Entomology Commons^™

American Elderberry's Next Top Pollinator: Evaluating The Role Of Arthropods In Pollination, Jenny K. Burrow

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

American elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) is a woody deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. In addition to its long history of use by indigenous peoples, there is renewed interest in cultivating and consuming American elderberry, primarily driven by expanding health supplement markets. Despite recent advances in horticultural development of American elderberry, its pollination ecology remains poorly understood. In this field study, I evaluated the contribution of arthropod visitors to pollination of American elderberry. To do this, I first characterized the identities and abundances of arthropod visitors via timed arthropod collections and floral observations during peak flowering …

Ovipositional Behavior Of The Twig Girdler (Cerambycidae: Oncideres Cingulata) On Stems Of Mockernut Hickory (Carya Tomentosa) In Arkansas, R. Tumlison, L. Serviss

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Twig Girdler (Cerambycidae: Oncideres cingulata) is a long-horned beetle that girdles stems of certain species of trees to prepare a habitat for its offspring. The stems eventually die, break, and fall from the tree, but the beetle usually had already laid its eggs within the stems. Eggs are laid singly, almost always at growth rings or leaf bases. Because the space for the young to develop is finite, laying too many eggs could cause reproductive failure and too few eggs would be suboptimal. We hypothesized that the female laying eggs should be able to evaluate the stem and …

Technology-Driven Approaches For Invasive Species Detection And Management, Kushal Naharki

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Invasive species pose significant ecological, economic, and management challenges globally. Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), and mile-a-minute (Persicaria perfoliata) are widespread invasive plants across the eastern United States and present persistent challenges, particularly in remote and inaccessible landscapes. Effective management of these species requires an integrated approach that combines early detection, targeted intervention, public engagement, and spatial modeling. This dissertation used emerging technologies to improve invasive species detection, monitoring, and management.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based platforms equipped with optical sensors were used to establish …

Genetics Of Mycangial Development And Host Colonization Within The Ambrosia Symbiosis, Mckeon James Laws

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ambrosia beetles, a polyphyletic group of weevils, utilize pouch-like structures at various locations on the body to transport for their sole food source, their fungal partner. Ambrosia fungi are known to originate from multiple unrelated fungal lineages with no consensus of traits required to become a fungal cultivar. While the biology and ecology of both partners is in many cases well understood, the genetic underpinnings of this fascinating mutualism remain a mystery. The aim of this dissertation is to add to the understanding of the ambrosia symbiosis by providing insights into its molecular and genetic underpinnings through RNA sequencing data, …

Dna Barcoding Complements Citizen Science Identifications In An Arthropod Survey At Governors Island, New York, Malky Gestetner

Dissertations and Theses

Arthropods are declining worldwide, threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and growing urbanization. Efforts to monitor arthropod biodiversity are crucial for conservation policies and for maintaining the ecosystem services provided by these animals in urban environments. Surveys of arthropods have been attempted in many New York neighborhoods, but no formal assessment has been conducted on Governors Island, which harbors 72-acres of parkland within a short boat ride away from Manhattan. This is a deficiency which this study helps to address. Following student-led collection efforts within four Governors Island sites, DNA barcoding was employed to complement specimen identification based on morphology …

Optimal Control Analysis Of Malaria Transmission In The Presence Of Insecticide Resistance And Climate Variability In Kenya, Lorna Chepkemoi, Titus Okello Orwa, Samuel Mwalili, Rachel Waema Mbogo, Steeven Belvinos Affognon, Daisy Salifu, Henri E.Z. Tonnang

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Malaria remains a major public health concern in Kenya, where changing climatic conditions, insecticide resistance, and mosquito behavioral adaptations continue to challenge control efforts. This study develops and analyzes a climate-sensitive malaria transmission model that incorporates mosquito behavior, insecticide resistance, and vector–human ecological dynamics to identify optimal control strategies for the Kenyan context. The model’s well-posedness was established, the basic reproduction number (R0) computed using the next-generation matrix method, and the stability of equilibrium points assessed. Spatial analysis of R0 was performed using temperature and rainfall raster data to map transmission risk across Kenya under varying insecticide use scenarios. Results …

