Zoology and entomology.

Chair: Elgenaid Hamadain, Jackson State University 

Vice-chair: Julius Ikenga, Mississippi Valley State University 

THURSDAY AFTERNOON

Meeting Room 7

1:00 FIRE ANT (SOLENOPSIS INVICTA) IMPACT ON DRAGONFLY EMERGENCE

Ryan E. Beatty* and Marty Harvill, Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, MS 39701

The impact of fire ants on terrestrial organisms such as birds, lizards, and other insects is well documented. However, there is little documentation of fire ant impact on aquatic and semi aquatic insects. In this study, six aluminum mesh containers (90 cm X 45 cm X 2.5 cm) were half submerged in a pond approximately 1 meter from the shoreline. Two containers were each connected to the shore with a piece of wood (2.5 cm X 2.5 cm X 150 cm). The second pair of containers, were also connected to shore with a piece of wood of equal size. Sucrose solution was applied to the wood and the container to serve as an attractant. The last two containers were not connected to the shore and served as controls. Thirty dragonfly larvae of various species were placed in each of the six containers. The study revealed that emerging dragonfly larvae in containers connected to the shore without an attractant had 50% mortality, containers connected to the shore with an attractant had 80% mortality, and the control containers had only 2% mortality. Further research is needed to measure the impact of fire ants on other aquatic organisms.

1:20 EVALUATION OF ENTOPATHOGENIC FUNGUS, BEAUVARIA BASSIANA, AS A POSSIBLE BIOCONTROL AGENT OF TARNISH PLANT BUG, LYGUS LINEOLARIS

Ruby L. Mason (1*), Gerald Gipson (2), and Julius O. Ikenga (1), (1) Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, MS 38941 and (2) United States Department of Agriculture, Stoneville, MS 38776

Lygus lineolaris is a serious pest of cotton and other commercial crops. Declining crop yields, profits, and increasing resistance to pesticides necessitate exploring other pest control methods. This study evaluated the horizontal transmission of Beauvaria bassiana, to L. lineolaris and the relative pathogenicity of two isolates (GHA and NI-1) of B. bassiana to L. lineolaris. Adults of L. lineolaris were exposed for one day, in groups of five, in capped, and cheesecloth-ventilated plastic cups containing either GHA or NI-1 and a sponge wetted with 10% honey water. Fungal isolates were introduced in the test cups using sporulated L. lineolaris cadavers. The control cups had no sporulated cadavers. Following the 24 hr. exposure to sporulated cadavers, all L. lineolaris were individually transferred, one per plastic cup described above. The LT 50 was 3.5 days for NI-1 and about 5 days for GHA. At day 10 post-exposure, mortality of L. lineolaris was 100% for NI-1, 95% for GHA, and 22% for the control. Bioassays of dead L. lineolaris revealed the presence of B. bassiana spores and varying degrees of sporulation. The NI-1 isolate was significantly more virulent than the GHA (t= 2.2622, cv= 1.8331, df= 9). Further studies with other isolates of B. bassiana are recommended to determine the quickest and most virulent strain before undertaking a field application.

1:40 THE EFFECTS OF BODY MASS INDEX AND GENDER ON HORMONAL RESPONSES TO A SATIATING MEAL

Curtistine J. Deere (1*), Joan F. Carroll (2), Susan Franks (2), Julius O. Ikenga (1), Kathryn Kaiser (2), and James L. Caffrey (2), (1) Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, MS 38941 and (2) University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107

