Distribution of the Tropical Rat Flea (Xenopsylla Cheopis) in the Interior of the United States

The addition of Xenopsylla cheopsis, proved vector of plague and endemic or murine typhus, to the known fauna of Iowa was made by Roudabush and Becker (1) in 1934. It was believed at the time to be the first collection of that flea in the interior of the United States, but there existed several previous records which, strangely enough, had been generally overlooked, principally because the reporters had not pointed out the implications of their findings, and because of their inclusion in official reports rather than in widely circulated journals. As was claimed by Roudabush (2) and as several new records presently to be introduced indicate, the flea is well-established in interior localities. Furthermore, the records prove that the flea had penetrated far inland as early as 1908 and 1910, and recent collections over a widespread area suggest that it will persist here indefinitely

Spartan Daily, November 7, 1983

Volume 81, Issue 49https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/7098/thumbnail.jp

Biology of "Chrysomelidae" "(Coleoptera)"

Es fa una revisió general fins l'any 1976 dels aspectes més importants relatius a la biologia del coleòpters Crisomèlids. En primer lloc es posa un èmfasi especial en l'estudi dels hàbits alimentaris dels Crisomèlids considerant la seva selecció tròfica, la fisiologia de la selecció de l'aliment i la importància econòmica. La majoria de les espècies tenen unes preferències alimentaries bastant estrictes, encara que hi ha molts casos d'al•lotrofisme. Els factors responsables d'aquests hàbits semblen ésser principalment olfactius i gustatius. S'han citat un gran nombre d'espècies com a perjudicials per a bastants cultius. Per a les diferents subfamílies de Crisomèlids es considera la seva distribució geogràfica, s'examina particularment la d'alguns gèneres com Megamerus, Timarcha, Chrysolina i Gastrophysa, i es descriu la colonització de certes espècies introduïdes com Leptinotarsa decemlineata a Europa i Oulema melanopus als Estats Units. L'heterogeneïtat cromosòmica dels Crisomèlids és molt marcada ja que presenten els nombres més extrems trobats fins ara en els Coleòpteres, i també una ampla variació en els sistemes de la determinació del sexe. Cada subfamília sembla mostrar un valor cromosòmic modal característic, però és actualment impossible de reconèixer només un cariotip primitiu a l'origen dels Crisomèlids. L'evolució cromosòmica és relativament estudiada tan sols als Chrysomelinae, Galerucinae i Alticinae, dels quals s'han analitzat més de cent espècies de cada grup. En els diversos estadis del seu cicle, el Crisomèlids utilitzen diferents sistemes de defensa davant els enemics reals o potencials. Algunes larves usen sistemes mecànics com estoigs o excrecències; diverses espècies, tant en fase de larva com d'adult, tenen glàndules repugnatòries, altres utilitzen l'autohemorràgia d'una hemolimfa tòxica, com els adults de Timarcha, o la immobilització reflexa, com passa a un gran nombre d'espècies. Molts crisomèlids quan es troben en perill escapen per mitjà del vol (Donaciinae, Clytrinae, Galerucinae i Alticinae), o bé saltant (Alticinae), mentre d'altres són protegits per homocromia (Cassidinae), el mimetisme respecte a certs escarabats depredadors (Disonycha, Altica i Mesoplatys), o el color aposemàtic (Timarcha). El dimorfisme sexual dels Crisomèlids no és aparent excepte en alguns Clytrinae, que tenen mascles amb potes anteriors molt llargues. Els ous, els dipositen quasi sempre sobre o sota les fulles i el seu nombre varia segons l'espècie des de 10-15 fins a 500; també es coneixen alguns casos de viviparisme o ovoviviparisme, particularment entre les espècies que viuen a climes freds. Quasi totes les espècies són bisexuals, els exemples de partenogènesi són restringits a uns pocs gèneres (Calligrapha i Adoxus, per exemple). Els ous o els adults poden sofrir una diapausa depenent de la temperatura baixa, la longitud del fotoperíode i factors interns. Les larves dels Crisomèlids es poden classificar segons els seus hàbits vitals en: aquàtiques, portadores d'estoigs, portadores d'excretes, d'alimentació externa, menjadores d'arrels, menjadores de tiges i minadores de fulles. La nimfosi té lloc a terra, dins del sòl, o sobre la mateixa planta. Es coneix una llista nombrosa d'espècies simbionts, paràsites, parasitoides o depredadores sobre crisomèlids, i algunes d'elles poden tenir interès pel control biològic de les plagues. Alguns crisomèlids han desenvolupat adaptacions curioses, com per exemple viure a la vora o dins dels nius de formigues o termites (Clytrinae i alguns Cryptocephalinae i Eumolpinae). Altres espècies tenen larves aquàtiques (Donacia) o fins i tot adults (Haemonia i Donaciasta). L'aptèria com a adaptació a la vida muntanyenca és també bastant freqüent, mentre que les adaptacions a la vida desèrtica o subdesèrtica són rares, i els crisomèlids cavernícoles falten quasi completament

