Entomology Commons^™

Microbial Communities Associated With Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Larvae And Their Developmental Substrates, Erin Scully, Kristina Friesen, Brian Wienhold, Lisa M. Durso

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Bacteria are essential for stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)) larval survival and development, but little is known about the innate microbial communities of stable flies, and it is not known if their varied dietary substrates influence their gut microbial communities. This investigation utilized 454 sequencing of 16S and 18S amplicons to characterize and compare the bacterial and eukaryotic microbial communities in stable fly larvae and their developmental substrates. The microbial community of the third-instar stable fly larvae is unambiguously distinct from the microbial community of the supporting substrate, with bacterial communities from larvae reared on different substrates more similar …

A Performance Study Of Apis Mellifera With Dietary And Forage Restrictions During Spring Colony Establishment In Lyon County, Kentucky, Dominique Wood

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

One-third of our worldwide fruit, nut and vegetable production is completely dependent on the existence of pollinators. Commercial honey bees, Apis mellifera, have an annual economic value of $15 billion in the U.S. Additionally, their honey is valued at $150 million annually. In Fall 2006, commercial beekeepers observed sudden mass disappearances of whole colonies. By Spring 2007, the condition, dubbed Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), raised environmental and fiscal concerns while the cause(s) continued to be sought. Forensic examinations of hive samples did not reveal a singular cause of CCD. The results pointed to a collection of detrimental factors affecting …

Cold Tolerance And Overwintering Physiology Of The Salvinia Weevil (Cyrtobagous Salviniae): Improving The Biological Control Of Giant Salvinia In Temperate Louisiana, Alana D. Russell

LSU Master's Theses

Cyrtobagous salviniae is widely used for biological control of Salvinia molesta. Despite success in tropical and subtropical regions, the effectiveness of C. salviniae on S. molesta is inconsistent in temperate regions, indicating the need for a better understanding of the thermal biology of this agent. The objectives of this study were to compare cold tolerance of C. salviniae populations from the temperate native range and Louisiana, and characterize the overwintering physiology and population dynamics of C. salviniae in Louisiana. Surveys of the Lower Paraná-Uruguay Delta resulted in the first record of C. salviniae in Uruguay, and revealed the most southern …

Determining The Influence Of Imidacloprid And Glufosinate Ammonium On The Population Dynamics Of Twospotted Spider Mite Populations In Louisiana Cotton, Sebe Anthony Brown

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Twospotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae, is an important agricultural pest of many field crops worldwide. This study investigated the impacts of imidacloprid seed treatments on populations of twospotted spider mites while also investigating if exogenous applications of jasmonic acid can offset any hormone modulating effects caused by seed treatments. Imidacloprid seed treatments significantly increased cumulative adult mite days in 2013 but not 2015 or 2016 in the field. Applications of 10 millimolar jasmonic acid did not reduce mite severity or injury in all field trials. Imidacloprid seed treatments significantly increased all spider mite life stages in the laboratory while applications …

Evaluation Of Control Tactics For Management Of Sweetpotato Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Jie Chen

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Sweetpotato weevil (SPW), Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summer), is the most damaging root-feeding insect of sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam), worldwide. The efficacy and compatibility of host plant resistance and insecticide control were evaluated in this dissertation. cv. Beauregard is the most susceptible cultivar for oviposition and offspring performance of SPW compared to cvs. Evangeline and Murasaki. The oviposition preference was shaped by the larval experience of SPW, providing evidence in support of the Hopkins’ Host-Plant Selection Principle. Although oviposition on cv. Murasaki was reduced, the egg capacity of SPW developed on cv. Murasaki was not decreased, indicating an adaptive behavior …

Fitness Costs And Inheritance Of Bt Cry2ab2 Resistance In Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda (J.E. Smith), Binod Acharya

LSU Master's Theses

Evolution of resistance in target pest populations is a major threat to the sustainability of transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins. Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a cross-crop target pest of Bt corn, Bt cotton, and Bt soybean. This pest, thus far, is the only target pest species that has developed field resistance to Bt crops in multiple areas across countries. Cry2Ab2 is a common Bt protein expressed in transgenic corn and cotton targeting lepidopteran pests including S. frugiperda. The objective of this study was to characterize fitness costs and inheritance of Cry2Ab2 resistance in S. frugiperda. …

Role Of Varietal Resistance In Managing The Rice Water Weevil, A Major Insect Pest Of Louisiana Rice, Maisarah Mohamad Saad

LSU Master's Theses

Resistance of several commercial rice varieties widely grown in Louisiana was assessed against the rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel), the major insect pest of rice in the United States. A five-year field study was conducted to identify resistant genotypes among conventional inbred, herbicide tolerant, conventional hybrid, and herbicide tolerant hybrid varieties. Resistance was evaluated in two different locations to enable selection of rice varieties with wide adaptability over diverse environments. There were no large differences in the resistance found amongst commercial rice varieties over the five-year field study. Jefferson was frequently found to support lower larval densities than other …

