), is described from a series of three males. A key to males of the currently known species from the siccifolium species group from Borneo is provided.

Soft Foam Robot With Caterpillar-Inspired Gait Regimes For Terrestrial Locomotion, Cassandra M. Donatelli, Zachary T. Serlin, Piers Echols-Jones, Anthony E. Scibelli, Alexandra Cohen, Jeanne-Marie Musca, Shane Rozen-Levy, David Buckingham, Robert White, Barry A. Trimmer

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Caterpillars are the soft bodied larvae of lepidopteran insects. They have evolved to occupy an extremely diverse range of natural environments and to locomote in complex three-dimensional structures without articulated joint or hydrostatic control. These animals make excellent bio-inspiration for the field of soft robotics because of their diversity and adaptability. In this paper, we present SquMA Bot, a caterpillar-inspired soft robot. The robot's body is primarily composed of a soft viscoelastic foam, and it is actuated using a motor-tendon system. SquMA Bot is able to mimic the inching gait of a caterpillar and can use its flexible body to …

The Use Of An Anthrone Reagent To Detect Sugar Meals And Their Persistence In The Mosquito Aedes Triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae), Stephen M. Smith, Richard M. Kurtz

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Adults of Aedes triseriatus were fed water, blood, and 10% pure and mixed solutions of glucose, fructose and sucrose. Adults were tested for fructose by the cold-anthrone test 0, 1, 4, 12, and 24 h after feeding. Water-fed males and females and blood-fed females were anthrone negative. Glucose-fed males were anthrone negative but some glucose-fed females were weakly anthrone positive immediately after feeding. Many adults fed a mixture of glucose, fructose and sucrose were anthrone negative 12 h after feeding and all were anthrone negative after 24 h. The interpretation of negatives in the anthrone test is discussed with respect …

Phenology And Trap Selection Of Three Species Of Hylaeus (Hymenoptera: Colletidae) In Upper Michigan, Virginia L. Scott

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Hylaeus basalis, H. ellipticus and H. verticalis nested in wooden traps during a two-year study in Upper Michigan. Bees were given a choice of traps with varying bore diameters, heights, and entrance orientations. Nests were completed between 1 July and 15 September. These three Hylaeus species partitioned available nest site resources (traps) based on diameter and height. H. ellipticus selected traps with smaller bore diameters than did the other two species which selected traps of the same bore diameters. H. verticalis nested in traps at higher locations than H. basalis which limited its nesting to only the two lowest heights …

Abundance And Seasonal Activity Of Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) In A Raspberry Plantation And Adjacent Sites In Southern Quebec (Canada)., Claire Levesque, Gilles-Yvon Levesque

The Great Lakes Entomologist

In a raspberry plantation and adjacent sites in southern Quebec, we collected weevils with unbaited pitfall traps and flight interception traps from early May througb late October in 1987-1989. We captured a total of 1592 weevils representing 65 species, including at least 21 Holarctic or introduced species in North America. In and around the raspberry plantation, the commonest species collected by the two methods were the short-nosed weevils of subfamilies Otiorhynchinae and Thylacitinae, mainly generalist species with root-feeding larvae. Ceutorhynchinae and Tychiinae species were also abundant in flight traps near the raspberry plantation, whereas Hylobius congener was the most abundant …

A Laboratory Infection Of Alfalfa Weevil, Hypera Postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Larvae With The Fungal Pathogen Zoophthora Phytonomi (Zygomycetes: Entomophthoraceae), S. J. Roberts, J. V. Maddox, E. J. Armbrust

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Larvae of the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica, were infected by an in vitro colony of Zoophthora phytonomi. Two spore types (infective conidia, and resting spores) were produced from infection trials. The spore type produced may be influenced by the physiological state of the larvae. Trials using field collected larvae which would produce diapausing adults formed both conidia and resting spores. Trials using larvae from a nondiapausing colony, however, formed only resting spores.