Insects As Biological Weapons
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Diptera: Calyptratae)
Systematic Entomology (2020), DOI: 10.1111/syen.12443 Protein-encoding ultraconserved elements provide a new phylogenomic perspective of Oestroidea flies (Diptera: Calyptratae) ELIANA BUENAVENTURA1,2 , MICHAEL W. LLOYD2,3,JUAN MANUEL PERILLALÓPEZ4, VANESSA L. GONZÁLEZ2, ARIANNA THOMAS-CABIANCA5 andTORSTEN DIKOW2 1Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany, 2National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, U.S.A., 3The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, U.S.A., 4Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, U.S.A. and 5Department of Environmental Science and Natural Resources, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain Abstract. The diverse superfamily Oestroidea with more than 15 000 known species includes among others blow flies, flesh flies, bot flies and the diverse tachinid flies. Oestroidea exhibit strikingly divergent morphological and ecological traits, but even with a variety of data sources and inferences there is no consensus on the relationships among major Oestroidea lineages. Phylogenomic inferences derived from targeted enrichment of ultraconserved elements or UCEs have emerged as a promising method for resolving difficult phylogenetic problems at varying timescales. To reconstruct phylogenetic relationships among families of Oestroidea, we obtained UCE loci exclusively derived from the transcribed portion of the genome, making them suitable for larger and more integrative phylogenomic studies using other genomic and transcriptomic resources. We analysed datasets containing 37–2077 UCE loci from 98 representatives of all oestroid families (except Ulurumyiidae and Mystacinobiidae) and seven calyptrate outgroups, with a total concatenated aligned length between 10 and 550 Mb. About 35% of the sampled taxa consisted of museum specimens (2–92 years old), of which 85% resulted in successful UCE enrichment. -
Schools Integrated Pest Management (Ipm) for Wasps and Bees
SCHOOLS INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) FOR WASPS AND BEES *Important Note* According to the Virginia Pesticide Control Act (Section 3.1-249.53), in order to apply ANY pesticide (including Raid, Round-Up, and other over-the-counter pesticides) in public areas of ANY educational institution, the applicator must first be certified by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In other words, it is illegal for uncertified teachers, staff, administrators, or contractors to apply pesticides on school grounds. INTRODUCTION Bees and wasps experience “complete metamorphosis”. This means that they pass Wasps and bees are both beneficial and through four different life stages: egg, larva, problematic. Wasps, being predators, play pupa, and adult (see Figure 1). Individuals an important role in the control of other pest that are newly hatched are termed “larvae”. insects. Bees are essential pollinators of Larvae are blind and legless. After the plants and producers of products such as larval stage, they become pupae. The pupal honey and wax. Both vigorously defend stage is a non-feeding, immobile stage their nests and utilize stinging as their wherein the larvae transform into adults. primary defense mechanism. Although the Finally, the bees and wasps emerge from the sting of a bee or wasp is painful, it is usually pupae as fully developed adults. not life threatening. However, some individuals are extremely sensitive to the sting’s venom and may experience fatal allergic reactions. BIOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION Bees and wasps are grouped together into the same order of insects, Hymenoptera. For the purposes of this publication the term “wasps” refers to hornets, yellowjackets, paper wasps, mud daubers, digger wasps, cicada killers, and any other wasp species that frequently are a problem around structures. -
Cyborg Insect Drones: Research, Risks, and Governance
