Entomology Commons^™

Insecticide Resistance In The Bed Bug Comes With A Cost, Jennifer R. Gordon, Michael F. Potter, Kenneth F. Haynes

Entomology Faculty Publications

Adaptation to new environmental stress is often associated with an alteration of one or more life history parameters. Insecticide resistant populations of insects often have reduced fitness relative to susceptible populations in insecticide free environments. Our previous work showed that three populations of bed bugs, Cimex lectularius L., evolved significantly increased levels of resistance to one product containing both β-cyfluthrin and imidacloprid insecticides with only one generation of selection, which gave us an opportunity to explore potential tradeoffs between life history parameters and resistance using susceptible and resistant strains of the same populations. Life history tables were compiled by collecting …

Analysing Chemical Attraction Of Gravid Anopheles Gambiae Sensu Stricto With Modified Bg-Sentinel Traps, Michael N. Okal, Manuela Herrera-Varela, Paul Ouma, Baldwyn Torto, Steven W. Lindsay, Jenny M. Lindh, Ulrike Fillinger

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Cues that guide gravid Anopheles gambiae sensu lato to oviposition sites can be manipulated to create new strategies for monitoring and controlling malaria vectors. However, progress towards identifying such cues is slow in part due to the lack of appropriate tools for investigating long-range attraction to putative oviposition substrates. This study aimed to develop a relatively easy-to-use bioassay system that can effectively analyse chemical attraction of gravid Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto. Methods: BG-Sentinel™ mosquito traps that use fans to dispense odourants were modified to contain aqueous substrates. Choice tests with two identical traps set in an 80 m2 screened …

Nutrition Regulation Of Male Accessory Gland Growth And Maturation In Tribolium Castaneum, Jingjing Xu, Ashlee L. Anciro, Subba R. Palli

Entomology Faculty Publications

Insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway is known to control growth, development and reproduction. Insulin-like peptide mediated body size plasticity in Drosophila melanogaster has been reported. Here, our studies showed that IIS pathway and nutrition regulate growth and maturation of the male accessory gland (MAG) in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. The size of MAG increased from day 1 to day 5 post-adult emergence (PAE). This increase in the size of MAG is contributed by an increase in cell size, but not cell number. The growth of MAG was impaired after double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated knockdown in the expression of genes …

Seasonal Flight Activity And Distribution Of Metallic Woodboring Beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Collected In North Carolina And Tennessee, William E. Klingeman, Jason A. Hansen, Joshua P. Basham, Jason B. Oliver, Nadeer N. Youssef, Whitney Swink, Christine A. Nalepa, Donna C. Fare, J. Kevin Moulton

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Distribution records and seasonal flight activity information for metallic woodboring beetle (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) species have not been compiled for North Carolina and Tennessee. Institutional, research, and private collections in North Carolina and Tennessee were reviewed to provide seasonal activity data of 5 subfamilies of buprestid beetle species. Label information was checked for 15,217 specimens of 135 species collected between 1901 and 2013 (North Carolina) and between 1934 and 2013 (Tennessee). These collections provided data on adult seasonal activity and county records for 121 species (4,467 specimens) and 105 species (10,750 specimens) from North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. Two species, Agrilus …

Nebline, June 2015

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: After-Harvest Care Of Asparagus

Food & Health

Family Living

Farm & Acreage

Horticulture

Pests & Wildlife

4-H & Youth

Extension Calendar

and other extension news and events

Time-Frequency Analysis Reveals Pairwise Interactions In Insect Swarms, James G. Puckett, Rui Ni, Nicholas T. Ouellette

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The macroscopic emergent behavior of social animal groups is a classic example of dynamical self-organization, and is thought to arise from the local interactions between individuals. Determining these interactions from empirical data sets of real animal groups, however, is challenging. Using multicamera imaging and tracking, we studied the motion of individual flying midges in laboratory mating swarms. By performing a time-frequency analysis of the midge trajectories, we show that the midge behavior can be segmented into two distinct modes: one that is independent and composed of low-frequency maneuvers, and one that consists of higher-frequency nearly harmonic oscillations conducted in synchrony …

Regulating Edible Insects: The Challenge Of Addressing Food Security, Nature Conservation, And The Erosion Of Traditional Food Culture, A. Halloran, P. Vantomme, Y. Hanboonsong, S. Ekesi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Entomophagy is a common practice in many regions of the world but there are few examples of national regulations that govern insects for human consumption. Where entomophagy is not common, the current regulatory discourse focuses primarily on food safety and consumer protection. In countries where insects contribute to local diets, nature conservation is often an issue of high importance. This paper investigates the variation in the ways in which entomophagy and its related activities are currently regulated in Thailand, Switzerland, Kenya and Canada. Authoritative bodies who are responsible and the roles they play are discussed. Insects have only recently entered …

Common Crane Fly In Turf, Ricardo Ramirez, Kelly Kopp

All Current Publications

Crane flies belong to one of the most specious families of flies. The adult flies, also known as “mosquito hawks”, are not giant mosquitoes and do not bite, and though the name suggests it, they do not feed on mosquitoes. In general, the larvae are associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. The majority of crane flies are not pests.