CURRENT STATUS OF PLAGUE AND PLAGUE CONTROL IN THE UNITED STATES

During the first quarter of the 20th century massive rat-borne plague epidemics occurred in port cities of the United States in conjunction with the last world-wide pandemic which originated in China in 1893. By 1950, plague was found to be firmly established in wild rodent populations in states west of the 100th meridian. Presumably because of improved sanitation coupled with retreat of the world-wide pandemic there have been no human cases in this country associated with urban rats since 1924. However, sporadic cases, fewer than 10 per year, are reported as due to contact with wild rodents, lagomorphs, rural rats, and/or their fleas. Recent observations suggest that: a) in the current decade there has been an increase in human plague cases; b) there continues to be a serious potential of a single undiagnosed and untreated case, which possibility is intensified by the very paucity of human cases decreasing the likelihood of a correct diagnosis and by changing patterns of life exhibited by members of our society (e.g., hippie communes and a generally increased mobility); and c) the apparent distribution of plague only in the area west of the 100th meridian might be found to represent an unrealistic generalization if adequate surveillance were carried out. At the present time human plague cases from wild animal sources tend to be isolated events both spatially and temporally and often cannot be attributed to confined and definable epizootic sources amenable to effective control programs. Improved means for epizootic control and long term management of enzootic plague sources must be sought aggressively. These measures should include development of: a) a surveillance network to detect plague activity in rodent and lagomorph populations throughout the western United States; b) effective, yet ecologically sound, means of ectoparasite control, including suitable materials and methods of application; c) methods for management of plague-susceptible wild animal populations, particularly where they exist in contact with high use recreation and residential areas; and d) more extensive knowledge of enzootic plague and the factors that bring about epizootic plague and potential human contact

The Influence of Sylvatic Plague on North American Wildlife at the Landscape Level, with Special Emphasis on Black-footed Ferret and Prairie Dog Conservation

Prairie-dogs are distributed over a large part of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions. Their colonies often number thousands of individuals, and their destruction of grasses and other forage plants makes them of considerable economic importance. Drastic measures are frequently necessary to prevent the destruction of crops of grain and hay. The Biological Survey is exterminating these rodents in national forests and in the public domain. The information in this report, in regards to the several species and their distribution, as indicated by maps, will aid materially in efforts, national or state, to control or exterminate them, said Henry W. Henshaw in 1915 (Hollister 1916)

Evangelical Friend, April/May 1976 (Vol. 9, No. 8/9)

John PerkinsBicentennial in the other America. Page 2 David HickmanLegalism and liberty in the Christian\u27s life. Page 6 Anna NixonTogether - They did it! Page 8 Jack L. WillcutsEditorials. Page 11 Richard J. FosterThe Lamb\u27s army in a strange land. Page 29 Ron AllenThe Dallas conference. Page 30 Regular FeaturesThe Face of the World 12Over the Teacup 13Friends Write 13What\u27s New 14Books 14First Day News 15Pastor\u27s Corner 19Once upon a Time 20Superintendents\u27 Page 21Friends Concerns 23Friends Gather 27 Friends Record 28https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/nwym_evangelical_friend/1096/thumbnail.jp

Understanding the insect immune responses to Yersinia pestis using Drosophila melanogaster

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, continues to be transmitted in many different continents, most often by fleas. Despite knowing for a century that Y. pestis can form a biofilm on the flea's proventriculus while its closest relatives do not, it is still poorly understood what transmission factors permit this colonization. A growing collection of work is beginning to identify components of the flea's immune response to Y. pestis infection and the ways in which Y. pestis evades this response. It has also previously been established that lipooligosaccharide (LOS) mutants are unable to form a blockage in the flea midgut. The LOS mutants colonize the flea, but not at the proventriculus where wild-type Y. pestis grows, perhaps due to a heightened sensitivity to the flea immune response. Here it is shown that LOS is required for early survival in the flea. New models are described using Drosophila melanogaster to get a more precise look at the interaction between Y. pestis and insect immune cells. A novel cytotoxic effect of Y. pestis on insect immune cells is highlighted. Finally, autophagy is shown to be an important aspect of the insect immune response to Y. pestis infection.Includes bibliographical references

Amerikanische entomologische Dissertationen, 1962 - 1965.

Es wird eine Liste amerikanischer entomologischer Dissertationen der Jahre 1962-1965 vorgelegt. Die Arbeiten wurden in den "Dissertation Abstracts" (University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor) referiert.As second part there are recorded entomological dissertations accepted by universities of the U.S.A. between 1962 and 1965. The titles were taken from the "Dissertation Abstracts" (University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor)