Entomology Commons^™

Contact And Fumigant Toxicity Of A Botanical-Based Feeding Deterrent Of The Stable Fly, Stomoxys Calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae), Junwei J. Zhu, Andrew Y. Li, Sara Pritchard, Khanobporn Tangtrakulwanich, Frederick P. Baxendale, Gary Brewer

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), has been considered one of the most serious biting flies of confined and pastured livestock. The economic losses caused by the stable fly to the cattle industry in the United States exceed $2 billion annually. Current practices for managing stable flies using insecticides provide only marginal control. Insecticide resistance has also been recently reported in stable flies. The present study reports the use of plant-based insecticides, for example, essential oils, as alternatives for managing this fly pest. The toxicity of several plant essential oils and selected ingredient compounds was evaluated by contact and fumigant …

A Single Major Qtl Controls Expression Of Larval Cry1f Resistance Trait In Ostrinia Nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) And Is Independent Of Midgut Receptor Genes, Brad S. Coates, Douglas V. Sumerford, Miriam D. Lopez, Haichuan Wang, Lisa M. Fraser, Jeremy A. Kroemer, Terrence Spencer, Kyung S. Kim, Craig A. Abel, Richard L. Hellmich, Blair D. Siegfried

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is an introduced crop pest in North America that causes major damage to corn and reduces yield of food, feed, and biofuel materials. The Cry1F toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) expressed in transgenic hybrid corn is highly toxic to O. nubilalis larvae and effective in minimizing feeding damage. A laboratory colony of O. nubilalis was selected for high levels of Cry1F resistance ([12,000-fold compared to susceptible larvae) and is capable of survival on transgenic hybrid corn. Genetic linkage maps with segregating AFLP markers show that the Cry1F resistance trait is controlled by …

Advanced Management Of The Mexican Rice Borer (Eoreuma Loftini) In Sugarcane, Blake Emerson Wilson

LSU Master's Theses

Insecticide, greenhouse and varietal resistance experiments were conducted in Texas to develop management tactics for the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), sugarcane. A 3-treatment, large plot aerial application study was set up in 5 commercial sugarcane fields (35-84 acres) to evaluate the utilization of pheromone traps to improve chemical control strategies for E. loftini during 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. A threshold of 20-25 moths/trap/wk was used as an indicator to initiate monitoring for E. loftini larval infestations. Larval infestations were directly related to the no. of moths/trap/wk (R2=0.71). Reductions in borer injury and adult emergence (60% and 40% …

Characterization Of The Subcortical Interactions Between Larvae Of The Southern Pine Sawyer Monochamus Titillator (F.) And The Larvae Of The Southern Pine Beetle Guild Using Molecular Gut Analyses, Erich N. Schoeller

LSU Master's Theses

The southern pine beetle guild (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is arguably the most destructive group of forest pests in the Southeastern United States. Laboratory assays suggest that larvae of wood borer associates from the genus Monochamus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) may be facultative intraguild predators of southern pine beetle guild. In this study the dynamics of the subcortical interactions between M. titillator (F.) and members of the southern pine beetle guild were examined using PCR-based molecular gut content analyses. Species-specific PCR primer sets were developed to work under multiplex PCR conditions to detect DNA of members of southern pine beetle guild in the …

Male Field Crickets Infested By Parasitoid Flies Express Phenotypes That May Benefit The Parasitoids, Oliver M. Beckers, William E. Wagner

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Parasites can cause changes in the phenotypes of their hosts that may benefit the parasite, the host, or both. To understand the evolutionary dynamics of host–parasite interactions it is necessary to first examine the effect of parasitic infestation on the host phenotype and whether the host or parasite benefits from these changes. The fly Ormia ochracea parasitizes the variable field cricket, Gryllus lineaticeps, and it uses male song to locate hosts for its lethal larvae. Adult flies preferentially orient to male songs with faster and longer chirps. We tested the effect of larval infestation on two types of host traits. …

Role Of Substrate Moisture, Relative Humidity And Temperature On Survival And Foraging Behavior Of Formosan Subterranean Termites, Bal Krishna Gautam

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Formosan subterranean termite is an important structural pest in the southern United States, especially Louisiana. Baiting systems and spot treatment with non-repellent delayed action termiticides are among the most eco-friendly control approaches. However, to achieve a desired success from these approaches requires a sophisticated knowledge of foraging behavior and food transfer system of these social insects. Moisture and temperature play a vital role in influencing the foraging behavior of these desiccation prone insects. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted to understand the subtleties of foraging behavior of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki in relation to moisture, relative humidity and temperature. …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Bacillus Thuringiensis Resistance In The Sugarcane Borer, Yunlong Yang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis, is a major target pest of transgenic corn expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins in many areas of the U.S. mid-southern region. A Cry1Ab-resistant (Cry1Ab-RR) strain of D. saccharalis has been developed from a single two-parent family-line. To examine the molecular mechanisms of the Cry1Ab resistance in this insect strain, cDNAs of five types of potential candidate genes related to Bt resistance were sequenced using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 5’ rapid amplification of cDNA end (5’ RACE). The Bt resistance candidate genes examined included three trypsins (DsTRYs), three chymotrypsins (DsCHYs), three aminopeptidases N …