Behavioral And Electrophysiological Responses Of Fall Armyworm Larval Parasitoid Coccygidium Luteum To Maize And Companion Plant Volatiles, Emmanuel Peter, Sevgan Subramanian, Abdullahi Yusuf, Samira A. Mohamed, Baldwyn Torto, Emily A. Martin, Amanuel Tamiru

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Companion cropping and biological control are among the best agronomic practices recommended for ecologically sustainable management of the invasive fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Companion plants may suppress the FAW population by repelling the pest, disrupting host-plant location and recruiting biocontrol agents such as parasitoids. These interactions are primarily mediated by plant-derived volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Understanding parasitoids’ responses to VOCs emitted by companion plants enables selection of suitable cultivars to enhance biological control and design appropriate intercropping systems for effective FAW management. This study investigated behavioral and electrophysiological responses of a key FAW larval parasitoid, …

Reinterpreting Stochastic Optimal Control Under Ecological Uncertainty: Inferring Decision Urgency From Vegetation Biomass Dynamics, Komi Mensah Agboka, Tobias Landmann, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Stochastic optimal control provides a rigorous framework for systems subject to uncertainty, yet its operational use in ecological crisis contexts remains limited by interpretability. We reinterpreted a stochastic control formulation in which selected parameters emerged as indicators of decision urgency rather than normative preferences. Vegetation biomass was modeled as a stochastic stock subject to nonlinear loss driven by feeding pressure (e.g., desert locust activity) and multiplicative noise, with uncertainty represented by a time-varying volatility term that integrated extreme rainfall anomalies and conflict-related disruption. Rather than prescribing an optimal policy, we inverted the closed-form solution of the control problem to infer …

Fumigant Toxicity Of Essential Oils From Chemotypes Of Curry Tree (Murraya Koenigii) Against Adult African Malaria Mosquito (Anopheles Gambiae Sensu Stricto), Clarence M. Mang’Era, Fathiya M. Khamis, Ahmed Hassanali, Paul O. Mireji

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The toxicity of fumigant formulations of essential oils (EOs) from curry tree (Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng (Rutaceae)) against African malaria adult mosquito (Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (Giles, 1902) (Diptera: Culicidae: Culicini)) was evaluated to identify most effective chemotype of the curry tree against the mosquitoes. Ninety-two compounds (91.78%–96.47% coverage) in the EO profiles were identified, among which EO isolated from curry tree chemotype from Kibwezi was most toxic. This chemotype had a median lethal dose (LD50) of 3.6 × 10⁻³ mg/cm³ (95% CI: 2.70–4.58) and a lethal time (Ti50) of 1.91 ± 0.086 h (p < 0.001). The equivalent LD50 of EOs of chemotypes from Mombasa, Makindu, and Malindi in Kenya was 4.9 × 10⁻³, 6.6 …

Moth Assemblages Of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Kimberly Anne Steese

Masters Theses

"Moths (Lepidoptera) are ecologically important insects that function as herbivores, pollinators, prey resources, and indicators of ecosystem integrity. Despite their ecological significance, moth communities in the Missouri Ozarks remain poorly documented, particularly within military-managed landscapes. This thesis examined patterns of moth diversity, assemblage structure, and environmental drivers at Fort Leonard Wood (FLW), Missouri, while also assessing the distribution and genetic diversity of species within the genus Papaipema.

Field surveys were conducted from 2019 through 2021 across prairie, savanna, forest, and restoration habitats at FLW using UV bucket traps, sheet trapping, and targeted larval surveys. Across all sampling efforts, 29,116 individual …

Evaluating Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities In Streamside Management Zones In Private, Working Forests, Haley Vaglienti

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Forestry operations can alter riparian vegetation and increase sediment and nutrient inputs to streams, affecting water quality and aquatic biota. Forestry best management practices (BMPs) including streamside management zones (SMZs) are designed to mitigate those effects by reducing sediment delivery and moderating temperature, flow, and nutrient regimes. We assessed ecological integrity at 24 intermittent stream sites with SMZs in private, working forests across the Piedmont and Southeastern plains of Georgia. At each site, we conducted physical habitat evaluations and characterized benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages. Sites represented a gradient of habitat conditions, SMZ widths, and pine stand ages, allowing for comparisons of …

