Results Search Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Your search for ETD Program Entomology resulted in 16 match(es).

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Effects of shelterwood management on flower-visiting insects and their floral resources: Author: Fultz, Jessica Erin; Date: 2005-08-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Habitat alteration can affect pollinating-insect community structure, decreasing the efficiency of pollinators on which many agricultural and natural ecosystems rely. Within the Tenderfoot Creek Experimental Forest (TCEF), located in the Little Belt Mountains of Central Montana, two different types of silvicultural techniques, even and group shelterwood, were applied to alter the natural habitats within the lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) forests. Following logging, surveys of the flower-visiting insects and their floral resources were conducted within four treatments, even and group shelterwo...; Download File | View full details

Molecular Gut Analysis of Carabids (Coleoptera: carabidae) using Aphid Primers: Author: Wallace, Sarah Kate; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Carabid beetles are found in a variety of Montana crops, although their impact on the food web is poorly known. To detect aphidophagy using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), carabids were fed a single aphid and allowed to digest for increasing time intervals. Aphidspecific PCR primers were used to amplify aphid DNA from carabid beetles. For the laboratory-fed beetles, PCR detection of aphidophagy decreased with longer digestion periods. Further, there were differences among genera in the proportion of fed beetles positive for aphid DNA at the tested digestion intervals. Field surveys of 273...; Download File | View full details

Potential Semiochemicals of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Induced by Oviposition and Feeding of the Wheat Stem Sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae): Author: Peck, Gavin Earl; Date: 2004-12-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), the wheat stem sawfly, is currently the most devastating insect pest of wheat production in Montana. Currently, no effective controls are in place to check its damage and spread throughout wheat fields in the northern Great Plains. Natural biological control of sawflies occurs primarily in the form of larval parasitoids which attack the sawfly larva in the stem; however, these parasitoids are not reliably effective in controlling sawfly populations. Insect damage induces chemical changes in plants, and often these changes are part of a defensive r...; Download File | View full details

Mass rearing of Bracon cephi (Gahan) and B. lissogaster Muesebeck parasitoids of wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton, and temperature-induced mortality in host immatures: Author: Robert, Godshen Robert Pallipparambil; Date: 2006-08-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Bracon cephi (Gahan) and B. lissogaster Muesebeck are host specific larval parasitoids of the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton. A reliable source of these parasitoids is needed for inoculative releases into sawfly infested wheat fields in Montana. Large walk-in field screen cages were used to confine sawflies and parasitoids on wheat. Factors affecting the successful establishment of sawflies in wheat and subsequent attack by parasitoids were tested. Treatments consisted of cage modifications such as windows for enhancing the amount of light, food sources for parasitoids, increased lig...; Download File | View full details

Photosynthetic and Glycoalkaloid Responses of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) Defoliation: Author: Dinkins, Courtney Louise Pariera; Date: 2006-12-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Photosynthetic and glycoalkaloid responses of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) to varying levels of Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) and manual defoliation were measured on 'Cal Red' and 'Russet Burbank' plants. No alteration in photosynthesis was observed on the remaining tissue of an injured leaf for Cal Red and Russet Burbank leaves defoliated by larval Colorado potato beetles nor for Russet Burbank leaves defoliated by adult Colorado potato beetles. No significant differences were observed between actual Colorado potato beetle and manual defoliation for both varieties....; Download File | View full details

Impact of harvest operations on parasitism of the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae): Author: Meers, Scott Byron; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus, has been a long term pest management challenge for wheat producers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, North Dakota and Montana. Many studies have laid the groundwork for biological control of this pest. Two species of parasitoids, Bracon cephi and B. lissogaster, have been shown to effectively attack C. cinctus in wheat Triticum aestivum L. Their effectiveness as part of an integrated pest management plan, however, has been highly variable. A survey was conducted to assess the distribution of the two Bracon parasitoids. A two pronged approach was used to better unders...; Download File | View full details

A review of the ironclad beetles of the world (Coleoptera: Zopheridae: phellopsini and zopherini: Author: Foley, Ian Andrew; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Phellopsis LeConte is revised. Phellopsis porcata (LeConte) is returned to valid status and P. yulongensis NEW SPECIES is described. Phellopsis montana Casey NEW SYNONYMY (NS) and P. robustula Casey NS = P. porcata (LeConte). Phellopsis imurai Masumoto = P. amurensis (Heyden) NS. Species redescriptions, a key to species and notes on the history, biology and biogeography of the group are provided. Phylogenetic analyses support several changes to sustain monophyletic genera of Zopherini because the genera Meralius Casey, Nosoderma Solier, and Phloeodes LeConte were found to be polyphyletic. The ...; Download File | View full details

Effects of volcanic ash on the insect food of the Montserrat Oriole Ictereus oberi Lawrence 1880: Author: Marske, Katharine Ann; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: The Montserrat Oriole, Icterus oberi Lawrence, endemic to the West Indian island of Montserrat, has grown critically endangered since volcanic eruption began on that island in 1995. The Soufriere Hills Volcano has devastated much of the oriole's native habitat, and populations within intact forests have plummeted in recent years. One hypothesized cause for the Montserrat Oriole's decline is that low insect prey numbers during the nesting season, as a result of volcanic ash in the environment, is resulting in increased nest failure. The hypothesis of a negative effect of ash on canopy arthropod...; Download File | View full details