Redbanded Stink Bug, Piezodorus Guildinii (Westwood): Pest Status, Control Strategies, And Management In Louisiana Soybean, Joshua H. Temple

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The redbanded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), was identified as a pest of Louisiana soybean during 2000. Currently, this species has become established throughout Louisiana and into the soybean production regions of bordering states. Seasonal abundance, patterns of oviposition, and population dynamics of this species were surveyed in soybean during 2008-10. The redbanded stink bug comprised the largest percentage (54%) of the total stink bug complex collected at five survey sites followed by the southern green (27%), Nezara viridula L. and brown (7%) stink bugs, Euschistus servus L. Peak oviposition occurred during the (R5) soybean growth stage. Most (80%) egg …

Revision And Reclassification Of The Genera Of Phalacridae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea), Matthew Gimmel

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The family Phalacridae is monographed at the genus level using modern phylogenetic and classification methods. A morphological matrix of 106 characters and 2063 base pairs of aligned 18S rDNA sequence data were analyzed both separately and in a concatenated matrix, using maximum parsimony, Bayesian methods, and maximum likelihood. The phylogenetic hypotheses were used to construct a new subfamilial classification for the family. I recognize eight subfamilies, including two described as new: Biophytinae Guillebeau 1894, Eustilbinae Guillebeau 1892, Ochrolitinae Guillebeau 1894, Olibrinae Guillebeau 1892, Olibroporinae, subfam. nov., Olibrosominae, subfam. nov., Phaenocephalinae Matthews 1899, Phalacrinae Guillebeau 1892. Twenty-eight new generic synonymies are …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Bacillus Thuringiensis Resistance In The Sugarcane Borer, Yunlong Yang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis, is a major target pest of transgenic corn expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins in many areas of the U.S. mid-southern region. A Cry1Ab-resistant (Cry1Ab-RR) strain of D. saccharalis has been developed from a single two-parent family-line. To examine the molecular mechanisms of the Cry1Ab resistance in this insect strain, cDNAs of five types of potential candidate genes related to Bt resistance were sequenced using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 5’ rapid amplification of cDNA end (5’ RACE). The Bt resistance candidate genes examined included three trypsins (DsTRYs), three chymotrypsins (DsCHYs), three aminopeptidases N …

Biological Control Of The Black Cutworm, Agrotis Ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), And Endophyte Mediated Tritrophic Interactions In Turfgrass, Andrea Jeanne Bixby-Brosi

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Components of successful pest management programs must be complementary and not antagonistic. This project examined interactions between natural enemies of the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), an important turfgrass pest, and host plant resistance by endophytic grass.

Agrotis ipsilon nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgipMNPV) was examined as a bio-insecticide for controlling A. ipsilon in turfgrass. Fresh (1-week-old) AgipMNPV residues killed 76−86% of neonates hatching from eggs on golf course tees, however, residual control of implanted larvae lasted no more than a few weeks. Combinations of AgipMNPV with adjuvants, such as optical brightener and lignin, failed to accelerate or extend …

Ixodes Affinis (Acari: Ixodidae) In Southeastern Virginia And Implications For The Spread Of Borrelia Burgdorferi, The Agent Of Lyme Disease, Robyn M. Nadolny, Chelsea L. Wright, Wayne L. Hynes, Daniel E. Sonenshine, Holly Gaff

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Ixodes affinis Neumann is a hard-bodied (ixodid) tick known to be a competent vector for Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, and agents of other human diseases (Keirans et al. 1999). Ixodes affinis has been reported in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina and throughout coastal North Carolina (Clark et al. 1998, Harrison et al. 2010). Harrison et al. (2010) indicated that I. affinis was established throughout the coastal plain of North Carolina up to the Virginia border and suggested that I. affinis might occur in Virginia.