Cytonuclear Incompatibilities In Hybrid Systems: Oxidative Phosphorylation Capacity And Nuclear Marker Transmission Ratio Distortion In Hybrids Of An Introgressed Strain Of Parasitoid Wasp, Julie Kessler

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Speciation is an evolutionary process resulting in the divergence of populations into reproductively isolated species, a key concept that supplies our planet with an abundance of biodiversity. Mechanisms for speciation center on obstacles to fertilization and include post-zygotic barriers, such as intrinsic deleterious interactions, that arise in hybrid systems where genetic variants are combined. Genes from separate parent lineages are often incompatible due to the co-evolution of paired genes within a singular species not matching their complement genes in another species, and the result is a reduction in fitness of the hybrid when these genes come together. The mitochondrial OXPHOS …

First Record Of Arrhenophagus Chionaspidis Aurivillius (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) Parasitizing White Mango Scale In Kenya: Its Potential Distribution And Prospects In Biocontrol, Francis Obala, Abdelmutalab G.A. Azrag, Rehemah Gwokyalya, Shepard Ndlela, Ingo Grass, Georg Petschenka, Sunday Ekesi, Samira A. Mohamed

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The white mango scale, Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), is one of the most destructive pests of mango worldwide. Its current management in most of the invaded areas largely depends on the intensive use of chemical insecticides. Biological control using parasitoids represents one of the most effective and environmentally sustainable management options. However, in Kenya, one of Africa's leading mango-producing countries, no effective parasitoid species associated with A. tubercularis had previously been recorded. This study aimed to identify encyrtid parasitoids associated with A. tubercularis in Kenya, and to assess how bioclimatic factors influence their occurrence and habitat suitability. Mango leaves …

Effects Of Temperature On The Life-History Traits Of Myzus Persicae And Its Efficiency In Transmitting Potato Virus Y (Pvy) In Potato Crops, Bonoukpoè M. Sokame, Henri E. Tonnang, Heidy Gamarra, Pablo Carhuapoma, Jan Kreuze, Leah R. Johnson, Ali Arab, Peter A. Armbruster, Oswaldo C. Villena

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Aphids are highly sensitive to temperature changes and play a crucial role in transmitting plant viruses, accounting for the transmission of more than 50% of viruses that cause disease in crops. Among them, Myzus persicae is a major global pest, affecting over 400 plant species and transmitting more than 100 plant viruses, including potato virus Y (PVY), which poses a severe threat to potato crops. This study examines how temperature influences the life-history traits of M. persicae and its efficiency in transmitting PVY. Our research revealed that temperature significantly affects developmental duration, survival, and fecundity of M. persicae. The aphids …

Comparing Autodissemination, Soil Inoculation And Their Combination As Modes Of Application Of Metarhizium Anisopliae Icipe 69 On The Melon Fly Infesting Courgette In Kenya Under Semi-Field Conditions, Rehemah Gwokyalya, Thomas Dubois, Susan K. Onsongo, Joseph A. Odhiambo, Komivi Senyo Akutse, Samira A. Mohamed

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The melon fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a significant pest of cucurbit crops, responsible for substantial yield losses and economic damage across Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Control of this pest currently relies heavily on synthetic insecticides, which are associated with environmental and human health risks, and contribute to the development of insecticide resistance. Entomopathogenic fungi offer a promising eco-friendly alternative, yet effectiveness of delivery methods remains a critical limitation in their widespread adoption. This study evaluated the efficacy of three application modes of Metarhizium anisopliae (Mechnikov) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) isolate ICIPE 69, autodissemination devices (AD), soil inoculation (soil), …

