Aggregation Behavior of a Willow Flea Beetle, \u3ci\u3eAltica Subplicata\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

This study examined the aggregation behavior of a specialist insect herbivore, Altica subplicata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), on its host plant, Salix cordata. Mark-recapture experiments were conducted in patches of S. cordata growing along the shores of Lake Huron. Beetles aggregated on individual host plants, but did not aggregate in larger areas containing many host plants. Plants colonized by marked beetles had significantly higher abundances of unmarked beetles than did plants that were not colonized by marked beetles. Experimental manipulations of the number of beetles present on plants showed that colonization rates by marked beetles were higher on plants with conspecifics than on plants which had all beetles removed the previous day. The sex of beetles, however, did not influence colonization behavior; both male and female beetles colonized plants regardless of the sex of beetles already present on plants. These results are discussed with respect to possible explanations for aggregation, and the role of aggregation and movement in influencing insect distributions

Notes on \u3ci\u3eChrysomelobia Labidomerae\u3c/i\u3e (Acari: Heterostigmata: Podapolipidae), Parasites of \u3ci\u3eLabidomera Clivicollis\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Michigan and Wisconsin

Chrysomelobia labidomerae Eickwort, ectoparasitic mite of chrysomelid beetles, is reported from 11 Wisconsin counties, from 16 of 82 adult Labidomera clivicollis (Kirby) beetles wild-caught in Wisconsin, and from 27 of 141 presumably wild-caught L. clivicollis beetles from 13 Michigan counties. Wisconsin beetles harboring C. labidomerae were found in dry to wet-mesic, open habitats. A distribution map and comments are presented

Movement, Dispersion, and Orientation of a Population of the Colorado Potato Beetle, \u3ci\u3eLeptinotarsa Decemlineata\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), in Eggplant

Short-term dispersal, dispersion, and orientation of a population of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. were examined in a uniformly spaced planting of eggplant using a mark-recapture technique. Recaptures of marked beetles declined throughout the study, the greatest decline occurring 24 h after release. Dispersal of remaining beetles through the field was gradual; beetle numbers declined with distance from the release point during the first 3 days of the study and increased with distance thereafter. Beetles were highly aggregated for 3-4 days after release but were well dispersed for the remainder of the study. Dispersal of aggregated beetles may have been stimulated by host plant defoliation. Orientation of dispersing beetles was significantly nonrandom for the majority of the study. Beetles oriented predominantly east-northeast

Marking Adult Colorado Potato Beetles, \u3ci\u3eLeptinotarsa Decemlineata\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Using Paper Labels

The smooth elytra of adult Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, make this insect difficult to make efficiently for long-term field studies. Enamel paint marks fell off rapidly, and after 28 days, 25010 of marked beetles had lost all four original marks. Use of small paper labels glued to the elytra after an acetone wash and sanding pretreatment was the most effective method for long term marking of individual beetles. Mortality in labeled laboratory-reared and field-collected beetles did not increase when compared to unmarked beetles

Beetles of Eastern North America. Arthur V. Evans. 2014. Princeton &University Press, 560 pp., 8x10 paperback. ISBN:9780691133041. Price: 35.00.

(excerpt) My early interests in entomology were augmented with How to Know the Beetles by H.E. Jacques (1951), and the Peterson Guide - A Field Guide to the Beetles of North America by Richard E. White (1983). In addition, Dillon and Dillon’s (1972) A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America was extremely helpful to a beginning collector trying to identify his catches

Effects of Visual Silhouette, Leaf Size and Host Species on Feeding Preference by Adult Emerald Ash Borer, \u3ci\u3eAgrilus Planipennis\u3c/i\u3e Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

The emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is an invasive species recently established in North America. In large arena bioassays, when given a choice among live green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh and artificial ash saplings that were hidden or exposed from view, beetles preferred live trees (either visible or hidden) compared to artificial trees that had similar visual silhouettes, confirming that olfactory cues are used to locate hosts. Examination of the effect of leaf size revealed that large leaves attracted more beetles than medium-sized leaves that in turn attracted more beetles than small leaves of the same age. Beetles also consumed more of the large leaves in terms of total leaf area than either medium or small leaves, but the proportion of foliage that beetles consumed relative to total available leaf area, did not differ. When newly emerged adults were fed on green and Manchurian ash, Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr., foliage in a no- choice assay, beetles that were given green ash consumed significantly more foliage compared to those that fed on Manchurian ash, but neither longevity nor beetle body weight differed. Our results suggest that while beetles might use olfactory cues to identify suitable hosts, visual cues also play a role in landing and feeding behavior. Manchurian ash might have greater nutritive value or resistance than green ash, necessitating lower consumption and therefore less damage in nature