This pilot study was designed to elucidate the effects of body mass index (BMI) and gender on hormonal responses to a satiating meal. Two groups of female humans (obese and normal weight, NW) with known BMI and two groups of male humans (obese and NW) with known BMI were used in this study. Body mass of subjects and percent body fat were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Fasting blood samples were collected and analyzed for plasma glucose, insulin, leptin, and ghrelin. Additional blood samples were also collected every 10 min for an hour following a satiating meal on a Slim fast[TM]. Plasma analysis was done using radioimmunoassay. Hormone and demographics data were respectively analyzed with a repeat measure ANOVA and a 2X2 ANOVA. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Obese subjects showed a higher plasma leptin compared to NW subjects. Both gender (p= 0.05) and BMI (p= 0.05) had some influence on plasma leptin. A time X BMI effects on glucose (p= 0.015) and insulin (p= 0.01) were observed. No BMI or gender effects on ghrelin were observed. Overall, BMI rather than gender significantly influenced hormonal responses to a meal. Additional studies with young adults rather than middle-aged are recommended, as well as evaluating the effects of BMI and gender on gastrin, secretin, and cholecystokinin.

2:00 COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE WATER QUALITY OF CHINA AND MISSISSIPPI, USA

Alex D. W. Acholonu, Michael Harris*, Tiffari Jenkins, Anthony Jones, and Ebony Jones, Alcorn State University, Alcorn State, MS 39096

Water is used for many purposes hence, its quality deteriorates, causing serious concern in many nations including China and the USA. Water samples were collected from different locations in China, June 2005. They were tested with LaMotte water pollution detection kits. For China tap water samples, the parameters tested and the average readings were: alkalinity, 0.007ppm; ammonia-nitrogen, 0ppm; carbon dioxide, 13.7ppm; chlorides, 49ppm; chlorine, 0ppm; copper, 0ppm; dissolved oxygen, 201.3ppm; fluoride, 0ppm, hardness, 156ppm; and iron, 0ppm. For river water samples, the average readings were: alkalinity, 0ppm; ammonia-nitrogen, 2.25ppm; carbon dioxide, 24.9ppm; chlorides, 45ppm; chlorine, 0ppm; copper, 0ppm; dissolved oxygen, 156ppm; fluoride, -0.15ppm, hardness, 60ppm; and iron, 0.485ppm. For Mississippi tap water, the average readings were: alkalinity, 0ppm; ammonia-nitrogen, 0.5ppm; carbon dioxide, 21.5ppm; chlorides, 9ppm; chlorine, 0ppm; copper, 0ppm; dissolved oxygen, 150ppm; fluoride, 0ppm, hardness, 201.6ppm; and iron, 0.125ppm. For Mississippi River samples, the average readings were: alkalinity, 0ppm; ammonia-nitrogen, 0ppm; carbon dioxide, 5.5ppm; chlorides, 60ppm; chlorine, 0ppm; copper, 0ppm; dissolved oxygen, 135ppm; fluoride, 0ppm, hardness, 192ppm; and iron, 0.375ppm. Tap waters from China and from Alcorn State University in southwestern Mississippi satisfied the water quality standard with the exception of ammonia-nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, and hardness. Similarly, the river waters from China and the Mississippi River met the water quality standard for lotic bodies of water with the exception of ammonia-nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, and hardness, which exceeded the standard.

2:20 ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF OUTBREAK OF LOVEBUGS, PLECIA NEARCTICA IN MISSISSIPPI: DID KATRINA AND RITA HAVE A ROLE

Elgenaid Hamadain* and R. Suseela Reddy, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217

Plecia nearctica, the lovebug that motorists frequently encounter as a serious nuisance when traveling in southern states was first discovered by Hardy (1940) from Galveston, Texas. It was first described by Hardy (1940) from Galveston, Texas. These lovable little dipterans spend 5-7 months of their lives as larvae in the leaf litter. The adults emerge synchronously twice a year (April-May and September-October) and can form large swarms that cloud the air. They are invaders from Central America and have been working their way northward along the coast. They spread around the Gulf of Mexico through Texas and Louisiana to invade Florida and Mississippi. They are very widely distributed and they have been found in Costa Rico, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the southeastern U.S.A. in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas. This year, lovebugs have been reported unusually in high numbers. Jackson, MS, appears to have been particularly hard hit. It may be that love bug numbers are higher than usual because of a wetter than average summer in many places. This year Hurricane Katrina and Rita dropped a large amount of rain across a vast area in the south which may have created a good environment for them and may have triggered a more synchronous than usual adult emergence. The insects are attracted to carbon dioxide and methane, thus car exhaust attracts them. They spread in large numbers and form swarms that can blur vision for drivers when they hit windshields. This presentation analyzes and discusses several environmental factors that may have contributed to the outbreak of lovebugs that took place in Mississippi, particularly in Jackson during October and November 2005.

