Department of Entomology
  • About
    • At a Glance
    • Welcome From the Chair
    • Code of Conduct
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion >
      • DEI Working Group
      • Resources
    • Departmental History
    • For Alumni
    • Support Entomology >
      • Steinhauer Scholarship Fund
    • Proposal Resources
    • Contact >
      • Directions
  • News
    • News
    • Seminar Blog
    • Seminar Schedule
    • Awards
  • People
    • Faculty
    • Post Docs
    • Students
    • Staff
    • Alumni
  • Academics
    • Graduate >
      • Admissions
      • MS Degree Requirements
      • PhD Degree Requirements
      • Graduate Student Resources
      • Financial Assistance
      • Award & Funding Opportunities
      • Entomology Student Organization
    • Online Masters in Applied Entomology
    • Undergraduate >
      • Entomology Minor
      • Honors Program
  • Research
    • IPM & Biological Control of Agricultural, Urban & Forest Pests
    • Ecology, Conservation, Restoration, Climate Change >
      • Pollinator Science and Apiculture
    • Evolution, Systematics and Evo-Devo
    • Genetics & Genomics and Medical Entomology
  • Extension/Outreach
    • Educational Outreach
    • Insect Camp
    • Insect Drawings
    • Insect Identification
    • Pesticide Education and Assessment Program
    • Plant Diagnostic Laboratory (PDL)

Dennis VanEngelsdorp in the New York Times!

5/15/2014

 
Congratulations to Dennis VanEngelsdorp for being quoted with good news in the New York Times!

Click link for full story. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/16/us/honeybees-report.html?ref=science&_r=0

Spring 2014 Colloquium: Dilip Venugopal

5/9/2014

 
Synopsis for Dr. Dilip Venugopal’s colloquium talk, “Spatial heterogeneity of stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) populations in agricultural systems”

This week’s colloquium again focused on the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB).  While BMSB is best known for terrorizing area residents in their homes, BMSB also feeds on a wide range of plants and is a major agricultural pest of field crops, fruit, vegetables, and ornamentals.  In the exciting conclusion to this semester’s colloquium series, Dr. Dilip Venugopal presented his findings from extensive research on the BMSB in mid-Atlantic field crops.

Dr. Venugopal’s work focused on understanding the spatial patterns of stink bug population dynamics.  He conducted extensive field surveys to examine these patterns at various spatial scales, which included localized portions of agriculture plots, whole crop fields and the mid-Atlantic region.  Dr. Venugopal’s research illustrates the roles of landscape and environment in facilitating the outbreak and spread of stink bugs.

Picture
BMSB eggs and 1st instar nymphs. Photo by Wil Hershberger
In his initial study, Dr. Venugopal analyzed stink bug density and crop damage along the edges of corn and soy fields.  Dramatically, his team found a majority of stink bugs in these fields were BMSB (97% and 93% on corn and soybean plants, respectively). BMSB densities were also higher adjacent to woods compared to open areas.  This difference was likely because BMSB moved into crops from tree hosts in the woods and, upon settling in the crops, laid their eggs in the field edge. The small nymphs do not travel far after hatching. Additionally, Asian trees found in adjacent woods, such asAilanthus and Paulownia, were common hosts for the BMSB, an Asian native.  Regarding crop damage, both corn and soy experienced a loss in quality while only soy had lesser yields as a result of feeding.

Following the edge survey, the next focus studied the spatiotemporal distributions of stink bug distribution in a field.  Dr. Venugopal hypothesized that as corn matures, stink bugs would migrate to soy fields.  He found that there was a stage structure difference between the two crops.  While small nymphs were primarily found on corn, large nymphs and adults were found on the soy plants.  Data also revealed BMSB preferred plants with fruiting bodies (ears of corn or soy bean pods) over those without, particularly the milk and dough stages in corn and pod filling stages in soybean.  The movement of large nymphs and adults to the soy is likely due to the nutritional quality of the plants. Bugs favor higher sugar and nitrogen content and BMSB migrated from corn into soy when it was most nutritious. 

Picture
Life stages of BMSB. From left 2nd to 5th instars, male and female. Photo by Wil Hershberger
The final aim of his research was to gain an understanding of the spatial heterogeneity across a larger regional scale. Collaborating with researchers from Virginia Tech and University of Delaware, Dr. Venugopal compiled data from 208 soybean fields across 4 states (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia). He analyzed 45 temperatures, environmental, and land use variables to determine what was driving patterns in stink bug abundance across the region. The methods used for analyzing the spatial patterns can be found here. Results showed that the influence of adjacent habitat was limited to within fields, and that temperature and urbanized regions were the primary factors structuring BMSB abundance patterns across mid-Atlantic region. The main difference between BMSB and other native stink bugs was its association with urban zones, while the native species were associated with forested areas.

