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Department of Entomology

ISU Entomology

Semester Schedule (by date)
See prior semesters here
Response of Spodoptera frugiperda and Agrotis ipsilon to Bt Corn Event 1507 and Implications for Insect Resistance Management
Monday, January 28th at 4:10pm, in E164 Lagomarcino Hall
Rachel Binning, Department of Entomology, ISU and DuPont Pioneer
Abstract: Transgenic corn expressing toxins derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was developed primarily for the management of North American pests. However, most Bt corn products are also cultivated outside of North America where different pests are exposed. As Bt corn is commercialized in new geographies, plans for insect resistance management (IRM) must consider these new pest and toxin combinations. Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) are examples of global pests with unique biology and susceptibility to Cry1F (expressed in event 1507 corn).
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PhD dissertation seminar
Raman Spectroscopic Characterization of Biological Materials
Monday, February 4th at 4:10pm, in E164 Lagomarcino Hall
Chenxu Yu, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, ISU
Interdisciplinary Interface Series: Cosponsored by VII / Entomology / Plant Pathology and Microbiology
Lab on a Chip
Tuesday, February 5th at 3:50pm, in 210 Bessey Hall
Liang Dong, Electrical and Computer Engineering, ISU
Interdisciplinary Interface Series: Cosponsored by VII / Entomology / Plant Pathology and Microbiology
Machine Vision-based High-throughput Plant and Animal Sensing
Monday, February 11th at 4:10pm, in E164 Lagomarcino Hall
Lie Tang, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, ISU
Interdisciplinary Interface Series: Cosponsored by VII / Entomology / Plant Pathology and Microbiology
Science of Rock ’n’ Roll – Deciphering Motions in Live Cells
Tuesday, February 12th at 3:50pm, in 210 Bessey Hall
Ning Fang, Department of Chemistry, ISU
Interdisciplinary Interface Series: Cosponsored by VII / Entomology / Plant Pathology and Microbiology
Using Biodiversity to Link Agricultural Productivity and Profitability with Environmental Quality: Results from Field Experiments in Iowa
Monday, February 18th at 4:10pm, in E164 Lagomarcino Hall
Host: Matt O'Neal
Co-sponsored by Approaching Crops as Ecosystems
Gene Flow Among European Corn Borer Populations: Differential Isolation and Unexpectedly High Hybridization Between Pheromone Races
Monday, February 25th at 4:10pm, in E164 Lagomarcino Hall
Jing Sun, Department of Entomology, ISU
Abstract: The European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis; ECB) is a primary pest that is now largely managed with transgenic Bt corn. We investigated the gene flow and genetic structure within and between ECB populations in the northeastern US, where the varied topography and the sympatric populations of partly reproductively isolated pheromone races (E and Z) may restrict gene flow and allow resistance to evolve more quickly. The higher than expected hybridization between pheromone races found by a novel screen method may also affect the rate of resistance development and spread.
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MS thesis seminar
Landscape Influences on Trophic Interactions: Implications for Insect Conservation and Pest Management
Thursday, March 7th at 9:00am, in 210 Bessey Hall
Tatyana Rand, USDA, ARS, Sidney, MT
Host: Matt O'Neal. Note the day, time and location of this seminar!
Co-sponsored by EEOB
Improving Integration in Soybean Aphid IPM
Monday, March 11th at 4:10pm, in E164 Lagomarcino Hall
Thelma Heidel-Baker, Department of Entomology, ISU
A Genetic and Biochemical Basis for Natural Variation in Maize Aphid Resistance
Monday, March 25th at 4:10pm, in E164 Lagomarcino Hall
Georg Jander, Boyce Thomson Research Institute and Cornell University, NY
Abstract: Plants show considerable within-species variation in their susceptibility to insect herbivores. In the case of Zea mays (maize) infested with Rhopalosiphum maidis (corn leaf aphid), there is 100-fold range in aphid progeny production on different inbred lines. Benzoxazinoids, a class of secondary metabolites found in many grasses, are known to influence herbivore resistance.
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Host: Steve Whitham
Sponsored by PSI Virus-Insect Interactions Initiative and PSI Approaching Crops as Ecosystems
Polydnaviruses: Beneficial Symbionts and Nature's Genetic Engineers
