Entomology Commons^™

Environmental Parameters Associated With Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Development At Hay Feeding Sites, Kristina Friesen, Dennis R. Berkebile, Brian Wienhold, Lisa Durso, Jerry Zhu, David B. Taylor

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Substrates composed of hay residues, dung, and urine accumulate around winter hay feeding sites in cattle pastures, providing developmental habitats for stable flies. The objective of this study was to relate physiochemical and microbial properties of these substrates to the presence or absence of stable fly larvae. Properties included pH, temperature, moisture, ammonium concentration, electrical conductivity, and numbers of coliform, fecal coliform, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus bacteria. Each physiochemical sample was classified as a function of belonging to one of the three 2-m concentric zones radiating from the feeder as well as presence or absence of larvae. In total, …

Rnai As A Management Tool For The Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica Virgifera Virgifera, Elane Fishilevich, Ana Maria Vélez, Nicholas P. Storer, Huarong Li, Andrew J. Bowling, Murugesan Rangasamy, Sarah E. Worden, Kenneth E. Narva, Blair D. Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is the most important pest of corn in the US Corn Belt. Economic estimates indicate that costs of control and yield loss associated with WCR damage exceed $US 1 billion annually. Historically, corn rootworm management has been extremely difficult because of its ability to evolve resistance to both chemical insecticides and cultural control practices. Since 2003, the only novel commercialized developments in rootworm management have been transgenic plants expressing Bt insecticidal proteins. Four transgenic insecticidal proteins are currently registered for rootworm management, and field resistance to proteins from the Cry3 family …

Reproductive Potential Of Spodoptera Eridania (Stoll) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) In The Laboratory: Effect Of Multiple Couples And The Size, Alexandre Specht, Débora Goulart Montezano, Daniel Ricardo Sosa-Gómez, Silvana L. Vieira De Paula Moraes, Vânia F. Roque-Specht, Neiva M. Barros

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of keeping three couples in the same cage, and the size of adults emerged from small, medium-sized and large pupae (278.67 mg; 333.20 mg and 381.58 mg, respectively), on the reproductive potential of Spodoptera eridania (Stoll, 1782) adults, under controlled conditions (25 ± 1 °C, 70% RH and 14 hour photophase). We evaluated the survival, number of copulations, fecundity and fertility of the adult females. The survival of females from these different pupal sizes did not differ statistically, but the survival of males from large pupae was statistically shorter than from small pupae. …

Absence Of Mate Choice And Postcopulatory Benefits In A Species With Extreme Sexual Size Dimorphism, Marie-Claire Chelini, Eileen A. Hebets

Eileen Hebets Publications

Most hypotheses related to the evolution of female-biased extreme sexual size dimorphism (SSD) attribute the differences in the size of each sex to selection for reproduction, either through selection for increased female fecundity or selection for male increased mobility and faster development. Very few studies, however, have tested for direct fitness benefits associated with the latter – small male size. Mecaphesa celer is a crab spider with extreme SSD, whose males are less than half the size of females and often weigh 10 times less. Here, we test the hypotheses that larger size in females and smaller size in males …

Biodiversity Of Insect Populations In The Springfield Bog Metropark In Summit County, Ohio: A Secondary Succession Site, Cynthia Perkovich

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

An initiative has been taken up by many environmental agencies for the conservation and restoration of endangered wetland habitats. These unique ecosystems are being depleted of resources and acreage due to industrialization and extensive anthropogenic activities. Bogs are a unique subgroup that are diminishing worldwide. The Springfield Metropark Bog is a newly established conservation area in Summit County, Ohio, in the United States. Insect populations were recorded over four seasons, starting in March 2015 and concluding in February 2016. Samples were taken from 3 different sites within the conserved habitat including field site, forested area, and a manufactured pond. Using …

The Ins And Outs Of The Pesticide Registration Process And Why It's Important To The End-User, Linda Johns

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

The US EPA registration process evaluates pesticides through legal, administrative and scientific procedures that encompass the pesticide ingredients (inert and active); the crop or site pertaining to where the pesticide will be used; the amount, timing and frequency of the pesticide to be used; the disposal and storage practices for the pesticide; and the potential human health and environmental effects that could be associated with the pesticide. The US EPA evaluates and approves all label language that appears on a pesticide label, thus ensuring proper use patterns and that safety measures have been met to reduce any potential risks. All …

A Survey Of The Insect Orders Present In The Gypsum Dunes Of The White Sands National Monument, Zell Zanarkand