Genetics and Light Affect Grouping Behavior in Red Flour Beetles

Although others may see beetles as pests, entomologists would say otherwise. These critters vary in sizes and can be found almost anywhere! Interaction amongst humans and animals within an environment can be pretty similar whether it is environmentally influenced or through genetic material. We often question if habits are done because of genes or because of what is going on around us. Although beetles do not seem interesting, they actually have their own way of socializing. Beetles do not really have the best vison, however they can socialize/communicate using pheromones. Chemical messages are chemicals integrated with behavior (Birch, 1976). Using red flour beetles from Mantitoba, Canada (NDG) and Hudson, Kansas (Hudson) we can see how these beetles from two different areas interact amongst each other. Will there be a distinct isolation due to there strains and if so does this affect how they are within the same strain

Ground beetles and rove beetles be associated with temporary ponds in England

To date, research on the ecology and conservation of wetland invertebrates has concentrated overwhelmingly on fully aquatic organisms. Many of these spend part of their life-cycle in adjacent terrestrial habitats, either as pupae (water beetles) or as adults (mayflies, dragonflies, stoneflies, caddisflies and Diptera or true-flies). However, wetland specialist species also occur among several families of terrestrial insects (Williams & Feltmate 1992) that complete their whole life-cycle in the riparian zone or on emergent vegetation. There are 441 terrestrial invertebrate species which characteristically occur in riparian habitats along British rivers. Most of these species belong to two families of predatory beetles: the ground beetles (Carabidae) and the rove beetles (Staphylinidae). This paper describes the diversity of ground and rove beetles around ponds, summarises life-histories, hibernation strategies, and morphological and behavioural adaptions

Red Flour Beetle Response to Traps with Prior Captures

The red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) is a major pest of food facilities such as flour mills and is often monitored using pitfall type traps with a food oil and pheromone attractant. Previous research had indicated that prior captures of beetles could increase beetle behavior captures in a trap. Here we used a more realistic bioassay to evaluate how the number of beetles previously captured include beetle captures in traps. Results showed no significant impact of prior captures on the number of red flour beetles captured in a trap. There were some trends suggested in the results that warrant further study to investigate, perhaps by focusing on individual beetle behavior at traps rather then using groups of beetles

Root Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Ground Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Immigration into Strawberry Plots Protected by Fence or Portable Trench Barriers

Physical exclusion shows some potential as a novel root weevil control strategy, but barriers to root weevil immigration may also exclude beneficial insects, such as ground beetles. A field study was undertaken in 1997 to assess the impact of two physical barriers—portable plastic trenches and aluminum fences with Teflon tape—on root weevil and ground beetle immigration into plots of strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa (Duchesne). Barypeithes pellucidus (Boheman) and Nemocestes incomptus (Horn), each comprised 43% of the root weevils caught at the site. Most (86%) of the ground beetles caught in control plots were longer than 1 cm, the width of the gap in the portable trench top. Trenches excluded 75 and 63% of B. pellucidus and N. incomptus, respectively, without significantly reducing immigration of large (<1 cm) ground beetles. Fences excluded 65, 84, and 99% of B. pellucidus, N. incomptus, and large ground beetles, respectively. Adding diatomaceous earth to trenches did not increase their efficacy, and fences without Teflon tape excluded ground beetles but not root weevils. The reduction in the population of root weevils and other strawberry pests caused by the use of barriers reduced damage to strawberry plant leaves and increased strawberry plant survival relative to unprotected control plots. Advantages and disadvantages of these physical control tools are discussed with a view to creating superior tools for root weevil exclusion, compatible with an integrated pest management approach. Portable trenches may offer a means of selectively excluding root weevils but not ground beetles