CYBORG INSECT DRONES: RESEARCH, RISKS, AND GOVERNANCE By: Heraclio Pimentel Jr. 12/01/2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1 I. BACKGROUND: THE RESEARCH ................................................................................................................................................ 2 A. Emergence of HI-MEMS .................................................................................................................................................. 2 B. Technical Background .................................................................................................................................................... 3 C. The State of the Technology ......................................................................................................................................... 4 D. Intended Applications of HI-MEMS ............................................................................................................................ 6 II. RISKS: DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS OF HI-MEMS ................................................................................................................ 8 A. HI-MEMS Pose a Risk to National Security ............................................................................................................. 9 B. HI-MEMS Pose a Threat to Personal Privacy ..................................................................................................... -
The Pentagon Bio-Weapons
The Pentagon Bio-Weapons https://southfront.org/pentagon-bio-weapons/ ANALYSIS #USAEditor's choice DilyanaGaytandzhieva is a Bulgarian investigative journalist and Middle East Correspondent. Over the last two years she has published a series of revealed reports on weapons smuggling. In the past year she came under pressure from the Bulgarian National Security Agency and was fired from her job in the Bulgarian newspaper Trud Daily without explanation. Despite this, Dilyana continues her investigations. Her current report provides an overview of Pentagon’s vigour in the development of biological weapons. Twitter/@dgaytandzhieva (Here is a topic long suspected, but never ‘brought to light’ until now. Don't expect to see such an article in the Main Stream media [MSM] as it would be censored and/or heavily edited before being published. The level of details provided by the author makes her case irrefutable! Those that would like better documentation, can go to the website cited, as virtually EVERY photo, document, map, etc., is enlargeable.. Downloaded from the above website on Feb 10, 2018 ~ Don Chapin) The US Army regularly produces deadly viruses, bacteria and toxins in direct violation of the UN Convention on the prohibition of Biological Weapons. Hundreds of thousands of unwitting people are systematically exposed to dangerous pathogens and other incurable diseases. Bio warfare scientists using diplomatic cover test man-made viruses at Pentagon bio laboratories in 25 countries across the world. These US bio-laboratories are funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) under a $ 2.1 billion military program– Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP), and are located in former Soviet Union countries such as Georgia and Ukraine, the Middle East, South East Asia and Africa. -
Biological Pest Control
■ ,VVXHG LQ IXUWKHUDQFH RI WKH &RRSHUDWLYH ([WHQVLRQ :RUN$FWV RI 0D\ DQG -XQH LQ FRRSHUDWLRQ ZLWK WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV 'HSDUWPHQWRI$JULFXOWXUH 'LUHFWRU&RRSHUDWLYH([WHQVLRQ8QLYHUVLW\RI0LVVRXUL&ROXPELD02 ■DQHTXDORSSRUWXQLW\$'$LQVWLWXWLRQ■■H[WHQVLRQPLVVRXULHGX AGRICULTURE Biological Pest Control ntegrated pest management (IPM) involves the use of a combination of strategies to reduce pest populations Steps for conserving beneficial insects Isafely and economically. This guide describes various • Recognize beneficial insects. agents of biological pest control. These strategies include judicious use of pesticides and cultural practices, such as • Minimize insecticide applications. crop rotation, tillage, timing of planting or harvesting, • Use selective (microbial) insecticides, or treat selectively. planting trap crops, sanitation, and use of natural enemies. • Maintain ground covers and crop residues. • Provide pollen and nectar sources or artificial foods. Natural vs. biological control Natural pest control results from living and nonliving Predators and parasites factors and has no human involvement. For example, weather and wind are nonliving factors that can contribute Predator insects actively hunt and feed on other insects, to natural control of an insect pest. Living factors could often preying on numerous species. Parasitic insects lay include a fungus or pathogen that naturally controls a pest. their eggs on or in the body of certain other insects, and Biological pest control does involve human action and the young feed on and often destroy their hosts. Not all is often achieved through the use of beneficial insects that predacious or parasitic insects are beneficial; some kill the are natural enemies of the pest. Biological control is not the natural enemies of pests instead of the pests themselves, so natural control of pests by their natural enemies; host plant be sure to properly identify an insect as beneficial before resistance; or the judicious use of pesticides. -
