Scholarship & Research
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Item Evaluation of the effectiveness of entomopathogens for the management of wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) on spring wheat(2014-07) Reddy, Gadi V. P.; Tangtrakulwanich, Khanobporn; Wu, Shaohui; Miller, John H.; Ophus, Victoria L.; Prewett, Julie; Jaronski, Stefan T.Wireworms, the larval stage of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), are serious soil dwelling pests of small grains, corn, sugar beets, and potatoes. Limonius californicus and Hypnoidus bicolor are the predominant wireworm species infesting wheat in Montana, particularly in the ‘Golden Triangle’ area of north-central Montana. Wireworm populations in field crops are increasing, but currently available insecticides provide only partial control, and no alternative management tools exist. In our study, three entomopathogenic fungi were tested for their efficacy against wireworms in spring wheat at two field locations (Ledger and Conrad, Montana, USA) in 2013. The three fungi (Metarhizium brunneum F52, Beauveria bassiana GHA, and Metarhizium robertsii DWR 346) were evaluated as seed-coat, in-furrow granular, and soil band-over-row drench applications in addition to imidacloprid (Gaucho® 600) seed treatment (as a chemical check), the approach currently being used by growers. Wireworm damage in these treatments was evaluated as standing plant counts, wireworm population surveys, and yield. The three fungi, applied as formulated granules or soil drenches, and the imidacloprid seed treatment all resulted in significantly higher plant stand counts and yields at both locations than the fungus-coated seed treatments or the untreated control. Significant differences were detected among the application methods but not among the species of fungi within each application method. All three fungi, when applied as granules in furrow or as soil drenches, were more effective than when used as seed-coating treatments for wireworm control, and provided an efficacy comparable or superior to imidacloprid. The fungi used in this study provided significant plant and yield protection under moderate wireworm pressure, supporting their value in the management of this pest.Item Photoperiod and Temperature Effects on the Adult Eclosion and Mating Rhythms in Pseudopidorus fasciata (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae)(2014-12) Wu, Shaohui; Refinetti, Roberto; Kok, Loke T.; Youngman, Roger R.; Reddy, Gadi V. P.; Xue, Fang-SenDaily distributions of eclosion and mating activities of Pseudopidorus fasciata Walker (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) were recorded under natural and various laboratory conditions. Eclosion of this insect exhibited circadian gating in constant darkness (DD) but not in constant light (LL) at 28°C. Under natural conditions, the majority of adults emerged in midmorning with an eclosion peak around 1000 hours. The eclosion distribution was significantly affected by ambient temperature but not by photoperiod under laboratory conditions. Eclosion was more spread out at 22°C than at higher temperatures, and peak eclosion times were advanced at higher temperatures up to 30°C. Under natural and laboratory diurnal cycles, adults of P. fasciata preferred to mate at dusk, within a few hours before the start of the scotophase. Photoperiod and ambient temperature interacted in regulating the mating distribution in P. fasciata. Mating rhythmicity disappeared under DD and LL, under which the insect either mated arrhythmically (DD) or barely mated (LL). Overall, eclosion rhythm in this insect was predominantly regulated by temperature rather than photoperiod, whereas photoperiod appeared to be more influential than temperature in rhythmic gate of mating patterns.Item Effects of Invasive Plants on Arthropods(2014-12) Litt, Andrea R.; Cord, Erin; Fulbright, Timothy; Schuster, GretaNon-native plants have invaded nearly all ecosystems and represent a major component of global ecological change. Plant invasions frequently change the composition and structure of vegetation communities, which can alter animal communities and ecosystem processes. We reviewed 87 articles published in the peer-reviewed literature to evaluate responses of arthropod communities and functional groups to non-native invasive plants. Total abundance of arthropods decreased in 62% of studies and increased in 15%. Taxonomic richness decreased in 48% of studies and increased in 13%. Herbivorous arthropods decreased in response to plant invasions in 48% of studies and increased in 17%, likely due to direct effects of decreased plant diversity. Predaceous arthropods decreased in response to invasive plants in 44% of studies, which may reflect indirect effects due to reductions in prey. Twenty-two percent of studies documented increases in predators, which may reflect changes in vegetation structure that improved mobility, survival, or web-building for these species. Detritivores increased in 67% of studies, likely in response to increased litter and decaying vegetation; no studies documented decreased abundance in this functional group. Although many researchers have examined effects of plant invasions on arthropods, sizeable information gaps remain, specifically regarding how invasive plants influence habitat and dietary requirements. Beyond this, the ability to predict changes in arthropod populations and communities associated with plant invasions could be improved by adopting a more functional and mechanistic approach. Understanding responses of arthropods to invasive plants will critically inform conservation of virtually all biodiversity and ecological processes because so many organisms depend on arthropods as prey or for their functional roles, including pollination, seed dispersal, and decomposition. Given their short generation times and ability to respond rapidly to ecological change, arthropods may be ideal targets for restoration and conservation activities.Item The grasshopper campaigns of 1917-1924 : entomology at war(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1989) Wojtowicz, RichardItem A quantitative approach for integrating multiple lines of evidence for the evaluation of environmental health risks(2015-01) Schleier, Jerome Joseph III; Marshall, Lucy; Davis, Ryan; Peterson, Robert K. D.Decision analysis often considers multiple lines of evidence during the decision making process. Researchers and government agencies have advocated for quantitative weight-of-evidence approaches in which multiple lines of evidence can be considered when estimating risk. Therefore, we utilized Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo to integrate several human-health risk assessment, biomonitoring, and epidemiology studies that have been conducted for two common insecticides (malathion and permethrin) used for adult mosquito management to generate an overall estimate of risk quotient (RQ). The utility of the Bayesian inference for risk management is that the estimated risk represents a probability distribution from which the probability of exceeding a threshold can be estimated. The mean RQs after all studies were incorporated were 0.4386, with a variance of 0.0163 for malathion and 0.3281 with a variance of 0.0083 for permethrin. After taking into account all of the evidence available on the risks of ULV insecticides, the probability that malathion or permethrin would exceed a level of concern was less than 0.0001. Bayesian estimates can substantially improve decisions by allowing decision makers to estimate the probability that a risk will exceed a level of concern by considering seemingly disparate lines of evidence.Item Creating a model curriculum for a certification program to train people to work in the field of exhibiting living arthropods(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2004) Whitman, Celia Stuart, 1965-; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Martin J. Frick.The purpose of this project was to create a model curriculum for a certification program for the live arthropod exhibit industry. An overview of live arthropod exhibits and the current educational and training programs for the field were examined as well as reasons why a program of this type would be of value to the industry. The data for this project was collected using a web based survey instrument. The population consisted of 52 professionals from the live arthropod exhibitry field. These entomologists, USDA representatives, insect suppliers and educators were all members of a professional list serve which was a clearinghouse for the live arthropod display industry. The survey instrument consisted of four sections: demographic information about respondents; the respondentsα level of agreement or disagreement regarding areas of training to be included in a proposed certification program; preferences on prerequisites for the program; written comments and input. A demographic profile of the respondents was compiled showing that the majority were experienced in the live arthropod exhibitry field and possessed a variety of educational backgrounds. Overall, respondents supported the proposed certification program and felt it would benefit the live arthropod exhibit industry. Only four respondents were pessimistic about the proposed program. A model curriculum for a certification program for the live arthropod exhibit industry was created from the data gathered by the survey instrument.