Friday, March 29th at 8:00pm, in Sun Room. Memorial Union
Mike Strand, Distinguished Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Host: Bryony Bonning. This seminar is being presented as part of the All Iowa Virology Symposium, March 29-30.
Co-Sponsored by the ISU Virus-Insect Interactions Initiative and ISU Health Research Initiative
Molecular Interactions Between the Pea Aphid and Pea enation mosaic virus
Monday, April 1st at 4:10pm, in E164 Lagomarcino Hall
Luke Linz, Department of Entomology and Program in Microbiology, ISU
Abstract: Aphid transmission of plant viruses results in tremendous economic loss. The goal of this research was to increase our understanding of the molecular interactions that facilitate recognition and uptake of the model luteovirid, Pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) into the pea aphid vector, Acyrthosiphon pisum. We identified the gut receptor for PEMV in the pea aphid, which is the first receptor in an insect to be identified for a plant virus.
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PhD dissertation seminar
Behavioral action vs. insecticide resistance in mosquito vectors of Thailand
Tuesday, April 2nd at 12:10pm, in 333 Science II
Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap, Department of Entomology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
Host: Joel Coats
Towards Target Validation in Pests: From Candidate Receptors to Phenotypes
Monday, April 8th at 4:10pm, in E164 Lagomarcino Hall
Patricia Pietrantonio, Department of Entomology, Texas A & M
Abstract: Abstract: Our goal is to systematically study G protein-coupled receptors and other plasma membrane receptors to identify both novel and critical functions that could be targeted for pest control. The post-genomic era provided us with enormous data sets to mine candidate genes, however, their function is predicted and requires experimental validation to advance insect physiology and toxicology. The reverse-genetics approach is used to learn about insect endocrinology in a number of pests of worldwide importance: the dengue vector, the mosquito (A.
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Host: Lyric Bartholomay
Paul A Dahm Memorial Lecture in Entomology
Kill without killing: genetic disruption of "Social homeostasis" and termite behavior
Thursday, April 11th at 3:45pm, in 1210 LeBaron
Xuguo "Joe" Zhou, Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky
Host: Amy Toth
Co-listed with EEOB
What Happens When Plants Are Always Turned On? Constitutive Herbivore-induced Plant Volatiles and The Sustainable Attraction of Carnivores
Monday, April 15th at 4:10pm, in E164 Lagomarcino Hall
Ian Kaplan, Department of Entomology, Purdue University
Host: Mike McCarville
EGSO speaker.
Arthropod-borne Diseases Shared Between Wildlife and Livestock in Montana
Monday, April 22nd at 4:10pm, in E164 Lagomarcino Hall
Greg Johnson, Dept of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
Host: Lyric Bartholomay
Co-sponsored by NREM
The Impacts of Conventional and Organic Agriculture on Entomopathogenic Fungi
Monday, April 29th at 4:10pm, in E164 Lagomarcino Hall
Eric Clifton, Department of Entomology, ISU
Abstract: Entomopathogenic fungi kill agricultural pests and can diminish outbreaks. Better understanding of these organisms is an essential step in developing strategies to their conservation in agricultural systems. We hypothesize that 1) organic farming methods better suit populations of soil-borne entomopathogenic fungi, and 2) conventional farming methods, coupled with the use of synthetic chemical inputs, could have negative impacts on these beneficial fungi. Results from field studies conducted in 2011 and 2012 will be presented.
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MS thesis seminar

Latest News

Lyric Bartholomay
Associate Professor – Medical Entomology
has been awarded the prestigious Bailey Award. Congratulations Lyric!

VEISHEA 2013 was a blast. Congratulations to our cockroach race winners!

Congratulations to Lyric Bartholomay who was elected to the Executive Council for the American committee on Medical Entomology (ACME).

Traveling Insect Zoo visits Iowa classrooms

Join us for the Hemipteran Research Symposium on March 26.

A new edition of our Department of Entomology Newsletter has been posted. Find out what we've been up to!

Entomologist is his day job. Brendan Dunphy, Actor, Scientist.

ISU Entomology graduate students won first and second place at the 2012 Entomological Society Annual Meeting.