Environmental Entomology

Ali, Arshad

doi: 10.1093/ee/9.4.365pmid: N/A

AbstractThe eclosion diel periodicity of chironomids in 3 different habitats in Florida was investigated on 3 or 4 occasions in 1979. On each occasion, samples of adult midges were collected at 2-h intervals over a 24-h period by employing submerged emergence traps. The diel changes in air and water temperatures and the dissolved oxygen in each habitat were measured. The time of sunset and sunrise was recorded.Diel periodicity of emergence was exhibited byGlyptotendipes paripesEdwards,Chironomus decorusJohannsen,C. crassicaudatusMalloch,Goeldichironomus holoprasinus(Goeldi),Tanytarsusspp., and the tanypodines (mostlyProcladius subletteiRoback). The adult emergence of these species was principally nocturnal occurring mostly within 4 h after sunset. The tanypodines emerged again during dawn.No significant (P>0.05) correlation (r=<0.3) was observed between the diel eclosion periodicity of the species studied and the water temperature or the dissolved oxygen in any habitat. Their emergence is related to the diel light changes.

Wall, W. J.; Doane, O. W.

doi: 10.1093/ee/9.4.371pmid: N/A

AbstractDuring May and June 1970–79, ca. 300–730 box traps painted with light or dark colors were placed around the perimeters of Cape Cod salt marshes to capture green head flies (Tabanus lineolaandT. nigrovittatus) which emerge during July and Aug. Yearly fluctuations in the average counts from a sample of 33 box traps visited weekly, generally correlated with average counts from unpainted, adhesive-smeared, square, masonite traps located at 6 sites in the experimental and 2 sites in the control marshes. These data and annual counts from ca. 40 additional box traps indicated that trap catches were related to annual variations in greenhead populations, marsh size, random movement of flies, and weather conditions rather than to the box trap colors. Over the 10- yr. period, a noticeable and measurable decrease in the nuisance level of the flies occurred around the perimeters of all marshes containing box traps. Samples ofTabanustaken from the traps were identified as 95.9%T. nigrovittatus)females, 3.6%T. lineolafemales, 0.4%T. lineolamales, and small numbers ofT. atratusfemales,T. nigrovittatusmales, and other T. spp. None of the trapped femaleTabanuswhich were killed and examined internally contained blood in the digestive tract, and almost 100% were parous. A list of other insects found in the box traps is given.

Bariola, L. A.; Henneberry, T. J.

doi: 10.1093/ee/9.4.376pmid: N/A

AbstractThe pink bollworm,Pectinophora gossypiella(Saunders) overwinters as a diapausing larva in a hibernaculum in cotton seeds, bolls, ground trash, or in the soil. In tests conducted in Arizona and southern California during 1973–78, the 1st diapause larvae was found as early as Aug. 23, and as late as Sept. 10. When diapause larvae were found in late Aug. the incidence of diapause remained low (<15%)until mid-Sept; after mid-Sept, the incidence of diapause rose rapidly to 50% or more by Oct. 1 and to 80% or more by mid-Oct. When temperatures averaged 29°C (85°F) or less during early Sept., the incidence of diapause began earlier than when the temperatures were higher. However, if average temperatures remained > 29°C during mid to late Sept., the incidence of diapause was low and increased when temperatures decreased and photoperiod shortened.Early irrigation termination, chemical termination treatments and varieties did not significantly affect the initiation-or the incidence of diapause.

Barfield, C. S.; Smith, J. W.; Carlysle, C.; Mitchell, E. R.

doi: 10.1093/ee/9.4.381pmid: N/A

AbstractLeaf weight and leaf area of peanuts,Arachis hypogaeaL. cv. ‘Florunner,’ consumed by three size classes of the fall armyworm,Spodopterda frugiperda(J. E. Smith), were determined under controlled conditions. Measurements were taken for peanut chronological ages of 45–70 (class 1), 67–92 (class2), and 92–120 (class3) days post-planting, respectively. Results indicated feeding rates for large larvae increased from 0.18 to 0.35g/larva/day as plant foliage progressed from class 1 to class 2. Oviposition increased from a mean of 486.5 to 1111.5 eggs/moth as larvae were fed class 2 foliage versus foliage in class 1. Mean adult female longevity 13.3 days) for adults whose larvae fed on class 3 foliage was significantly greater than longevities of moths from foliage classes 1 or 2.