Omega-3 Fatty Acids And Bioactives In Aqueous-Extracted Oils From Seven Edible Insects, Xavier Cheseto, Chrysantus Mbi Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Globally, there is urgent search and research interest towards alternative sources of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FA) due to sustainability challenges faced by dependence on fish and plant-derived sources. Limited information exists on insects despite their promising potential. This work analyzed oils from seven insect species commonly consumed globally compared to commercial sesame oil using coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Oil yields from insects ranged between 11.1 mg/g to 115.3 mg/g. Over 67 fatty acids, α-tocopherol [vitamin E] and eight flavonoids were identified. All insect oils contained ω-3 FA [i.e., α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic …

Thermal Requirements And Phenology Modelling Of A Drosophila Suzukii Population: Implications For Pest Risk Under A Changing Climate, Shepard Ndlela, Abdelmutalab G.A. Azrag, Esther Owino Awuor, Ibrahim Maholidy Farid, Samira Abuelgasim Mohamed

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Drosophila suzukii (spotted-wing drosophila) is an invasive pest causing significant economic losses in soft-skinned fruit crops globally. This study presents comprehensive temperature-dependent life table data and phenology models for an African D. suzukii population collected in Kenya. Developmental time, mortality, fecundity, and adult longevity were assessed under constant temperatures from 12 to 30 °C. Using Insect Life Cycle Modelling (ILCYM) software, linear and nonlinear models were applied to characterise the effects of temperature on life history traits. Additionally, spatial risk indices including Establishment Risk Index (ERI), Generation Index (GI), and Activity Index (AI) were mapped globally for current and future …

Intensified Push-Pull Technology Enhances Above-Ground Arthropod Assemblages And Ecological Balance, Evanson R. Omuse, Honest Machekano, Daniel M. Mutyambai, Bonoukpoe M. Sokame, Chrysantus M. Tanga, Johnson O. Nyasani, Sevgan Subramanian, Frank Chidawanyika

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Agroecological intensification aims to increase farm productivity, reduce dependency on external inputs, and enhance biodiversity conservation. However, the contribution of recent sustainable agricultural practices to arthropod assemblages and their ecosystem services remains underexplored. Through a 2-year multilocation trial, we investigated the response of above-ground arthropod assemblages and their ecological functions in cowpea and maize grown under monocropping systems and diversified systems (pure and intensified push-pull technologies). Using three sampling methods (visual observations, pitfall traps, sticky traps), a total of 65, 307 arthropod specimens were collected. The most dominant arthropod taxa were Hemiptera (true bugs; 47%), followed by Thysanoptera (thrips; 17%), …

Impacts Of Multitrophic Interactions In Diversified Cropping Systems For Sustainable Management Of Spodoptera Frugiperda, Abdul A. Jalloh, Abdullahi Ahmed Yusuf, Fathiya M. Khamis, Subramanian Sevgan, Daniel Munyao Mutyambai

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Rapid population growth has made the sustainable intensification of agricultural productivity essential for meeting global food demands while maintaining environmental integrity and biodiversity. Diversified cropping systems, such as intercropping, push-pull systems, and cover cropping, are recognized as agroecological strategies to enhance plant growth and protection, and suppress major pests, including the fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda). These systems influence complex above-and-below ground interactions among herbivorous pests, plants, soil microbes, and their natural enemies. Aims: This review synthesizes current knowledge on how diversified cropping systems shape multitrophic interactions that affect soil health, plant performance, S. frugiperda suppression, and biocontrol within …

A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Mosquito Arboviral Infections Detected Through Xenosurveillance In Africa: A Focus On West Nile, Rift Valley Fever, And Chikungunya Virus Infections, Mxolisi Mgongoma, Armanda Bastos, Abel Ramoelo, David P. Tchouassi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This systematic review and meta-analysis comprehensively evaluated the mosquito arboviral infections with West Nile virus (WNV), Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), and chikungunya virus (CHIV), detected through xenosurveillance, reported in mosquito vectors across Africa in the last 25 years (2000–2024). The study analysed xenosurveillance data from 45 studies conducted with over 115,000 mosquito specimens, and incorporated moderator analyses to assess the influence of trap type, seasonality, regional location, settlement type, and screening methods on virus detection rates. The estimated pooled prevalence of WNV was 1.18% (95% CI: 0.60–3.43%), with higher rates observed in Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex pipiens, particularly in …