Exceptionally High Levels Of Genetic Diversity In Wheat Curl Mite (Acari: Eriophyidae) Populations From Turkey, W. Szydło, Gary L. Hein, E. Denizhan, A. Skoracka

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Recent research on the wheat curl mite species complex has revealed extensive genetic diversity that has distinguished several genetic lineages infesting bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and other cereals worldwide. Turkey is the historical region of wheat and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) domestication and diversification. The close relationship between these grasses and the wheat curl mite provoked the question of the genetic diversity of the wheat curl mite in this region. The scope of the study was to investigate genetic differentiation within the wheat curl mite species complex on grasses in Turkey. Twenty-one wheat curl mite populations from …

Selection Of Reference Genes For Rt-Qpcr Analysis In The Monarch Butterfly, Danaus Plexippus (L.), A Migrating Bio-Indicator, Huipeng Pan, Xiaowei Yang, Keith Bidne, Richard L. Hellmich, Blair D. Siegfried, Xuguo Zhou

Entomology Faculty Publications

Reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a powerful technique to quantify gene expression. To facilitate gene expression study and obtain accurate results, normalization relative to stably expressed reference genes is crucial. The monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus (L.), is one of the most recognized insect species for its spectacular annual migration across North America. Besides its great voyages, D. plexippus has drawn attention to its role as a bio-indicator, ranging from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to natural ecosystems. In this study, nine reference genes from D. plexippus genome were selected as the candidate reference genes. The expression profiles of these …

Determinants Of Adoption Of Climate-Smart Push-Pull Technology For Enhanced Food Security Through Integrated Pest Management In Eastern Africa, A. W. Murage, C. A.O. Midega, J. O. Pittchar, J. A. Pickett, Z. R. Khan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Food security attainment in Africa has been hindered by poor yields of cereals that serve both as staple and cash crops for the majority of smallholder farmers. Among the various constraints responsible for lower yields are the parasitic weed Striga, and Stemborer pests whose control has remained a challenge. The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) with partners developed a novel conservation agricultural technology termed ‘push-pull’, based on companion cropping that effectively controls both constraints simultaneously. However, the effects of climate change threatened its expansion into drier areas where Striga is rapidly spreading. Further adaptation of the conventional …

Repellency Of Tsetse-Refractory Waterbuck (Kobus Defassa) Body Odour To Glossina Pallidipes (Diptera: Glossinidae): Assessment Of Relative Contribution Of Different Classes And Individual Constituents, Mathew K. Bett, Rajinder K. Saini, Ahmed Hassanali

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Our earlier studies on the comparative behavioural responses of caged savanna tsetse (Glossina morsitans morsitans and Glossina pallidipes) on a preferred host (ox) and a non-host (waterbuck) suggested the presence of allomonal constituents on the latter. Follow up comparison of the compositions of odours of waterbuck with those of ox and buffalo led to the identification of a series of compounds (15) specific to waterbuck, including straight chain carboxylic acid (C5-C10), phenols (guaiacol and carvacrol), 2-alkanone homologues (C8-C12), geranylacetone and δ-octalactone. Behavioural studies in a windtunnel in the laboratory suggested that G. m. morsitans was repelled by a synthetic blend …

Effects Of Minimum Winter Temperatures On Southern Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus Frontalis) Mortality On Long Island, N.Y., Jessica Cancelliere

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Dendroctonus frontalis (the southern pine beetle) was discovered on Long Island, New York in 2014. Additional infestations have since been located in upstate New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Previously found as far north as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, this range expansion now represents the current northern distribution limits of D. frontalis. Minimum winter temperatures are a meaningful driver of population dynamics and mortality in D. frontalis, and understanding this relationship at the northern range limits can help forest managers better predict and prepare for outbreaks. Studies addressing the relationship between temperature and beetle mortality, and the …

Comparative Analysis Of Pesticide Effects On Natural Enemies In Western Orchards: A Synthesis Of Laboratory Bioassay Data, Nicholas J. Mills, Elizabeth H. Beers, Peter W. Shearer, Thomas R. Unruh, Kaushalya G. Amarasekare

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Pesticides are commonly used for pest management in apple, pear and walnut orchards in the western U.S. and may disrupt biological control of secondary pests in these crops. A comparative analysis was made of results obtained from a series of laboratory bioassays of acute mortality and life table response experiments to estimate lethal and sublethal effects of eight pesticides on seven natural enemy species through use of stage-structured population models. Even though a number of the pesticides tested were reduced-risk products, all of them with the exception of copper plus mancozeb and chlorantraniliprole, caused more than 80% acute mortality of …