A taxonomic review of the genus Phyllophaga Harris (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae from Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands: Author: Medrano-Cabral, Sardis; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: There is a total of 77 species of the genus Phyllophaga Harris from Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have, 17 of them newly described here (P. admiratia NEW SPECIES, P. caliche NEW SPECIES, P. danieli NEW SPECIES, P. dolabrata NEW SPECIES, P. duartei NEW SPECIES, P. edwardi NEW SPECIES, P. garciai NEW SPECIES, P. ladonnae NEW SPECIES, P. linguspina NEW SPECIES, P. luquillensis NEW SPECIES, P. maricao NEW SPECIES, P. neibana NEW SPECIES, P. platensis NEW SPECIES, P. sarcophaga NEW SPECIES, P. tortolae NEW SPECIES, P. turnbowi NEW SPECIES, P. zemi NEW SPECIES). Two of these were pr...; Download File | View full details

An ecological risk assessment for mosquito insecticides: Author: Davis, Ryan Scott; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: West Nile Virus (WNV) has been a concern for people across the North America since the disease was observed in the summer of 1999. WNV has caused the largest arboviral encephalitis epidemic in U.S. history. In response, vector management programs have been implemented. Concerns have been raised about these programs My ecological risk assessments focused on six common mosquito adulticides used in vector management, including 3 pyrethroids, pyrethrins, 2 organophosphates, a synergist, and 4 larvicides. Both aquatic and terrestrial non-target organisms were considered for acute and chronic exposu...; Download File | View full details

Investigations of the West Nile Virus transmission cycle at Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Montana, 2005-2006: Author: Hale, Kristina Marjorie; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Outbreaks of West Nile virus (WNV) in American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin) at Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Montana prompted mosquito and WNV surveillance during 2005 - 2006 to describe the epidemiological cycle. A total of 102,118 mosquitoes representing 19 species was collected throughout the refuge from 261 trap nights. Ochlerotatus dorsalis (Meigen), a floodwater mosquito, was the most abundant (45.5%), followed by Aedes vexans (Meigen) (25.6%), Culex tarsalis Coquillett (18.8%) and Ochlerotatus flavescens (Muller) (7.3%). Seasonal light trap indices (LTI) f...; Download File | View full details

Mosquito Populations in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming: A Comparison of Natural, Agricultural and Effluent Coal Bed Natural Gas Aquatic Habitats: Author: Doherty, Melissa Kuckler; Date: 2007-12-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Coal bed natural gas development in northeastern Wyoming has increased surface water in ranching and agricultural areas over undeveloped land. This increase of water increases larval habitat for mosquitoes, potentially increasing adult populations of West Nile virus vector mosquitoes. I compared adult and larval mosquito populations in four different habitat types in the Powder River basin including agricultural, natural, CBNG and upland sagebrush steppe. Adult mosquitoes were sampled weekly (2004) or bi-weekly (2005) using CDC miniature black-light traps baited with dry ice. A fixed-effect mi...; Download File | View full details

Pollinators of slender white prairieclover: Author: Pearce, April Marie; Date: 2008-08-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Slender white prairieclover (Dalea candida) is a perennial angiosperm, grown at Bridger plant materials center (BMPC) for reclamation purposes. Interest in the pollinators and pests of this plant developed at BPMC following the death of a 5year old stand. The objectives of these experiments were to (1) determine the diversity and identify the potential pollinators on D. candida and other cultivated and non-cultivated angiosperm species using sweep samples and pan traps; (2) determination of pollen load size and composition of individual insects collected on angiosperm plant species; (3) use of...; Download File | View full details

A revision of the West Indian genus Nesocyrtosoma (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): Author: Hopp, Katie Jo; Date: 2008-12-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Nesocyrtosoma Marcuzzi is revised. There is a total of 45 species of the genus Nesocyrtosoma, 27 of them are newly described here (N. bestiola NEW SPECIES, N. lacrima NEW SPECIES, N. neibaense NEW SPECIES, N. scabrosum NEW SPECIES, N. simplex NEW SPECIES, N. bankense NEW SPECIES, N. curvum NEW SPECIES, N. dentatum NEW SPECIES, N. fernandoi NEW SPECIES, N. garridoi NEW SPECIES, N. guerreroi NEW SPECIES, +N. minisculum NEW SPECIES, N. nearnsi NEW SPECIES, N. productum NEW SPECIES, N. puertoricense NEW SPECIES, N. serratum NEW SPECIES, N. skelleyi NEW SPECIES, N. teresitae NEW SPECIES, N. altagra...; Download File | View full details

Taxonomic studies in the metallic wood-boring beetle family (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Sphenoptera and Chalcophora): Author: Maier, Crystal Anne; Date: 2010-05-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Taxonomic studies of groups of Sphenoptera Dejean and Chalcophora Solier are presented, resolving several long-standing problems. Species of Sphenoptera of interest for potential use as biocontrol agents for the noxious weed Chondrilla juncea are reevaluated taxonomically. Results of field surveys conducted to increase knowledge of the biology of these species are reported, with little indication of these species' potential for biological control. The Sphenoptera of the former U.S.S.R. are divided into 39 species-groups. Each species group is characterized on adult morphology, illustrations we...; Download File | View full details

The effects of succession and disturbance on coleopteran abundance and diversity in the Centennial Sandhills: Author: Winton, Ross Cameron; Date: 2010-08-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Sandhill habitats, and management strategies aimed at maintaining these habitats, were studied for beetles inhabiting the different successional stages in the Centennial Sandhills of southwestern Montana. The effects of the fire treatment on the distribution, abundance, and diversity were studied using pitfall trapping over the course of two field seasons: one before the fire, and one after. Sampling occurred in plots representing three successional stages found in the sandhills, as well as in the unique microhabitat features commonly associated with sandhills and dunes. Specimens were determi...; Download File | View full details

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