Variation in the Intensity and Prevalence of Macroparasites in Migratory Caribou: a Quasi-Circumpolar Study
Canadian Journal of Zoology Variation in the intensity and prevalence of macroparasites in migratory caribou: a quasi-circumpolar study Journal: Canadian Journal of Zoology Manuscript ID cjz-2015-0190.R2 Manuscript Type: Article Date Submitted by the Author: 21-Mar-2016 Complete List of Authors: Simard, Alice-Anne; Université Laval, Département de biologie et Centre d'études nordiques Kutz, Susan; University of Calgary Ducrocq, Julie;Draft Calgary University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Beckmen, Kimberlee; Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation Brodeur, Vincent; Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, Direction de la gestion de la faune du Nord-du-Québec Campbell, Mitch; Government of Nunavut, Department of Environment Croft, Bruno; Government of the Northwest Territories, Environment and Natural Resources Cuyler, Christine; Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Davison, Tracy; Government of the Northwest Territories in Inuvik, Department of ENR Elkin, Brett; Government of the Northwest Territories, Environment and Natural Resources Giroux, Tina; Athabasca Denesuline Né Né Land Corporation Kelly, Allicia; Government of the Northwest Territories, Environment and Natural Resources Russell, Don; Environnement Canada Taillon, Joëlle; Université Laval, Département de biologie et Centre d'études nordiques Veitch, Alasdair; Government of the Northwest Territories, Environment and Natural Resources Côté, Steeve D.; Université Laval, Département de Biologie and Centre of Northern Studies COMPARATIVE < Discipline, parasite, caribou, Rangifer tarandus, helminth, Keyword: arthropod, monitoring https://mc06.manuscriptcentral.com/cjz-pubs Page 1 of 46 Canadian Journal of Zoology 1 Variation in the intensity and prevalence of macroparasites in migratory caribou: a quasi-circumpolar study Alice-Anne Simard, Susan Kutz, Julie Ducrocq, Kimberlee Beckmen, Vincent Brodeur, Mitch Campbell, Bruno Croft, Christine Cuyler, Tracy Davison, Brett Elkin, Tina Giroux, Allicia Kelly, Don Russell, Joëlle Taillon, Alasdair Veitch, Steeve D. -
Hypoderma Tarandi, Case Series from Norway, 2011 to 2016
Surveillance and outbreak report Human myiasis caused by the reindeer warble fly, Hypoderma tarandi, case series from Norway, 2011 to 2016 J Landehag ¹ , A Skogen ¹ , K Åsbakk ² , B Kan ³ 1. Department of Paediatrics, Finnmark Hospital Trust, Hammerfest, Norway 2. UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Tromsø, Norway 3. Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Correspondence: Kjetil Åsbakk ([email protected]) Citation style for this article: Landehag J, Skogen A, Åsbakk K, Kan B. Human myiasis caused by the reindeer warble fly, Hypoderma tarandi, case series from Norway, 2011 to 2016. Euro Surveill. 2017;22(29):pii=30576. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.29.30576 Article submitted on 01 September 2016 / accepted on 14 December 2016 / published on 20 July 2017 Hypoderma tarandi causes myiasis in reindeer and northern hemisphere regions (Alaska, Canada, Nordic caribou (Rangifer tarandus spp.) in most northern countries in Europe including Greenland (self-govern- hemisphere regions where these animals live. We ing territory of Denmark) and Russia) where these ani- report a series of 39 human myiasis cases caused by mals live [5]. H. tarandi in Norway from 2011 to 2016. Thirty-two were residents of Finnmark, the northernmost county Most of the 24 human cases of myiasis caused by H. of Norway, one a visitor to Finnmark, and six lived in tarandi reported in Norway and other countries in the other counties of Norway where reindeer live. Clinical literature from 1982 to 2016 [6-17] developed oph- manifestations involved migratory dermal swellings thalmomyiasis interna (OMI), a condition where the of the face and head, enlargement of regional lymph larva has invaded the eye globe, often leading to vis- nodes, and periorbital oedema, with or without eosin- ual impairment. -