Occurrence And Phenology Of Polistine Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) In Southern Louisiana, Scott Nacko

LSU Master's Theses

Phylogenetic studies suggest that historically all paper wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) in North America have tropical origins. However, paper wasps have adapted to thrive in temperate conditions. Subtropical and temperate climates allow for a study of adaptive traits which can be retained or lost within populations, and ultimately help elucidate the process of social wasp evolution. Additionally, species occurrence patterns can help us to understand partitioning and resource use within populations. We investigated the occurrence and phenology of each Polistine species found at four sites in southern Louisiana around Baton Rouge, and also examined the occurrence and behavior of a closely …

Predicting Rift Valley Fever Inter-Epidemic Activities And Outbreak Patterns: Insights From A Stochastic Host-Vector Model, Sansao A. Pedro, Shirley Abelman, Henri E.Z. Tonnang

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreaks are recurrent, occurring at irregular intervals of up to 15 years at least in East Africa. Between outbreaks disease inter-epidemic activities exist and occur at low levels and are maintained by female Aedes mcintoshi mosquitoes which transmit the virus to their eggs leading to disease persistence during unfavourable seasons. Here we formulate and analyse a full stochastic host-vector model with two routes of transmission: vertical and horizontal. By applying branching process theory we establish novel relationships between the basic reproduction number, R0, vertical transmission and the invasion and extinction probabilities. Optimum climatic conditions and presence …

Invasive Species Impacts On Infrastructure, Invasive Species Advisory Committee

National Invasive Species Council

Executive Summary

Invasive species represent one of the most significant threats to ecosystems, human and animal health, infrastructure, the economy, and cultural resources. Because potentially invasive, non-native species typically enter the United States through ports of entry in urban environments, some of the first observable impacts may be to infrastructure, yet little is known about the economic costs associated with these impacts to the “built” environment. In addition, federal agencies currently lack the authority necessary to effectively prevent, eradicate, and control invasive species that impact the human-built environment. This lack of authority prevents rapid response to some of the most …

Novel Aspects Of Drosophila Suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Biology And An Improved Method For Culturing This Invasive Species With A Modified D. Melanogaster Diet, Blair J. Sampson, Trevor Mallette, Karla M. Addesso, Oscar E. Liburd, Lindsy E. Iglesias, Stephen J. Stringer, Chris T. Werle, Donna A. Shaw, Drew Larsen, John J. Adamczyk

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumara) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), the spotted wing drosophila, is a global pest of soft fruits now rearable on a standard D. melanogaster (Meigen) diet containing the fly's own natural food: soft-skinned berries. The techniques tested here can save 40% of cultures from microbial contamination that develops after combining artificial food sources (e.g., standard drosophila media) with unsterilized host plant material (berries). A suitable ratio for mixing dietary ingredients for a vial or test-tube rearing system includes, by weight, 1 part berry tissue for oviposition, 1.5 parts dry diet media for carbohydrate, 7 parts clean water for moisture, and ∼5 …

Billbug (Sphenophorus Spp.) Chemical Ecology And Seasonal Biology In Indiana Turfgrass, Alexandra G. Duffy

Open Access Theses

Billbugs (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Sphenophorus) are serious pests of managed turfgrass across North America. Damage symptoms are most visible during stressful periods of the growing season and are commonly confused with disease, drought, or nutrient deficiency. Billbugs are frequently a perennial problem and when misdiagnosed, damage often results in seriously degraded stands of turfgrass that are easily encroached by weeds. Presently, management of billbugs relies heavily on chemical insecticides. Even then, the nationwide assemblage of multiple sympatric billbug species and the cryptic nature of the damaging larval stage makes management of these insects challenging. A better understanding of billbug biology …

Freeze Tolerance Of Cyphoderris Monstrosa (Orthoptera: Prophalangopsidae), Jantina Toxopeus, Jacqueline Lebenzon, Alexander H. Mckinnon, Brent J. Sinclair

Biology Publications

The great grig, Cyphoderris monstrosa Uhler (Orthoptera: Prophalangopsidae), is a large (20-30 mm, >1 g), nocturnal ensiferan that in habits montane coniferous forests in northwestern North America. C. monstrosa overwinters as a late-instar nymph, but its cold tolerance strategy has not previously been reported. We collected nymphs from near Kamloops, British Columbia, in late spring to determine their cold tolerance strategy. C. monstrosa nymphs were active at low temperatures until they froze at -4.6 ± 0.3 °C. The nymphs survived internal ice formation (i.e. are freeze tolerant), had a lethal temperature between -9 and -12 °C, and could survive for …

Investigations On The Vampire Moth Genus Calyptra Ochsenheimer, Incorporating Taxonomy, Life History, And Bioinformatics (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Calpinae), Julia L. Snyder