Lack Of Rhythmicity In The Honey Bee Queen: An Investigation Of Temporal Behavioral Patterns In Apis Mellifera Ligustica., Jennifer N. Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Little is known about the behavioral patterns of honey bee queens. To determine if mated honey bee queens possess diel rhythmicity in behavior, we observed them in glass-sided observation hives using three types of observation regimes: focal studies consisting of 2-hour and 24-hour continuous observations as well as scan-sampling of multiple queens. All behaviors (active: walking, inspecting, egg-laying, begging for food, feeding, and grooming self; inactive: standing) occurred at all times of day and night, but no queen showed consistent diel rhythmicity in any of the individual behaviors. There were no consistent diel differences in active versus inactive behaviors or …

A Re-Examination Of Diplectrona Modesta Banks 1908 (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) Using Morphological And Molecular Techniques, Lauren Harvey

All Theses

Diplectrona modesta Banks 1908 (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) is a common inhabitant of streams across eastern North America. This species is well known and used often in biomonitoring studies. Experts in the field have long noted the morphological variation in larval head color and patterns as well as the species presence in many different types of habitats, such as springs, seeps, streams, and some small rivers. This study examines the species both morphologically and molecularly using mitochondrial and nuclear genes in order to determine if the species is a complex of several species or one highly variable species. DNA sequencing using the …

The Role Of Peroxidase In The Defense Response Of Buffalograss To Chinch Bugs, Anh Hoang

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In recent years, buffalograss, Buchloë dactyloides (Nuttall) Engelmann has gained popularity as a turfgrass because of its low maintenance requirement, drought tolerance, and limited pests and diseases. Within the last decade, however, the western chinch bug Blissus occiduus Barber has emerged as important pest of buffalograss. Considerable progress has been made toward identifying buffalograsses with resistance to the western chinch bug and understanding the mechanisms of the resistance. It has been hypothesized that chinch bug-resistant buffalograsses can effectively detoxify the elevated levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) through enhanced activity of ROS-scavenging enzymes, while ROS accumulates in the susceptible plants …

Historical Biogeography Of Velvet Ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) In The North American Deserts And Arid Lands, Joseph S. Wilson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

For centuries, scientists have been intrigued by the high amount of biodiversity that is found in the deserts of North America. Recently, several studies have investigated the causes of the high diversity found in desert-dwelling mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. These studies have found that many of these organisms seem to have diversified in response to the same historical events. Little work has been done, however, on diverse desert-dwelling insect groups. In this dissertation, I investigate the patterns of genetic diversity in four groups of nocturnal wasps called velvet ants. I compare the patterns of genetic diversity to the historical events …

Cell Lines Having Enhanced Cell Longevity And Protein Expression, Bruce Allen Webb, Jeremy Kroemer

Entomology Faculty Patents

It is the object of the current invention to provide methods and compositions relating to the expression of vankyrin proteins in cell lines to increase their viability, longevity and capacity for protein production. The inventors have discovered that the expression of P-ank-1 and I²-ank-3 proteins in cell culture has increased the cells' longevity and capacity for endogenous and/or heterologous target protein production. Specifically, the present invention relates to the enhanced expression of endogenous and/or heterologous target proteins/polypeptides in recombinant cells that are also expressing P-ank-1 and/or I²-ank-3 protein compared to expression host cells that are not …

Nebline, November/December 2010

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: Garbology 4-H School Enrichment

Farm Views

Horticulture

Food & Fitness

Home & Family Living

Environmental Focus

Urban Agriculture

4-H & Youth

Community Focus

Extension Calendar

Nutrition Education Program

Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs

and other extension news and events

Africanized Honey Bee, Erin W. Hodgson, Cory A. Stanley, Alan H. Roe, Danielle Downey

All Current Publications

African honey bees (Apis mellifera scutellata) are native to sub-Saharan Africa and were introduced in the Americas to improve honey production in the tropics. These African honey bees were accidentally released and began to interbreed with European honey bees (Apis mellifera ligustica), the most common subspecies used for pollination and honey production in the United States (Fig. 1). As a result, the hybrid offspring are called “Africanized” because of their shared characteristics. Africanized honey bees are about the same size, shape and color as European honey bees (Fig. 2), and a genetic analysis must be used to distinguish one from …

A Taxonomic Revision Of Camptocerus Dejean (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), Sarah M. Smith, Anthony I. Cognato

Insecta Mundi

The Neotropical ambrosia beetle genus Camptocerus Dejean was revised. Monophyly of the genus was tested using 66 morphological characters in a cladistic analysis. Camptocerus was recovered as monophyletic and 31 species were recognized. Six new synonyms were discovered: C. auricomus Blandford 1896 (= C. striatulus Hagedorn 1905), C. inoblitus (Schedl) 1939 (= C. morio (Schedl) 1952), C. niger (Fabricius) 1801 (= C. tectus Eggers 1943), C. opacicollis (Eggers) 1929 (= C. infidelis Wood 1969; = C. uniseriatus Schedl 1972), C. suturalis (Fabricius) 1801 (= C. cinctus Chapuis 1869). Two species were removed from synonymy: C. charpentierae Schedl and C. hirtipennis …