2:40 Divisional Business Meeting

3:00 Divisional Poster Session--Exhibit Hall B

CARPENTER ANTS (FORMICIDAE: CAMPONOTUS) OF MISSISSIPPI

Joe A. MacGown, Richard L. Brown, and JoVonn Hill*, Mississippi State University, University, Mississippi State, MS 39762

Ants in the genus Camponotus are collectively known as carpenter ants because some species nest in wood and can be serious economic pests. Despite their large size and abundance, carpenter ants are difficult to identify, and their distributions in Mississippi have not been clearly delimited. The objectives of this study were to determine which species occur in the state, determine distributional patterns, and provide identification keys. From 2001 through 2005, the Mississippi Entomological Museum (MEM) conducted surveys of ants in Mississippi to provide baseline data on native species. Ants were collected by a variety of trapping and collecting methods, identified, and stored in the MEM. As a result of these surveys, 15 species of Camponotus in 5 subgenera are now known to occur in the state including Camponotus americanus (Mayr), C. caryae (Fitch), C. castaneus (Latreille), C. chromaiodes (Bolton), C. decipiens (Emery), C. discolor (Buckley), C. floridanus (Buckley), C. impressus (Roger), C. mississippiensis (Smith), C. nearcticus (Emery), C. obliquus (Smith), C. pennsylvanicus (DeGeer), C. snellingi (Bolton), C. socius (Roger), and C. subbarbatus (Emery, new state record). A list of Mississippi Camponotus species is being prepared with brief descriptions, information on biological and economic importance, distributional maps, identification keys, habitus photos, and diagnostic drawings. Additional information is available on the MEM Formicidae of Alabama and Mississippi website at: http://www.msstate.edu/org/mississippientmuseum/Researchtaxapages/Formicidaehome.html

A REVIEW OF SYMMOCINAE (LEPIDOPTERA: AUTOSTICHIDAE) IN NORTH AMERICA WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES AND NEW GENUS

Sangmi Lee* and Richard L. Brown, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762

The moth subfamily Symmocinae (Gelechioidea: Autostichidae) includes 170 species in 42 genera, with greatest diversity in xeric areas of the Palearctic Region. Three species have been reported from North America: Sceptea aequepulvella, Oegoconia quadripuncta, and Symmoca signatella. A new genus and new species of Symmocinae are reported from Alabama, Kansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Fifty-one specimens (47 males, 4 females) have been collected in prairies, cedar glades, old fields, and a variety of dry forests. The new genus is defined by apomorphies of 1) metatibia with group of spines on dorsal basal surface, 2) metatibia with scales clustered in groups, 3) male antenna with truncate scales, and 4) male valva lacking saccular or costal projections, 5) metascutum transverse with width greater than length. The imago, wing venation, male and female genitalia and distribution of the new genus and new species are figured.

REDISCOVERY OF A LOST SPECIES, ARGYRIA RUFISIGNELLA (LEPIDOPTERA: CRAMBIDAE), IN BIBB COUNTY GLADES PRESERVE, ALABAMA

Edda Martinez* and Richard L. Brown, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762

Argyria Hubner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) includes six species of moths in southeastern United States, however A. rufisignella (Zeller) is known from only four specimens collected in Texas and North Carolina more than 80 years ago. A series of specimens of A. rufisignella was recently collected at Bibb County Glades Preserve, Alabama, which has been termed a "Botanical Lost World" because of its unique flora. The first photograph of the adult and first description and illustrations of male and female genitalia of A. rufisignella are provided. An identification key is given for species of Argyria and the superficially similar Urola nivalis (Drury).