Based on his findings, Dr. Venugopal concluded the placement and arrangement of crops are important to reducing stink bug outbreaks. Dr. Venugopal recommends the avoidance of shared boundaries of corn and soybeans. Planting times should be considered with an aim to break the synchrony of crop stages. Finally, the high density of stink bugs along field edges makes insecticide treatment of entire fields unnecessary. Instead, insecticide applications could be reduced by limiting treatment to edges only, particularly those bordering woods.

Once considered a secondary agriculture pest, stink bugs have gained increased attention due to the recent introduction of the brown marmorated stink bug. The economic importance of this pest cannot be understated. Last year this bug caused an estimated $73 million in damage to soybean crops across 11 states. Dr. Venugopal research is as a much needed driver advocating necessary changes in crop and pest management practices.


About Kevin:

Kevin Ulrich is a PhD candidate in the Thorne Lab.  His current research involves host-pathogen relationships and how natural controls can best be utilized in urban environments using Cimex lectularius, the common bed bug, as a model organism. This research is aimed at reducing chemical pesticide reliance in favor of greener and safer alternatives.

About Erik:

Erik Bergmann is a third year masters student in Michael Raupp’s lab conducting research on patterns of host use by BMSB in woody ornamental plant species.  He is graduating in August and will be joining Bartlett Tree Experts in June.

 About Becca:

Becca Wilson is a first year masters student in Bill Lamp’s lab. She is currently studying the distribution patterns of nuisanceblack flies in Washington County, Maryland. 

Tammatha O'Brien recognized for Outstanding Lecturer Award!

5/6/2014

 
Congratulations to Tammatha O'Brien for the Board of Visitor's Dean's Outstanding Lecturer Award!

Paula Shrewsbury and the Insect Zoo team wins Best Children's Event!

5/6/2014

 
Congratulations to Paula Shrewsbury and the Insect Zoo team for winning the award for the Best Children's Event for Maryland Day 2014!.

Dr. Mike Raupp recognized as Entomology Honoree of the year!

5/2/2014

 
Congratulations to our own Dr. Mike Raupp who was recognized at the CMNS 10th Annual Alumni Festival in April as the Entomology Honoree of the year!

    Categories

    All
    Awards
    Colloquium
    Faculty Spotlight
    Fall 2013 Colloquium
    Fall 2014 Colloquium
    Fall 2015 Colloquium
    Fall 2016 Colloquium
    Featured
    Innovation
    News
    Publications
    Science Projects
    SESYNC
    Spring 2014 Colloquium
    Spring 2015 Colloquium
    Spring 2016 Colloquium
    Talks
    Undergraduate

    Archives

    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture
Picture
Department of Entomology 
University of Maryland 
4112 Plant Sciences Building 
College Park, MD 20742-4454
USA

Telephone: 301.405.3911 
Fax: 301.314.9290
Picture
Picture
Web Accessibility
  • About
    • At a Glance
    • Welcome From the Chair
    • Code of Conduct
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion >
      • DEI Working Group
      • Resources
    • Departmental History
    • For Alumni
    • Support Entomology >
      • Steinhauer Scholarship Fund
    • Proposal Resources
    • Contact >
      • Directions
  • News
    • News
    • Seminar Blog
    • Seminar Schedule
    • Awards
  • People
    • Faculty
    • Post Docs
    • Students
    • Staff
    • Alumni
  • Academics
    • Graduate >
      • Admissions
      • MS Degree Requirements
      • PhD Degree Requirements
      • Graduate Student Resources
      • Financial Assistance
      • Award & Funding Opportunities
      • Entomology Student Organization
    • Online Masters in Applied Entomology
    • Undergraduate >
      • Entomology Minor
      • Honors Program
  • Research
    • IPM & Biological Control of Agricultural, Urban & Forest Pests
    • Ecology, Conservation, Restoration, Climate Change >
      • Pollinator Science and Apiculture
    • Evolution, Systematics and Evo-Devo
    • Genetics & Genomics and Medical Entomology
  • Extension/Outreach
    • Educational Outreach
    • Insect Camp
    • Insect Drawings
    • Insect Identification
    • Pesticide Education and Assessment Program
    • Plant Diagnostic Laboratory (PDL)