Forty-four species of Tyloderma are known to occur in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the West Indies. A redescription of the genus is provided, and the species are keyed and placed in 11 species groups, which also are defined. Twenty-five new species are described: affine, albidomaculatum, brevisquameum, cubense, curvisete, diversum, elongatum, expansum, frontale, glabrescens, hustachei, insulicola, lacordairei, lepidogramma, longisquameum, natator, obrieni, sayi, schoenherri, simile, subfasciatum, subpilosum, trinidadense, tuberculatum, and variabile. Two species-group names are synonymized: foveostriatum Voss is a synonym of innotatum Hustache (which is here given specific rank); and metallicum Voss is a synonym of aeneum Hustache. Lectotypes are designated for aeneum, cupreum, inaequale, innotatum, nigromaculatum and obliquatum. A description or redescription of each species is included, and some important taxonomic characters, including the male phallus, and female 8th sternite and spermatheca are illustrated. Information is presented on host plants and natural enemies. Except for the species studied earlier (Wibmer 1981), complete distributional records are included. In addition to the taxonomic treatment, a reconstruction of the evolutionary history of all known congeners is attempted through a Hennigian analysis and also with the aid of PAUP (Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony), a computer program which infers phylogenies under the principle of maximum parsimony. The results of both analyses (which support the a priori classification) are compared and discussed in detail. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-03, Section: B, page: 0627. / Co-Major Professors: William H. Heard; William L. Peters. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1987.

<p>Substrate-borne vibrational signals are emitted by males and females of the treehopper species, Umbonia crassicornis in a variety of contexts throughout their lives. The goal of this research was to investigate variation in signal structure in these various contexts in order to identify the specific functions of distinct signals. We report a number of previously undescribed behaviors and signals in this species, including male pre-copulatory genital scraping, a possible female rejection signal, and a competitive male masking signal. In addition to these observations, our experiments resulted in 4 major findings: (1) females provide cues within their responses concerning their degree of attraction to male calls, (2) males eavesdrop on duets emitted by competing males and receptive females, (3) males emit distinct signals in competitive interactions which function as masking calls, and (4) the duration and temporal context of antipredator signals in females vary with reproductive status and offspring development. Our findings reveal that vibrational signals mediate conspecific interactions at every stage of adult life in U. crassicornis. The temporal and spectral qualities of these signals undergo distinct changes in different contexts and in response to different stimuli, likely providing receivers with information on a signaler?s intensions.

Sunn Pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae), is a major pest of wheat and barley in West and Central Asia and East Europe. The insect causes a significant reduction in yield and quality of grains. Entomopathogenic fungi, especially Beauveria bassiana are among the most dominant microbial agents that have been used against Sunn Pest. However, there are concerns related to their efficacy and thermotolerance particularly in countries with high temperature regimes. Nine B. bassiana isolates were tested against Sunn Pest to estimate their virulence and speed of infection under laboratory conditions. The isolates were also exposed to 25, 36, 38 and 40 °C, for 24, 48, 72 and 120 hours. The isolate with highest pathogenicity against Sunn Pest and the one with the greatest thermotolerance were selected and their conidia were paired using a cell electrofusion technique to obtain a strain that was both highly virulent and thermotolerant. The infused conidia were first exposed to the foregoing temperature regimes and the most thermotolerant ones were selected to test against Sunn Pest. Three Sunn Pest populations at early, mid and late overwintering period were treated with electrofusion products and the two parental isolates. The efficacy of hybrid isolates was also tested against western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) as another test organism. The results showed that among the electrofused conidia, some of them tolerated the highest temperature regime (120 h at 40 °C) and their pathogenicity was similar and in some cases even higher than the most efficacious parental isolate. The susceptibility of the Sunn Pest to hybrids was dose dependent as considerable mortality occurred with the highest concentration (1×108 spore/ml). In addition, Sunn Pest populations were more susceptible to fungal infection at the end of the overwintering period. That is mainly because Sunn Pest adults do not feed during this period and their survival is entirely depended on the amount of energy and nutrition stored in their body. Depletion of nutrition at the end of the overwintering period and the harsh environmental conditions in overwintering site make the insect more susceptible to the fungal pathogen. Assessing the genetic differentiation of the hybrids with the parental isolates is an important task that requires more investigation in the future. In a separate experiment, the thermotolerance of two selected B. bassiana isolates for the electrofusion were tested under 40 and 45 °C wet and dry-heat conditions for 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 h. Additionally, the thermotolerance of conidia and mycelia of the two isolates were compared at 38 and 40 °C for 24, 48, 72 and 120 h. In general, fungal isolates tolerated the dry-heat better than the wet-heat condition and the thermotolerance of fungal mycelia was significantly greater than the conidia.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 38-04, Section: B, page: 1546. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1976.