Open Access Theses

The seventeen species and two subspecies described in the genus Calyptra are known to be obligate fruit piercers, with some species being of economic importance. Males within the genus have not only been observed piercing their fruit hosts, but have also been documented to occasionally feed on mammalian blood. The genetic and ecological mechanisms contributing to host preference for either plant or vertebrate hosts in this lineage are unknown. Thus, the focus of this study was to investigate the chemosensory systems between and among Calyptra species exhibiting differential feeding strategies. Before investigating the chemosensory systems within Calyptra, the taxonomy …

Functional Diversity Enhances Detection Of Ecosystem Stability And Resolution Of Predator-Prey Interactions Within A Multitrophic Community, Ashley Lorraine Kissick

Open Access Dissertations

Habitat fragmentation and loss are principal factors that contribute to the decline of biodiversity which in turn has a negative impact on ecosystem function. There has been growing interest in understanding diversity’s role in the mechanisms behind ecosystem resilience with much attention focusing on how functional diversity, or the range of species’ ecological roles in a community, impacts ecosystem function. Under the functional insurance hypothesis, stability in ecosystems is maintained by species that perform similar functions but have asynchronous responses to disturbance. There are three proposed stability mechanisms that operate through species’ asynchronous responses: cross-scale resilience, response diversity, and density …

Exploring Factors That Shape Small-Scale Farmers’ Opinions On The Adoption Of Eco-Friendly Nets For Vegetable Production, F. Vidogbéna, A. Adégbidi, R. Tossou, F. Assogba-Komlan, T. Martin, M. Ngouajio, S. Simon, L. Parrot, S. T. Garnett, K. K. Zander

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

If agro-ecological systems are to realize their potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional agricultural systems, innovation diffusion needs to be enhanced. We conducted surveys among 214 small-scale vegetable farmers in Benin, a food-deficit country in West Africa, on how they perceived the different attributes of eco-friendly nets (EFNs). The nets act as physical barriers against insects in vegetable production and so reduce pesticide use. Understanding farmer perceptions about new technologies helps reveal farmers’ propensity to adopt them. Intensity of attitude was measured on a Likert scale, and an ordered probit model was used to determine which characteristics of nets were …

Investigating The Functional Role Of Tick Antioxidants In Hematophagy And Vector Competence, Deepak Kumar

Dissertations

Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods and harbor several pathogens which transmit various diseases to humans and their domesticated animals. Host blood- digestion in a tick midgut (MG) generates several reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are extremely toxic to essential macromolecules (e.g. DNA, proteins, and lipids) within the cell, resulting in high oxidative stress. Thus, this dissertation focuses on the questions of how tick homeostasis responds to high oxidative stress, and how ticks and their harbored pathogens survive the high surge of oxidative stress during blood digestion. We are specifically interested in the tick-pathogen, Rickettsia parkeri (R. parkeri, Rp), harbored by …

Insecticide Sensitivity Of Native Chloride And Sodium Channels In A Mosquito Cell Line, Lacey J. Jenson, Troy D. Anderson, Jeffrey R. Bloomquist

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of cultured Anopheles gambiae Sua1B cells for insecticide screening applications without genetic engineering or other treatments. Sua1B cells were exposed to the known insecticidal compounds lindane and DIDS, which inhibited cell growth at micromolar concentrations. In patch clamp studies, DIDS produced partial inhibition (69%) of chloride current amplitudes, and an IC50 of 5.1 μM was determined for Sua1B cells. A sub-set of chloride currents showed no response to DIDS; however, inhibition (64%) of these currents was achieved using a low chloride saline solution, confirming their identity as chloride channels. In …

Resistance Of Rice Varieties To Sitophilus Oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Diana Cristina Da Silva Costa, André Cirilo De Sousa Almeida, Marcio Da Silva Araújo, Elvis Arden Heinrichs, Mabio Chrisley Lacerda, José Alexandre Freitas Barrigossi, Flávio Gonçalves De Jesus

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Abstract

Rice, Oryza sativa L. (Poaceae), is one of the world’s most important food crops. Among the insects that damage rice grains, the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is the most important species. The objective of this study was to identify rice varieties with resistance to S. oryzae as measured by grain feeding damage and S. oryzae reproduction. The rice varieties evaluated were obtained from the germplasm bank of the National Center of Research Rice and Beans, Embrapa, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized with 3 replications and 22 treatments (varieties). The varieties Bonança, Esmeralda, and Rio …

Pesticide Resistance In Plutella Xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) Populations From Togo And Benin, L. K. Agboyi, G. K. Ketoh, T. Martin, I. A. Glitho, M. Tamò

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) is the major insect pest of cabbage crops in Togo and Benin. For control, farmers very often resort to spraying chemical insecticides at high dosages with frequent applications. Bioassays were carried out on three populations of P. xylostella, two from Togo (Kara and Dapaong) and one from Benin (Cotonou), to assess their level of susceptibility to currently used insecticides. A reference strain of P. xylostella from Matuu in Kenya was used as a control. In the laboratory, three insecticide representatives of different chemical families (deltamethrin, chlorpyrifos ethyl and spinosad) were assayed against third instar …