Leppla, N. C.; Guy, R. H.

doi: 10.1093/ee/9.4.385pmid: N/A

AbstractLaboratory-adapted larvae of the cabbage looper,Trichoplusia ni(Hübner), established and dispersed less readily than the wild-type on collards,Brassica oleraceaL.AcephalaGroup, in field cages. However, nearly 3 times as many laboratory as wild-type larvae survived to pupation.

Lindquist, R. K.; Wolgamott, M. L.

doi: 10.1093/ee/9.4.389pmid: N/A

AbstractToxicity of acephate to bothPhytoseiulus persimilisAthias-Henriot, a mite predator, andTetranychus urticaeKoch, was measured in a series of experiments. Acephate was more toxic toP. persimilisthanT. urticae, regardless of application method, and significant toxicity occurred via food-chain effects. Acephate applications as soil drenches of 75, 150, and 300 ppm were more toxic by this route than foliar sprays, in some cases killing nearly allP. persimilisfeeding onT. urticae21 days after application. Acephate's usefulness in an IPM program involvingP. persimiliswill be limited by this toxicity, especially if applied to the soil.

Combs, Robert L.; Valerio, Jose R.

doi: 10.1093/ee/9.4.393pmid: N/A

AbstractFall armyworm,Spodoprera frugiperda(Smith) larvae were reared in the laboratory on foliage on 4 varieties of bermudagrass, (“Alicia”, “Callie”, “Coastal”, and common), at 3 constant temperatures (20°, 25° and 30°C). Studies were designed to measure the effect of these 4 bermudagrass varieties and temperature on the biology of the insect. Differences in length of larval period, pupal weight, and length of pupal period, between grasses, were temperature and sometimes sex dependent. No significant differences were observed between grasses for egg production; however, significant differences were observed between temperatures. Larvae and pupae developed most rapidly at 30°C. Egg production was maximal at 25°C.

Lashomb, J.; Steinhauer, A. L.; Dively, G.

doi: 10.1093/ee/9.4.397pmid: N/A

AbstractColonizing, intermediate, and older aged parasite communities remained similar in differing aged stands. Percent parasitism roughly corresponded to population reduction in the following generation of tip moth.Lixophaga mediocris,Campoplex frustranaeandEurytoma piniwere the dominant parasites. Trees ca. 2 m or with 4 distinct whorls have a lower rate of attack by tip moth. Mechanism for the lower attack rate are suggested.

Shadduck, John A.; Singer, Samuel; Lause, Sally

doi: 10.1093/ee/9.4.403pmid: N/A

AbstractBacillus sphaericusstrains SSII-1, 1404-9, and 1593-4 were tested for mammalian pathogenicity and infectivity. Mice, rats, and rabbits were injected by various routes including intracerebral, intraocular, subcutaneous and intraperitoneal in order to maximize the opportunity for the bacteria to behave as mammalian pathogens. High doses of viable or autoclaved bacteria injected intracerebrally, intraocularly or subcutaneously produced mild lesions near the injection sites. No animals died and there were no disseminated lesions. Bacteria could be recovered 2 wk after intracerebral injection but quantitative recovery studies showed a precipitous decline in recoverable organisms by 5 days after injection. About 10 organisms/lOOmg of brain persisted for another 8–10 days after which the brains were sterile. The data show that allB. sphaericusstrains tested were avirulent for the mammals tested. It is concluded that these organisms are highly unlikely to be hazardous for man.

Hill, Ada S.; Roelofs, Wendell L.

doi: 10.1093/ee/9.4.408pmid: N/A

AbstractThe compound (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-yl acetate has been found in abdominal tip extracts and in effluvium from females of the common armyworm moth,Pseudaletia unipuncta(Haworth). This compound attracted maleP. unipunctamoths into traps when red rubber septa impregnated with 100–300μg of the acetate were used as lures. Observations of flight behavior in a wind tunnel revealed the optimum dose of the synthetic acetate on filter paper to be between 50–100 ng, with higher and lower loadings resulting in shorter average flight times toward the baits. Duration of flightwith 50 ng of the synthetic acetate was comparable to that observed with a similar amount of the natural acetate. None of the (E)-11-isomer was detected among the female-produced materials, nor were any other 16-carbon acetate positional isomers detected.