Preventing Pests and Pathogens in Honey Bee Colonies
BestBest ManagementManagement PracticesPractices toto PreventPrevent thethe SpreadSpread ofof PestsPests andand PathogensPathogens inin HoneybeeHoneybee ColoniesColonies Photos by Rob Snyder (used with permission) Many pest and disease problems in managed honeybee hives can be avoided by practic- ing good sanitation and cultural controls. Prevention is the first and best line of defense against organisms that can harm your colonies. Sanitation Tools should be sterilized with flame and scrubbed with isopropyl alcohol after working in or inspecting a hive. Avoid using other beekeeper’s tools that have not been properly cleaned. Clothing and gloves that are exposed to a hive where disease is suspected needs to be scrubbed and disinfected with 10% bleach solution or disposed. If not using gloves, rinse hands with rubbing alcohol then scrub with soap and water after working in a hive that appears to have been infected with disease. When disease is suspected, practice the previously mentioned steps between working hive to hive in the same beeyard. Cultural Controls When purchasing a bee colony, find out if the seller has been treating with antibiotics for patho- gens. Treated colonies could already be infected with disease, even in the absence of symptoms. Never switch frames from a box that is suspected to have pests and pathogens to a box without such problems. Do not purchase or accept used frames, boxes, or other beekeeping equipment that have not been inspected and certified by your county’s bee inspector. Boxes infected with American Foulbrood should be marked with the letters “AFB” followed by the year to prevent unintentional contamination. Equipment that has been infected with American Foulbrood must be treated or burned and buried. -
PESTS of STORED PRODUCTS a 'Pest of Stored Products' Can Refer To
PESTS OF STORED PRODUCTS A ‘pest of stored products’ can refer to any organism that infests and damages stored food, books and documents, fabrics, leather, carpets, and any other dried or preserved item that is not used shortly after it is delivered to a location, or moved regularly. Technically, these pests can include microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria, arthropods such as insects and mites, and vertebrates such as rodents and birds. Stored product pests are responsible for the loss of millions of dollars every year in contaminated products, as well as destruction of important documents and heritage artifacts in homes, offices and museums. Many of these pests are brought indoors in items that were infested when purchased. Others originate indoors when susceptible items are stored under poor storage conditions, or when stray individual pests gain access to them. Storage pests often go unnoticed because they infest items that are not regularly used and they may be very small in size. Infestations are noticed when the pests emerge from storage, to disperse or sometimes as a result of crowding or after having exhausted a particular food source, and search for new sources of food and harborage. Unexplained occurrences of minute moths and beetles flying in large numbers near stored items, or crawling over countertops, walls and ceilings, powdery residues below and surrounding stored items, and stale odors in pantries and closets can all indicate a possible storage pest infestation. Infestations in stored whole grains or beans can also be detected when these are soaked in water, and hollowed out seeds rise to the surface, along with the adult stages of the pests, and other debris. -
Inquiries of Entomophagy: Developing and Determining the Efficacy of Youth-Based Curriculum Dakota Vaccaro the University of Montana, [email protected]
