Entomology Introduction Entomology The branch of zoology concerned

Entomology Introduction

Entomology? The branch of zoology concerned with the study of insects A branch of Arthropology

Entomology • Largest field of biology • Because of the large variety and number or insects • Over 30, 000 species known to exist • Many more species discovered each day

Entomologist? a zoologist who studies insects

http: //www. cals. ncsu. edu/course/ent 425/co urse/multimedia/lesson 02/Desktop%20 Flas h%20 audio%20 only/index. html

Who needs Entomologists? • Scientists – • entomologists have helped to produce much of our current knowledge on inheritance, physiology, and ecology. • Farmers – • Crops and food products are consumed or spoiled by insects. Entomologists are working to sustain optimal agricultural production throughout the world. The work of veterinary entomologists protects livestock from insect-borne illnesses. • Teachers – • Teachers use entomology in the classroom to teach basic biological principles and concepts.

Who needs Entomologists? • Environmentalists – • Entomologists study environmental indicators to better understand the relationships between humans and nature. By identifying endangered species and studying their ecosystems, entomologists work to protect the environment and restore threatened habitats. • Industry – • Entomologists provide industry with many product opportunities in areas such as biological and chemical pest control. Urban pest control is a $3 billion industry.

Who needs Entomologists? • Foresters – • Insects are one of the greatest destroyers of timber resources. Entomologists work with foresters to develop effective programs to battle these pests in order to protect forests and their biological wealth. • Animals – • Environmentally sound biological control programs developed by entomologists have become standard features in a wide array of solutions which protect animals from harmful chemicals.

Who needs Entomologists? • The United Nations – • Entomologists’ research is essential in solving insectrelated food shortages and diseases throughout the world. • Customs Inspectors – • Entomologists help customs intercept new pests before they enter a country and cause problems. • The Military – Soldiers, marines, and sailors often encounter exotic insects with exotic diseases. Medical and veterinary entomologists lead the way in research to combat insects that carry diseases. • Police - Forensic entomologists use their expertise to help police solve criminal cases.

Who needs Entomologists? • Homeowners – • Urban entomologists provide answers in our war with structural, turf, and ornamental insect pests. • Artists – • Entomologists help to preserve the diversity and extraordinary beauty of insects which artists utilize for designs and patterns. • Writers – • Insects are an intriguing part of the ecological web. Entomologists can provide unusual twists to ordinary stories. Writers can spin a good tale because insects fascinate.

Who needs Entomologists? • Doctors – • At least one-sixth of the human race currently suffers from insect-carried diseases. Entomologists provide vital information on the treatment and prevention of these ailments. • Our World – • Entomologists and their study of insects help us increase the bounty of the planet and preserve its natural beauty.

Why Study Insects? • The most abundant animals on earth. • More than one million different types of insects have been identified • Live in just about every situation, climate, or habitat on earth • Insects have lived on earth for more than 300 million years • If you take the time to observe them carefully, you will find them very interesting. • No matter where you live or what you do, you will be able to find insects.

Nearly everybody will have some type of problem with insects at some time in their life • • Some insects eat our crops or food in storage Others can bite or sting us, our livestock, or our pets A few insects spread diseases Some eat our clothing and other household furnishings, and some even eat the wood in our homes • Certain insects are helpful to us by producing products we can use (for example, honey), by pollinating our crops, or by attacking pest insects

Most insects have no importance to our well-being • Except that they are interesting creatures to observe! • Congress is in the process of approving the monarch butterfly as our national insect • The monarch butterfly was chosen because it is a native insect • It has a wide distribution throughout most of the United States, and it is large and showy • Several states also have chosen a state insect • Can you name an insect that might be a good representative for Delaware? • Why do you think it is appropriate?