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

•Introduction Video to White Sands National Monument (WSNM) •Facts and History •Insects Orders and Families Found in WSNM •Introduction Video to Theories Regarding Lighter Coloration •Three Theories on Color Change •Insects in WSNM depicting lighter coloration •Conclusion Video

Fourteen New Species Of Sonoma Casey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) With A Key To Species From Western North America, Michael L. Ferro

Insecta Mundi

Fourteen new species of faronine pselaphines in the genus Sonoma Casey are described: S. agitator (California); S. cardiac (Oregon); S. carltoni (Oregon); S. cataloochee (North Carolina); S. caterinoi (California); S. chandleri (California); S. cobra (California); S. colberti (California); S. maryae (Oregon); S. quellazaire (Oregon); S. rossellinae (California); S. stewarti (California); S. twaini (California); and S. virgo (California, Oregon). Thirteen are from western North America and one from the eastern U.S. These species bring the total diversity of the genus to 57 species—40 from western North America and 17 from the eastern U.S. A key to, and updated distributions for, all …

New Records Of Chionaspis Armored Scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) In Korea, Soo-Jung Suh

Insecta Mundi

Chionaspis acer (Takagi and Kawai) and Chionaspis wistariae Cooley, occurring respectively on Acer

and Wisteria plants, are newly reported in the Korean fauna of armored scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). The characters

of these species are briefl y redescribed with illustrative photographs and information on distribution and

hosts. A dichotomous key to species of Chionaspis Signoret in Korea is provided for correct species identifi cation.

Armored Scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) From Warm Temperate Forests In Korea, Soo-Jung Suh

Insecta Mundi

Andaspis recurrens Takagi and Kawai, Hypaspidiotus jordani (Kuwana), Lepidosaphes kamakurensis

(Kuwana) and Selenomphalus distylii Takagi from warm temperate forests are newly documented in the Korean

fauna of armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). Characteristics of these species are briefl y given and

illustrative photographs and information on their distribution and hosts are provided.

Enoclerus Gahan: Predators Of Chemically Protected Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Cleridae And Coccinellidae), Jacques Rifkind

Insecta Mundi

Four species of the genus Enoclerus (Coleoptera: Cleridae) are reported to prey on chemically protected Coccinellidae in North America. The possibility that aposematically colored Enoclerus also mimic prey ladybird species is discussed, and the further possibility that clerid predators acquire chemical protection through sequestration of ladybird prey’s toxic alkaloids is suggested as an important avenue of investigation. The data presented are primarily based on photographs taken by non-specialists, discovered through Internet search. The crowdsourcing of natural history observations can reveal aspects of animal behavior heretofore unreported and even unsuspected.

Modeling The Geographic Distribution Of Ixodes Scapularis And Ixodes Pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) In The Contiguous United States, Micah B. Hahn, Catherine S. Jarnevich, Andrew J. Monaghan, Rebecca J. Eisen

Entomology Papers from Other Sources

In addition to serving as vectors of several other human pathogens, the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, and western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls, are the primary vectors of the spirochete (Borrelia burgdorferi) that causes Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Over the past two decades, the geographic range of I. pacificus has changed modestly while, in contrast, the I. scapularis range has expanded substantially, which likely contributes to the concurrent expansion in the distribution of human Lyme disease cases in the Northeastern, North-Central and Mid-Atlantic states. Identifying counties that contain …

Investigating Ichneumonidae: Insights Into Species Identification And Venom Composition, Victoria G. Pook

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Parasitoid wasps are hyperdiverse, with current estimates suggesting that they may account for up to 20% of all insect species. Though their ecological significance and their importance in integrated pest management cannot be denied, these taxa remain understudied and, due to their small size, are often overlooked. However, recent advances in molecular techniques are helping to reverse this trend by providing tools which scientists can use to better understand species limits and host interactions.

Parasitoid wasps are often morphologically cryptic and their accurate delimitation requires the analysis of DNA sequence data from fast-evolving genes in addition to morphological characters. The …

Evidence For Use Of Alliaria Petiolata In North America By The European Cabbage White Butterfly, Pieris Rapae, Sam L. Davis, Don Cipollini

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Pieris rapae L., an invasive crop pest, may have recently begun using Alliaria petiolata Bieb. (Cavara & Grande), a European invasive biennial. We investigated how P. rapae uses forest habitats for nectar and oviposition and examined larval performance on A. petiolata in the field and laboratory. Being known primarily to occupy open habitats, we found that P. rapae regularly uses forest edge habitats, most surveyed A. petiolata plants had P. rapae damage, and P. rapae successfully used both stages of A. petiolata for larval development.