University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Undergraduate Theses and Professional Papers 2019 Inquiries of Entomophagy: Developing and Determining the Efficacy of Youth-Based Curriculum Dakota Vaccaro The University of Montana, [email protected] Kaitlyn Anderson The University of Montana, [email protected] Lauren Clark The University of Montana Ellie Gluhosky The University of Montana, [email protected] Sarah Lutch The University of Montana, [email protected] See next page for additional authors Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/utpp Recommended Citation Vaccaro, Dakota; Anderson, Kaitlyn; Clark, Lauren; Gluhosky, Ellie; Lutch, Sarah; and Lachman, Spencer, "Inquiries of Entomophagy: Developing and Determining the Efficacy of Youth-Based Curriculum" (2019). Undergraduate Theses and Professional Papers. 226. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/utpp/226 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Undergraduate Theses and Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Author Dakota Vaccaro, Kaitlyn Anderson, Lauren Clark, Ellie Gluhosky, Sarah Lutch, and Spencer Lachman This thesis is available at ScholarWorks at University of Montana: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/utpp/226 University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR) Inquiries of Entomophagy: Developing and Determining the Efficacy of Youth-Based Curriculum Dakota Vaccaro Kaitlyn Anderson Lauren Clark Ellie Gluhosky Sarah Lutch See next page for additional authors Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . -
The Timing and Departure Rate of Larvae of the Warble Fly Hypoderma
The timing and departure rate of larvae of the warble fly Hypoderma (= Oedemagena) tarandi (L.) and the nose bot fly Cephenemyia trompe (Modeer) (Diptera: Oestridae) from reindeer Arne C. Nilssen & Rolf E. Haugerud Zoology Department, Tromsø Museum, N-9006 Tromsø, Norway Abstract: The emergence of larvae of the reindeer warble fly Hypoderma (= Oedemagena) tarandi (L.) (n = 2205) from 4, 9, 3, 6 and 5 Norwegian semi-domestic reindeer yearlings (Rangifer tarandus tarandus (L.)) was registered in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992, respectively. Larvae of the reindeer nose bot fly Cephenemyia trompe (Moder) (n = 261) were recor• ded during the years 1990, 1991 and 1992 from the same reindeer. A collection cape technique (only H. tarandi) and a grating technique (both species) were used. In both species, dropping started around 20 Apr and ended 20 June. Peak emergence occurred from 10 May - 10 June, and was usually bimodal. The temperature during the larvae departure period had a slight effect (significant only in 1991) on the dropping rate of H. tarandi larvae, and temperature during infection in the preceding summer is therefore supposed to explain the uneven dropping rate. This appeared to be due to the occurrence of successive periods of infection caused by separate periods of weather that were favourable for mass attacks by the flies. As a result, the temporal pattern of maturation of larvae was divided into distinct pulses. Departure time of the larvae in relation to spring migration of the reindeer influences infection levels. Applied possibilities for biological control by separating the reindeer from the dropping sites are discussed. -
Reindeer Warble Fly Larvae Found in Red Deer Nilssen, A. C.1
Reindeer warble fly larvae found in red deer Reinens gorm-larver funnet i hjort Nilssen, A. C.1 & Gjershaug, J. O.2. 1. Zoology Department, Tromsø Museum, N-9000 Tromsø, Norway. 2. Sognli Forsøksgård, N-7320 Fannrem, Norway. Abstract: Seven third instar larvae of the reindeer warble fly (Hypoderma (=Oedemagena) tarandi) were found in a 2-3 year old male red deer {Cervus elaphus) shot on 14 November 1985 at Todalen, western Norway. This it, the first report of H. tarandi from red deer. In reindeer third instar larvae are found from February to June, and the unusual date of this record indicates a delayed development of the larvae due to abnormal host reactions. Warble fly larvae, probably H. tarandi, are also reported from moose {Alces al• ces) in northern Norway. Key words: Oedemagena tarandi, Hypoderma tarandi, Cervus elaphus, Rangifer tarandus, Alces alces, reindeer, caribou, red deer, moose, exotic host, unsuitable host, reindeer warble fly, Norway. Rangifer, 8 (1): 35-37 Introduction and first and second instar larvae also from The warble fly Hypoderma tarandi is endopa- musk ox {Ovibos moschatus) in Canada (Jan- rasitic in reindeer and caribou {Rangifer ta• sen 1970, Alendal and Helle 1983). Nordkvist randus), occurring in most of the holarctic (in Skjenneberg and Slagsvold 1968) reported distribution of the host (Zumpt 1965). The H. tarandi from roe deer {Capreolus capreo• adult females attach eggs to leg and body lus), and this appears to be the only record of hairs. After hatching the larvae penetrate the H. tarandi in a cervid other than reindeer. skin, migrate intermuscularly and complete Here we report H.