Delaware’s other State Insects? Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

Delaware’s other State Insects? Stonefly States Macroinvertebrate

• Approx. 900, 000 named insect species • Entomologists estimate that there are likely over 30 million different species of insects on Earth. (Scientific American) • “Out-populate" any other living taxonomic group on Earth. • Compared to 4, 650 named and 4, 809 estimated mammal species • 72, 000 named and 1, 500, 000 estimated fungi

Entomology • Most insects in North America live as adults from a few hours to several months • Few survive the winter • Goal of most insects is to lay as many eggs as possible before they die • Some do not eat while laying eggs • Some insects live 15 years as a larvae • And, only a few weeks as adults • Most insects go through metamorphosis (change)

Benefits of Insects • Found in every environment on our planet • Majority are found in the warm and moist tropics (exception: the Arctic wooly bear in the Arctic) • Consume almost any substance that has nutritional value • Consumed – important part of the food chain/web • Aerate the soil • Pollinate blossoms • Control insect and plant pests • Decompose dead materials, thereby adding nutrients into the soil. • Burrowing bugs such as ants and beetles “benefiting plants”! • By digging tunnels that provide channels for water

Importance in the Food Web • Many insects are herbivores, or plant-eaters, which makes them primary consumers • This abundance of primary consumers provides protein and energy for secondary consumers, known as carnivores. • There are many secondary consumers, such as spiders, snakes, and toads that could not survive without feeding on insects. • Tertiary consumers eat other carnivores; such as the bears and chimpanzees • However, they eat insects as well

Other Beneficials & Benefits • Hymenopterans and praying mantis control the size of certain insect populations (ie aphids and caterpillars) • Finally, all insects fertilize the soil with the nutrients from their droppings.

Bees • play a major role in pollinating fruit trees and flower blossoms

Benefits of Insects to Humans 1. Foods – Honey, some insects eaten as novelties and commonly as food 2. Pollination – Honeybees efforts result in an estimated 80% of all pollination in the United States. ($20 billion dollars in crops per year, including fruits, vegetables, and many nuts) 3. Cloth – China annually produces some 30, 000 tons of raw silk, which accounts for 80 percent of the world's supply 4. Other Products – Beeswax, Dyes, Tannic acid from insect galls, Scale insects source of shellac and red dyes, used for food coloring and cosmetics, 5. Genetics - Fruit flies used in genetic studies 6. Forensic entomology 7. Dermestids - for cleaning skeletons 8. Aesthetics – Butterflies, beetle earrings, art work

“The Diversity of Life” • Edward O. Wilson (renowned entomologist) • Described the importance of insects and landdwelling arthropods in the ecosystem to humans • "if [they] all were to disappear, humanity probably could not last more than a few months. “ • Most other life forms, like amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals would also become extinct • Why? • Because of the domino effect that would occur in the food chain.

Of all insect species, over 97 percent of those usually seen in the home landscape are either beneficial or are “innocent bystanders!”

Importance in the Food Web • Many insects are herbivores, or plant-eaters, which makes them primary consumers • This abundance of primary consumers provides protein and energy for secondary consumers, known as carnivores. • There are many secondary consumers, such as spiders, snakes, and toads that could not survive without feeding on insects. • Tertiary consumers eat other carnivores; such as the bears and chimpanzees • However, they eat insects as well

Top 10 Beneficial Insects & Spiders 1. Spiders - predators, and most feed on insects 2. Green and brown lacewings - “aphid lions” attack and consume large numbers of aphids, mites, lace bugs, and other small insects (adults feed on pollen and nectar) 3. Lady beetles - adult and larvae eat insect eggs, aphids, mealybugs, and other soft-bodied insects and mites 4. Ground beetles – adults & larvae eat caterpillars (including armyworms, cutworms, and grubs) and other insects, as well as small snails and slugs Note: One Calosoma sycophanta larva can consume 50 large gypsy moth caterpillars in two weeks 5. Praying mantids - feed on anything they can catch, including honey bees, each other, and other beneficial insects 6. Hover flies (syrphid flies or flower flies) - closely resemble wasps and bees, larvae are valuable aphid and adelgid predators. Adults feed on pollen and nector.