Distribution And Diversity Of The Vectors Of Rift Valley Fever Along The Livestock Movement Routes In The Northeastern And Coastal Regions Of Kenya, Samwel O. Arum, Christopher W. Weldon, Benedict Orindi, Tobias Landmann, David P. Tchouassi, Hippolyte D. Affognon, Rosemary Sang

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Knowledge of vector ecology is important in understanding the transmission dynamics of vector borne disease. In this study, we determined the distribution and diversity of mosquitoes along the major nomadic livestock movement routes (LMR) in the traditional pastoral ecozone of northeastern Kenya. We focused on the vectors of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFv) with the aim of understanding their ecology and how they can potentially influence the circulation of RVFv. Methods: Mosquito surveys were conducted during the short and long rainy seasons from November 2012 to August 2014 using CO2-baited CDC light traps at seven sites selected for their …

Effects Of Ibuprofen And Caffeine Concentrations On The Common Bed Bug (Cimex Lectularius L.) Feeding And Fecundity, Ralph B. Narain, Shripat T. Kamble

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Bed bugs are ectoparasites of humans and require a blood meal for their growth and reproduction. Since humans consume Ibuprofen as pain medication and drink coffee (caffeine), bed bugs are likely to acquire these drugs through blood feeding. In this study, we determined the biological effects of Ibuprofen and caffeine on bed bug feeding, fecundity and egg hatch. Five concentrations of Ibuprofen and caffeine were incorporated into reconstituted human blood (RHB). Control treatment had no Ibuprofen or caffeine. Each treatment had six replications. Groups of 20 adult bed bugs (10 males: 10 females)/treatment/replication were pre-weighed, allowed to feed for 45 …

Bacterial Symbionts, Buchnera, And Starvation On Wing Dimorphism In English Grain Aphid, Sitobion Avenae (F.) (Homoptera: Aphididae), Fangmei Zhang, Xiangrui Li, Yunhui Zhang, Brad Coates, Xuguo Joe Zhou, Dengfa Cheng

Entomology Faculty Publications

Wing dimorphism in aphids can be affected by multiple cues, including both biotic (nutrition, crowding, interspecific interactions, the presence of natural enemies, maternal and transgenerational effects, and alarm pheromone) and abiotic factors (temperature, humidity, and photoperiod). The majority of the phloem-feeding aphids carry Buchnera, an obligate symbiotic proteobacteria. Buchnera has a highly reduced genome size, but encode key enzymes in the tryptophan biosynthetic pathway and is crucial for nutritional balance, development and reproduction in aphids. In this study, we investigated the impact of two nutritional-based biotic factors, symbionts and starvation, on the wing dimorphism in the English grain aphid, …

Flow Cytometry And K-Mer Analysis Estimates Of The Genome Sizes Of Bemisia Tabaci B And Q (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), Li T. Guo, Shao L. Wang, Qing J. Wu, Xuguo Zhou, Wen Xie, You J. Zhang

Entomology Faculty Publications

The genome sizes of the B- and Q-types of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennnadius) were estimated using flow cytometry (Drosophila melanogaster as the DNA reference standard and propidium iodide (PI) as the fluorochrome) and k-mer analysis. For flow cytometry, the mean nuclear DNA content was 0.686 pg for B-type males, 1.392 pg for B-type females, 0.680 pg for Q-type males, and 1.306 pg for Q-type females. Based on the relationship between DNA content and genome size (1 pg DNA = 980 Mbp), the haploid genome size of B. tabaci ranged from 640 to 682 Mbp. For k-mer analysis, genome …

Potential Of The Desert Locust Schistocerca Gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae) As An Unconventional Source Of Dietary And Therapeutic Sterols, Xavier Cheseto, Serge Philibert Kuate, David P. Tchouassi, Mary Ndung'u, Peter E.A. Teal, Baldwyn Torto

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Insects are increasingly being recognized not only as a source of food to feed the ever growing world population but also as potential sources of new products and therapeutic agents, among which are sterols. In this study, we sought to profile sterols and their derivatives present in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, focusing on those with potential importance as dietary and therapeutic components for humans. Using coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), we analyzed and compared the quantities of sterols in the different sections of the gut and tissues of the locust. In the gut, we identified 34 sterols which showed …

The Floral Hosts And Distribution Of A Supposed Creosote Bush Specialist, Colletes Stehpeni Timberlake (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), Rebekah Andrus Nelson, Terry Griswold

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Colletes stehpani Timberlake is thought to be a narrow oligolege of creosote bush, Larrea tridentata (DC.) Coville (Zygophyllaceae) with limited distribution in the Sonoran desert of the Western United States. Based on appraisal of a museum specimens and fieldsurveys from 1999 to 2001 on 21 sand dunes, we foundd C. stephani to be a much more widely distributed psammophile of theSonoran, Mojave, and Great Basin Deserts that utilizes two unrelated plant pollen scources,Larrea Cav. and Psorothamnus Rydb. (Fabaceae). The geologic history of the region suggests a potential host shift from the more ancient occupant, Psorothamnus, to the Neogene colonizer, Larrea.