Bolivian Rhinotragini X. Odontomelitta Gen. Nov. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Robin O. S. Clarke

Insecta Mundi

Epimelitta postimelina Giesbert, 1996 and Odontocera apicula Bates, 1885 are transferred to the new genus Odontomelitta. Epimelitta postimelina, with closed procoxal cavities, cannot remain in Epimelittta Bates, 1870, a genus characterized by open procoxal cavities. The short elytra and tegmen (with caliper-shaped lateral lobes) of the aedeagus of both species excludes them from the genus Odontocera Audinet-Serville, 1833, with long elytra and tegmen (with strap-shaped lateral lobes). Both species are illustrated, and host plant and host flower records provided for O. apicula.

A New Genus And Species Of Tanyproctini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) From The Coquimbo Region Of Chile, Andrew B. T. Smith, José Mondaca

Insecta Mundi

A new genus and species of Tanyproctini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) is described from the Coquimbo Region of Chile and compared with other taxa from Chile and neighboring countries.

Corrections To Neotropical Rhinaspis Perty And Plectris Lepeletier And Audinet-Serville (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) Classifi Cation And Nomenclature, Andrew B. T. Smith

Insecta Mundi

The name Melolontha hypocrita Mannerheim, 1829 has been long unused, even though it is the type species of Hyporhiza Dejean, 1833. I examined the only known specimen from the type series and here designate it as the lectotype. Examination of this lectotype reveals that this species is best placed in the genus Rhinaspis Perty, 1830. Consequently, the genus Hyporhiza Dejean, 1833 is confi rmed as a junior synonym of Rhinaspis. Further, the replacement name Rhinaspis fuhrmanni is proposed for Rhinaspis hypocrita (Blanchard, 1850), a new secondary homonym of Rhinaspis hypocrita (Mannerheim, 1829). A homonymy problem was also discovered and …

Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) Associated With Avocado Crop, Persea Americana Mill. (Lauraceae) In Valle Del Cauca And Neighboring Departments Of Colombia, Takumasa Kondo, Jazmín Adriana Muñoz

Insecta Mundi

Abstract. Scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of avocado, Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae) were collected in the State of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. The study was conducted for one year, during October 2008–October 2009. As a result of this study, 34 scale insect species in seven families (Coccidae, Diaspididae, Kerriidae, Margarodidae, Monophlebidae, Pseudococcidae and Putoidae) were collected. Together with previous records, the number of scale insects collected on avocado in Colombia increased to 44 species and to 137 species worldwide. Species commonly collected on avocado in Colombia include Hemiberlesia cyanophylli (Signoret), Pseudoparlatoria parlatorioides (Comstock) (Diaspididae), Ceroplastes rubens Maskell, Coccus hesperidum L., Protopulvinaria …

Pyroghatsiana: A New Genus Of Fire-Colored Beetles (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae) From The Southern Ghats, India, Daniel K. Young

Insecta Mundi

Pyroghatsiana, a new genus of pyrochroine Pyrochroidae is described from the Southern Ghats of the Indian continental southern tip. The only known specimen is a female, Pyroghatsiana madurensis (Pic), new combination, originally placed in Dendroides Latreille, and subsequently transferred to Pseudodendroides Blair. Several striking differences including the dorsal interocular width between the compound eyes, shape and length of the third antennal segment, and shape of the pronotum preclude placement of Pyroghatsiana in either Dendroides, Pseudodendroides, or any other existing pyrochroine genus.

Current Disposition Of Earwigflies, Merope Tuber Newman And Austromerope Poultoni Killington (Mecoptera: Meropeidae), In The Florida State Collection Of Arthropods, James C. Dunford, Louis A. Somma, David Serrano

Insecta Mundi

We provide the current holdings of Meropeidae in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA). To date, FSCA holds a well-curated collection of extant meropeids representing 17 U.S. states and Western Australia (n = 316 Merope tuber Newman, five Austromerope poultoni Killington). Merope tuber records from Vermont, Texas, and South Carolina are published here for the first time. A total of 298 pinned M. tuber and four pinned A. poultoni; six M. tuber specimens preserved in 95% ethanol; and 12 M. tuber and one A. poultoni sputter-coated with gold-palladium for SEM are available for researchers interested in studying this unique …