Top 10 Beneficial Insects & Spiders 7. Predatory bugs (Big-eyed bugs, Damsel bugs, Minute pirate bugs, Predaceous stink bugs) - feed on chinch bugs leaf beetle larvae, small caterpillars, mites, insect eggs, aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, plant bugs, etc 8. Predatory wasps (bald-faced hornet, Yellow jackets, Paper wasps important predators of caterpillars and other soft-bodied insects 9. Parasitic wasps (most are tiny, black, and < 1/8”long, cicada killer = 1 5/8”) - attack aphids, many types of caterpillars, cicadas, lace bugs, scale insects, whiteflies, sawfly larvae, ants, leafminers, and insect pupae. They also attack the eggs of insects such as codling moths, tomato hornworms, cabbage loopers, imported cabbageworms, and European corn borers 10. Parasitic flies (tachinid flies) 1, 300 North American species, some of which are often mistaken for houseflies, bees, or wasps - Hosts include caterpillars (including gypsy moth caterpillars), beetles (including Japanese beetles), sawfly larvae, true bugs, and grasshoppers and their relatives

Other Beneficials • • • Carrion beetle – feeds on dead animals Dragonfly – mosquitoes Silkworm Moth – cocoon source of silk Bumble bee – pollinator of many plants Honeybee – pollinates many wild and cultivated plants (produces honey and beeswax • Ichneumon wasp – parasitizes many harmful insects • Phantom Gnat – larvae feed on larval mosquitoes and serve a fish food

Managing Your Yard as Habitat for Beneficial Arthropods • “Think first. . . spray last!” • Managing for beneficials w/nonchemical methods such as pruning, hand-picking, covering plants with netting, or other means. • • simply pruned out of the tree, place in a tightly sealed bag, and send to the landfill.

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Fall Webworm

Sawfly

Managing Your Yard as Habitat for Beneficial Arthropods • Go looking for trouble! • Every two weeks or so – • Look for pests, diseases, and other plant stressors • It is generally easier to control pests when they’re small.

Managing Your Yard as Habitat for Beneficial Arthropods • Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (B. t. k. ) • Organically approved, natural pesticide for caterpillar control • Note: can also kill nontarget butterfly and moth caterpillars • More effective against smaller or younger caterpillars than larger ones. • The same is true for other less toxic pesticides like horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. • Regularly inspecting your plants can often detect a potential problem early! • Don’t forget to scout for beneficials

Managing Your Yard as Habitat for Beneficial Arthropods • Make an informed decision among the possible choices: • let nature (i. e. beneficial arthropods) take its course, • Opt for some of the nonchemical methods mentioned • Purchase and release natural enemies • Or perform a “spot spray” over a limited area • Instead of applying large volumes of pesticides harmful to natural enemies

Know your Foe • Just because an insect is on a plant doesn’t mean that it’s doing damage. • REMEMBER – 97% of all insects usually seen in the home landscape are either beneficial to people or innocent bystanders • Make use of University Cooperative Extension – • Personnel • online or printed Extension fact sheets • reference books to help identify the suspect

Non Beneficial • • • • May Beetle – destroys roots of plants Colorado Potato Beetle – Spotted Cucumber Beetle Red Legged Grasshopper Japanese Beetle – Fruit trees, roses, lawn roots Yellow Jacket – fatal sting Carpenter ant – destroys lumber Green June Beetle – destroys roots of plants Blowfly – spreads disease from carrion to food Secondary Screwworm Fly – lays eggs in wounds of animals (eat flesh and may cause death) Harlequin Bug – scar garden food and feed on sap Termites – cause severe structural damage to homes Lace Bug – spreads viruses to garden plants Aphids – feed on leaf sap of plants and trees, may cause death Chinch bug – larvae feed on corn stems, killing plant

Know your Foe • Identification is important! • It is illegal to apply a pesticide to a pest or plant that does not appear on the pesticide label • Plants NOT listed on the pesticide label may also be harmed • Avoid the use of a broad-spectrum pesticide, it may kill many beneficials as well • Avoid Problems by Keeping Plants Healthy • • Pests and diseases are notorious for “kicking a plant while it’s down. ” Plants that are stressed are generally more susceptible to pest invasion Plants that become stressed may result in the need for more drastic control measures— including pesticides —that could harm beneficials and other non-target species.

