Expanded Range Of Nasutitermes Callimorphus Mathews, 1977 (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae), Comparison With N. Corniger (Motschulsky, 1855) And N. Ephratae (Holmgren, 1910), And Synonymy Of N. Dasyopsis Thorne, 1989 Into N. Nigriceps (Haldeman, 1854),
2024
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Expanded Range Of Nasutitermes Callimorphus Mathews, 1977 (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae), Comparison With N. Corniger (Motschulsky, 1855) And N. Ephratae (Holmgren, 1910), And Synonymy Of N. Dasyopsis Thorne, 1989 Into N. Nigriceps (Haldeman, 1854), Allen Szalanski
Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations
The imago of N. callimorphus is described for the first time. Nasutitermes callimorphus occurs from Mexico to Paraguay. Nasutitermes callimorphus is smaller in all measurements but generally resembles its widely distributed sympatric congeners, N. corniger (Motschulsky, 1855) and N. ephratae (Holmgren, 1910). Molecular phylogenetic analysis of a portion of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and the COII mtDNA marker revealed that N. callimorphus forms a distinct clade using both maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood analysis. Unlike N. corniger and N. ephratae, N. callimorphus does not build epigeal or arboreal carton nests. We further regard N. dasyopsis Thorne, 1989 as a …
Mitochondrial Dna Genetic Variation Of Feral And Managed Honey Bee, Apis Mellifera, Colonies From Oklahoma,
2024
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Mitochondrial Dna Genetic Variation Of Feral And Managed Honey Bee, Apis Mellifera, Colonies From Oklahoma, Allen Szalanski
Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Understanding the genetic diversity of honey bees in North America provides valuable insight into the conservation, ecology, and evolution of this economically important insect. Here, we characterized the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genetic variation in populations of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., in Oklahoma by sequencing a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COI-COII) intergenic region. The samples were primarily of feral origin (n = 164), as well as from 24 managed colonies. Samples were obtained from 50 of Oklahoma's 77 counties, which represented six distinct ecoregions. Of the 188 colonies sampled,19 distinct haplotypes were observed, which included: A (African) …
Two New Incisitermes (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) Species From The Caribbean Basin, Genetic Relationships With Other Regional Incisitermes, And Synonymy Of Incisitermes Tabogae With I. Schwarzi,
2024
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Two New Incisitermes (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) Species From The Caribbean Basin, Genetic Relationships With Other Regional Incisitermes, And Synonymy Of Incisitermes Tabogae With I. Schwarzi, Allen Szalanski
Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Two new species of Incisitermes are described from the soldier and imago caste: Incisitermes lisae sp. nov. (Yucatan Region) and Incisitermes mariae sp. nov. (Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago). Incisitermes tabogae (Snyder, 1924) is reduced to a junior synonymy of Incisitermes schwarzi (Banks, 1920), known from Florida, the West Indies, and the Caribbean basin mainland. The phylogenetic relationships of these three species are compared with other Incisitermes of the region.
A Balancing Act: Microrna Mediated Insect-Bacterial Homeostasis And The Tsetse Fly,
2024
West Virginia University
A Balancing Act: Microrna Mediated Insect-Bacterial Homeostasis And The Tsetse Fly, Mason Hubbard Lee
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Microbial symbioses are ubiquitous across all kingdoms of life with broad and diverse impacts on the evolution of species. The sum of all microbes living in, on, or otherwise in close association with a host form the microbiota. In some cases, the development of a stable microbial association seems to have been necessary for the specialization of diet, as can be observed in numerous insect species, especially wood-eating, sap-feeding, and blood-feeding organisms. For the medically and economically tsetse fly (family Glossinidae), the mutualistic bacteria Wigglesworthia glossinidia is required for proper reproduction and supplementation of nutrients that the fly does not …
Letter From The Dean,
2024
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Letter From The Dean, Jeff Edwards
Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
No abstract provided.
Contents,
2024
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Contents, Discovery Editors
Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
No abstract provided.
Instructions For Authors,
2024
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Instructions For Authors, Discovery Editors
Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
No abstract provided.
An Assessment Of Functional Characteristics In Macroinvertebrates And Fishes In The Lower Ogeechee River,
2024
Georgia Southern University
An Assessment Of Functional Characteristics In Macroinvertebrates And Fishes In The Lower Ogeechee River, Molly A. Mckeon
College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations
The southeastern United States is a hotspot for aquatic biodiversity; yet this region is also considered vulnerable to climate and land–use changes. The Ogeechee River is an unimpeded blackwater river in Georgia that drains into the Atlantic Ocean and a unique ecosystem due to the preservation of its natural state; Historically, research conducted in the river establishes a baseline for long-term ecological studies. The aim of this study is to compare aquatic macroinvertebrate and fish community composition data collected in 2014 to 2017 to a recently collected dataset from 2023 and document temporal changes. Water quality monitoring was performed throughout …
Longevity,Feeding Behavior, And Egg Production Of Adult House Flies (Musca Domestica) Provided With Potential Farm Foods,
2024
Northern Illinois University
Longevity,Feeding Behavior, And Egg Production Of Adult House Flies (Musca Domestica) Provided With Potential Farm Foods, Anna Elise Grimenstein
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
House flies (Musca domestica) are cosmopolitan pests to both humans and livestock, and they can vector many diseases. House flies are especially associated with livestock facilities, as adult flies lay eggs in rotting organic matter such as manure. While it is understood that the diet an adult fly receives can affect biological parameters such as longevity and egg production, not much research has been done to address foods that are accessible to house flies in their natural habitat. The present study examined the longevity, feeding behavior, and egg production rates of adult house flies given different foods they would have …
Editorial: 2022 In Review: Vector Biology,
2024
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Editorial: 2022 In Review: Vector Biology, David P. Tchouassi, Janet Midega, Baldwyn Torto
All Peer-Reviewed Publications
This editorial summarizes collections on the Research Topic “2022 in Review: Vector Biology’’ that focus on entomologic surveillance insights related to mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, and sandfly-borne leishmaniasis. Specifically, the editorial discusses the entomologic drivers of dengue virus transmission, host-feeding relationships among various mosquito vectors, sample efficiency of malaria vectors using a suite of trapping techniques and improving sandfly surveillance using odor-baited trapping strategies. The research article by Kamau et al. assessed variation in the biological attributes of adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes by estimating critical parameters of vectorial capacity (vectors abundance, human blood feeding rates, survival) that …
Chitin-Enriched Insect Frass Fertilizer As A Biorational Alternative For Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne Incognita) Management,
2024
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Chitin-Enriched Insect Frass Fertilizer As A Biorational Alternative For Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne Incognita) Management, James Kisaakye, Dennis Beesigamukama, Solveig Haukeland, Sevgan Subramanian, Paul K. Thiongo, Segenet Kelemu, Chrysantus M. Tanga
All Peer-Reviewed Publications
Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are serious pests of most food crops, causing up to 100% yield loss. Nevertheless, commercial nematicides are costly and harmful to the environment. While the nematicidal potential of crustacean and synthetic chitin has been demonstrated globally, research on the potential of insect-derived chitin for nematode control has received limited attention. Here, seven chitin-fortified black soldier fly frass fertilizer extracts (chFE) were assessed for their suppressiveness of Meloidogyne incognita and impacts on spinach growth in comparison with a commercial nematicide using in vitro and in vivo bioassays. The performance of chFE and control treatments was assessed by …
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus Plexippus) Oviposition Preferences And A Survey Of Fungal Pathogens On Native Milkweeds (Asclepias) Of The Northern Great Plains,
2024
South Dakota State University
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus Plexippus) Oviposition Preferences And A Survey Of Fungal Pathogens On Native Milkweeds (Asclepias) Of The Northern Great Plains, Grace Damiano
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
North American monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) populations are experiencing significant declines due to habitat loss caused by land use changes. Much of the American Midwest where milkweed, the only host plant of the monarch butterfly, was once much more abundant has been converted to a predominantly agricultural landscape. There are nineteen species of milkweed native to the northern Great Plains region occupied by South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Some of these milkweed species may be preferable to monarch butterflies for different reasons, including morphological factors such as stem length, species-level chemical factors, and temporal factors. As monarch …
Cutworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Affecting Crops On The Canadian Prairies,
2024
Dordt University
Cutworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Affecting Crops On The Canadian Prairies, Jeremy Hummel
Faculty Work Comprehensive List
There is a complex of cutworm species that are pests in western Canada, with important species including Agrotis orthogonia (pale western cutworm), Euxoa auxiliaris (army cutworm), and Euxoa ochrogaster (redbacked cutworm). Cutworm damage is sporadic and patchy, and as a result is difficult to predict. During outbreak years, insecticide applications and/or reseeding are necessary and yield losses can be significant. Recently, field-collected cutworm larvae were reared in the lab to estimate levels of parasitism, which ranged from 2% to 25%, depending on the province and the year of sampling, and to identify the parasitoid complex attacking cutworms. The parasitoid Cotesia …
Effects Of Four Potent Entomopathogenic Fungal Isolates On The Survival And Performance Of Telenomus Remus, An Egg Parasitoid Of Fall Armyworm,
2024
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Effects Of Four Potent Entomopathogenic Fungal Isolates On The Survival And Performance Of Telenomus Remus, An Egg Parasitoid Of Fall Armyworm, Junitor Chepkemoi, Ken Okwae Fening, Felicitas Chaba Ambele, Joseph Munywoki, Komivi Senyo Akutse
All Peer-Reviewed Publications
Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda is a generalist pest known to feed on more than 300 plant species, including major staple crops such as rice, maize and sorghum. Biological control of FAW using a combination of a major indigenous egg parasitoid Telenomus remus and entomopathogenic fungi was explored in this study. Metarhizium anisopliae strains (ICIPE 7, ICIPE 41, and ICIPE 78) and Beauveria bassiana ICIPE 621 which demonstrated effectiveness to combat the pest, were evaluated through direct and indirect fungal infection to assess their pathogenicity and virulence against T. remus adults, S. frugiperda eggs and their effects on T. remus …
Editorial: Invasive Pathogens And Arthropods: Biogeography, Drivers Of Invasion Success, Impacts On Indigenous Forest Trees And Emerging Management Strategies,
2024
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Editorial: Invasive Pathogens And Arthropods: Biogeography, Drivers Of Invasion Success, Impacts On Indigenous Forest Trees And Emerging Management Strategies, Frank Chidawanyika, Komivi S. Akutse, Tendai Musvuugwa, Abdullahi A. Yusuf, Casper Nyamukondiwa
All Peer-Reviewed Publications
With the ongoing global anthropogenic climate change, a silent war rages in forests, the lungs of the earth. Invasive pathogens and insect pests are decimating native trees, compromising ecological function, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Many of the processes surrounding successful biotic invasions are broad and have been previously analyzed (Hobbs et al., 2006; Blackburn et al., 2011). For invasive insect pests and pathogens, globalization, the rise in human population and associated environmental disturbances are recognized as fundamental drivers of introduction of propagules of non-native species to novel environments. Superior tolerance of extreme climate environments, in particular temperature, is also associated …
A Convolutional Neural Network With Image And Numerical Data To Improve Farming Of Edible Crickets As A Source Of Food—A Decision Support System,
2024
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
A Convolutional Neural Network With Image And Numerical Data To Improve Farming Of Edible Crickets As A Source Of Food—A Decision Support System, Henry Kyalo, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, James P. Egonyu, John Olukuru, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Kennedy Senagi
All Peer-Reviewed Publications
Crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) produce sounds as a natural means to communicate and convey various behaviors and activities, including mating, feeding, aggression, distress, and more. These vocalizations are intricately linked to prevailing environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. By accurately monitoring, identifying, and appropriately addressing these behaviors and activities, the farming and production of crickets can be enhanced. This research implemented a decision support system that leverages machine learning (ML) algorithms to decode and classify cricket songs, along with their associated key weather variables (temperature and humidity). Videos capturing cricket behavior and weather variables were recorded. From these videos, sound …
Aggressive And Non-Aggressive Behaviors In Mixed And Non-Mixed Dorymyrmex Smithi And Dorymyrmex Bureni Colonies Of Southeastern Georgia, Usa,
2024
Georgia Southern University
Aggressive And Non-Aggressive Behaviors In Mixed And Non-Mixed Dorymyrmex Smithi And Dorymyrmex Bureni Colonies Of Southeastern Georgia, Usa, Renee K. Nowicki
College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations
Dorymyrmex species, ‘pyramid’ or ‘cone’ ants, are Dolichoderines distributed across North America. Two relatively well-studied species, Dorymyrmex smithi and Dorymyrmex bureni, are commonly found throughout southeastern Georgia. These species are part of a socially parasitic relationship while simultaneously having starkly different colony structures. Dorymyrmex smithi is a polydomous, polygynous species with colonies that are often expansive, at times having hundreds to thousands of nests per colony. Dorymyrmex smithi is a temporary social parasite of D. bureni, a monodomous, monogynous species. The specific mechanism of this parasitism is currently unknown. Preliminary behavioral assay data from a limited number of …
Dual Suppression Of Glossina Pallidipes Using Entomopathogenic Fungal-Based Biopesticides And Sterile Insect Technique,
2024
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Dual Suppression Of Glossina Pallidipes Using Entomopathogenic Fungal-Based Biopesticides And Sterile Insect Technique, Fidelis L.O. Ombura, Adly M.M. Abd-Alla, Komivi S. Akutse, Steven Runo, Paul O. Mireji, Rosemary Bateta, Joseck E. Otiwi, Inusa J. Ajene, Fathiya M. Khamis
All Peer-Reviewed Publications
Tsetse flies and trypanosomosis significantly impact bovine production and human health in sub-Saharan Africa, exacerbating underdevelopment, malnutrition, and poverty. Despite various control strategies, long-term success has been limited. This study evaluates the combined use of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and the sterile insect technique (SIT) to combat tsetse flies. Eleven EPF isolates were tested against teneral males of Glossina pallidipes, focusing on mortality rates, radial growth, and impacts on fly fitness. Temperature effects on conidial growth, sporulation, and spore yield of SIT-compatible/tolerant strains were also assessed. The fungal isolates significantly influenced mortality rates in both unirradiated and irradiated (SIT-treated) males (p < 0.0001). Metarhizium anisopliae strains ICIPE 20, ICIPE 32, ICIPE 41, ICIPE 62, ICIPE 78, and Beauveria bassiana ICIPE 603 showed higher SIT compatibility/tolerance with LT50 values of 11–30 days, compared to other more virulent isolates with LT50 values of 4–9 days. Temperature significantly affected the radial growth of SIT-compatible EPF strains (p < 0.0001), with M. anisopliae ICIPE 78 exhibiting the fastest conidia growth at 25°C. Spore yield varied significantly across temperatures (15–40°C), and the thermal range for conidia germination of SIT-compatible strains was 8.1–45.4°C, with an optimal range of 26.7–31.1°C. Moreover, infected unirradiated females and irradiated males (donors) successfully transmitted conidia to untreated flies (receivers) without significant differences in survival rates (p = 0.6438) and no observed sex dimorphism. Our findings highlight the potential of combining EPF and SIT as a novel dual approach that could effectively and synergistically suppress tsetse fly populations.
Insect Frass Fertilizer As A Regenerative Input For Improved Biological Nitrogen Fixation And Sustainable Bush Bean Production,
2024
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Insect Frass Fertilizer As A Regenerative Input For Improved Biological Nitrogen Fixation And Sustainable Bush Bean Production, Agnes Chepkorir, Dennis Beesigamukama, Harun I. Gitari, Shaphan Y. Chia, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi, Birachi Eliud Abucheli, Jean Claude Rubyogo, Theodore Zahariadis, Gina Athanasiou, Aikaterini Zachariadi, Vasileios Zachariadis, Abdou Tenkouano, Chrysantus M. Tanga
All Peer-Reviewed Publications
Bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production is undermined by soil degradation and low biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) capacity. This study evaluated the effect of black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF) on bush bean growth, yield, nutrient uptake, BNF, and profitability, in comparison with commercial organic fertilizer (Phymyx, Phytomedia International Ltd., Kiambu, Kenya), synthetic fertilizer (NPK), and rhizobia inoculant (Biofix, MEA Fertilizers, Nairobi, Kenya). The organic fertilizers were applied at rates of 0, 15, 30, and 45 kg N ha−1 while the NPK was applied at 40 kg N ha−1, 46 kg P ha−1, and 60 kg K ha−1. The fertilizers …
A Worldwide Overview Of The Status And Prospects Of Edible Insect Production,
2024
Université de Liège
A Worldwide Overview Of The Status And Prospects Of Edible Insect Production, R. Caparros Megido, F. Francis, E. Haubruge, P. Le Gall, J. K. Tomberlin, C. D. Miranda, H. R. Jordan, C. J. Picard, M. J.M. Pino, J. Ramos-Elordy, E. Katz, K. B. Barragán-Fonseca, E. M. Costa-Neto, R. Ponce-Reyes, G. Wijffels, S. Ghosh, C. Jung, Y. S. Han, B. Conti, A. Vilcinskas, C. M. Tanga, M. O. Kababu, D. Beesigamukama, J. A. Morales Ramos, A. Van Huis
All Peer-Reviewed Publications
There has been continuous and growing interest in edible insects. Worldwide, various levels of insect farming are emerging, ranging from small domestic farms to vertical farms reaching heights of 36 meters, accommodating several million growing insects. The appeal of insects lies in their ecological benefits, as they contribute to the valorization of unde-rutilized organic residues while requiring minimal space and water. The selection of insect species is influenced not only by their biology and behavior but also by local preferences and customs, varying with the scale of production and geographi-cal location. This review article aims to provide an updated overview …