A taxonomic revision and phylogenetic reconstruction of the Thraulus group genera and their species was carried out based upon the examination of external morphological characters. Nine new taxa are described (four genera and five species) and four species previously assigned to Thraulus have been reassigned to these new genera. Seven species remain assigned to Thraulus. Simothraulus remains monotypic. The five species of Neotropical Thraulus have been reassigned to other Central and South American genera, making the distribution of the Thraulus group genera exclusive to the Eastern Hemisphere. Keys to genera and species for known imagos and nymphs are provided, and diagnostic characters are illustrated. / Cladistic methodology was used to reconstruct the probable phylogeny of the Thraulus group genera and their species. The South American Ulmeritus group was identified as the sister group of the Thraulus group genera, as both share the following derived character states: the fork of vein MA of the fore wings is symmetrical, an oblique cross vein occurs in the fore wings between veins R(,4+5) and MA(,1) just apical to the fork of vein MA, and the abdominal gills are fimbriate. The Thraulus group genera share the following derived character states: vein Sc of the hind wings ends at the base of the costal projection, the apical margin of the lingua of the hypopharynx is bare, and nymphs have posterolateral spines on abdominal terga 6-9, 7-9, or 8-9. Species unknown in the nymphal stage could not be confidently placed in the phylogeny. Two parallelisms have occurred among the species of Thraulus: the loss of the row of setae on the lateral margin of the mandibles at the base of the incisors and the reduction in both lamellae of abdominal gill 1. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-10, Section: B, page: 3326. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.

The taxonomy, zoogeography and phylogeny of the genus Dicrotendipes Kieffer, 1913 (Insecta: Diptera: Chironomidae) are reviewed on a world-wide basis. Sixty-eight species names are considered valid; the type-species for the genus is Chironomus septemmaculatus Becker, 1908. / The taxonomy of 14 species recognized from the Afrotropical region is reviewed. The previously unknown larvae and pupae of D. fusconotatus (Kieffer), D. kribiicola (Kieffer), D. septemmaculatus and D. sudanicus (Freeman), and the pupa of D. cordatus Kieffer are described. / Fifteen species are recorded from the Neotropical region. The adult males of 9 new species are described; adult females are described for 2 new species; and pupae are described for 2 new species. A key is provided to identify Neotropical adult males. / A total of 17 species are recognized from the combined Oriental, Australian and Oceanian regions. Three species previously considered to be Dicrotendipes are removed: Ch. blandellus Kieffer, D. paxillus Guha, Chaudhuri & Nandi, and D. socionotus Guha, Chaudhuri & Nandi. Seven new species are described from the combined regions. In addition, the males and females are redescribed, and pupae and larvae described, for: D. candidibasis (Edwards), D. conjunctus (Walker) and D. pelochloris (Kieffer); adult males are redescribed for D. bilobatus Kieffer and D. tenuiforceps (Kieffer). The pupa and larva of D. flexus (Johannsen) are redescribed. Keys are provided for adult males, pupae and larvae. / Distributions of selected species are discussed and distribution maps are provided. The phylogney of Dicrotendipes species known in all 3 life stages is analyzed utilizing a Hennigian cladistic analysis and a computer program, PAUP. Results of the analyses are similar, and indicate that 3 major lineages occur within the genus, with at least 9 species groups. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-03, Section: B, page: 0638. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1987.

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Thesis (M. S.)--Texas A&M University, 2005. / "Major Subject: Entomology" Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Sep. 15, 2006.) Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Texas A&M University, 20065. / "Major Subject: Entomology" Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Sep. 15, 2006.) Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.