Encourage or Import? • Manage your yard as habitat for beneficial arthropods • You can purchase and release beneficials • I. e. - lady beetles (remember they can fly away) • Follow these steps to maximize the benefits and minimize any negative impacts of using beneficials: • Identify the pests that need to be controlled • Learn which beneficial arthropod is appropriate for your situation • Learn the best time to release the beneficial arthropod • Know the life stage of the beneficial and non-beneficial arthropod • Learn the proper release requirements, such as time of day, food and water needs, etc.

• • • Attracting and Sustaining “Good Bugs” Develop a tolerance Some damage by arthropods to your plants is ok Provide shelter Leaf litter and debris under shrubs may provide shelter for beneficial arthropods Increase the diversity of your landscape Grow a wide assortment of plants to create habitat for a wide range of natural enemies Also, diverse plantings of the right species that are pest and disease resistant make it less likely that pests will cause problems. Do not use zapper lights that electrocute insects In a study at the University of Delaware, these lights killed many more beneficial insects than pests.

Attracting and Sustaining “Good Bugs” • • • Ensure a continuous supply of floral nectar and pollen Select plants with a succession of flowering times Nectar is an important source of carbohydrates that provide energy Pollen is a protein source Plant an early bloomers Such as sweet alyssum or pansy because the appetites of beneficials may peak before your garden does Include late-blooming plants Such as goldenrod and aster species, many of which colonize areas on their own Choose their favorite plants Many beneficials like tiny flowers that offer both pollen and nectar

Attracting and Sustaining “Good Bugs” • • • Best Flower Structures for Beneficial Arthropods: Umbels Queen Anne’s lace, angelica, fennel, and yarrow. Composites These have a center of tiny true flowers surrounded by rays, and include sunflowers, coneflowers, daisies, cosmos, and asters. Spikes Flowers like Lavender, goldenrod, and hyssop. Cups Small insects won’t get trapped in the almost flat cups of evening primrose or buttercups.

Queen Anne’s Lace Umbel Type Flowers Angelica Yarrow Fennel

Sunflowers Asters Daisies Cosmos Composite Flowers Coneflowers

Lavender. Goldenrod Hyssop Spike Flowers

Buttercups Evening Primrose Cup-like Flowers

Plant Stressors Include: • • • Moisture stress Too much or too little water? Improper planting sites Shade vs. sunny areas Areas of poor air circulation (which can lead to problems with fungi, diseases, or environmental problems. • Choose a variety that is resistant or not susceptible to these problems • Poor drainage, compacted soil, or the potential for road salt, wind, or cold/heat damage.

Plant stressors include • Improper mulching • Mulch should be pulled back a bit from the base of the plant. • Improper fertilization • One common mistake is to overfertilize plants with nitrogen • Favors pests (such as aphids, mites, and the black vine weevil) more than it helps the plant • Soil tests can be used to determine if or how much fertilizer is needed

Reference Habitats A Fact Sheet Series on Managing Lands for Wildlife University of Maine Cooperative Extension Bulletin #7150 http: //www. umext. maine. edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/7150. htm Charles D. Hunter of the California Environmental Protection Agency has compiled the Suppliers of Beneficial Organisms in North America catalog, which lists sources of beneficial arthropods. One free copy per request can be ordered by calling (916) 324 -4100, or the catalog is available online at http: //www. cdpr. ca. gov/docs/ipminov/bensuppl. htm.

Insect Management • • “Beneficials” vs. “Non-Beneficials” Example of a beneficial Lady bug, praying mantis, wasp, honey bees Lady bugs eat aphids which damage food and ornamental crops • Honeybees are responsible for pollinating thousands of species of plants • 70% of the food we eat depends on pollination by bees • “Benefits far outway their sting”!

Insect Pests – 10, 000 species • • Damage Crops Household Pests Parasites Biting and Stinging Insects Prey on domestic animals Eat human food, clothing & possessions Destroy trees, wood, paper

Disease Vectors • Mosquitoes – • malaria, arboviral encephalitides, dengue fever, Rift Valley fever, West Nile encephalitis viral infection • Fleas – • plague • Lice – • lice infestation