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2006 Entomology Science Conference
October 24-26, 2006
College Station, Texas
Entomology personnel and students recently gathered at the College Station Conference Center for this year's Entomology Science Conference.
The annual, three-day-long event gives the opportunity for on- and off-campus entomologists and entomology students to meet and discuss current research and problems that occurred in 2006.
The first day of the conference focused on medical and veterinary issues, including a discussion from Michelle Sanford on the effect of unconditioned stimulus strength on the associative learning in the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). In other words, Michelle was trying to determine if mosquitoes have the capability of learning.
Pete Teel enlightened audience members with his presentation on the topic of NIRS (Near Infrared Spectrometry) Fecal profiles in tick infested cattle. The NIRS process involves exposing a dried, ground fecal sample to light energy. The intensity of reflectance is measured across several hundred wavelengths in the near infrared band. Reflectance is influenced by number and type of chemical bonds in the feces.
Dr. Teel was then able to show that cattle under stress by tick feeding have a different reflectance than non-stressed cattle. The data can be used to help producers manage tick populations. Other discussions included the development of GIS mapping technologies in investigating Boophilus (cattle fever tick) infestations in cattle and a presentation on the alternative hay feeding methods to control the growth and development of stable flies in round hay bale feeding sites.
The afternoon session began with a review of cotton research, including a comparison on insecticides for controlling Thrips by Roxanne Bowling and Monti Vandiver. Noel Troxclair demonstrated a Thrips Pest CD that will be useful to the group for identification. Other topics included presentations about cotton fleahopper threshold work by Chris Sansone and green mirids by Randy Coleman. The day ended with numerous discussions, including armyworm research by Scott Armstrong, Bt Cotton in Low Input Systems by Dr. Sansone, and caterpillar thresholds.
The second day's session began with a discussion from Spence Behmer on cholesterol in insects. Raul Medina then discussed microevolution and agroecosystems. Albert Mulenga then wrapped up the first hour with a discussion on various feeding habits of ticks and the methods they use to spread pathogens to their hosts.
Following the first hour, the cotton session was continued with Noel Troxclair and Manda Cattanaeo's discussion on whitefly insecticide trials. Patricia Pietrantonio wrapped up the session with a presentation about resistance monitoring for bollworms, boll weevils and whiteflies.
Pat Porter led the discussion of corn research. Charles Chilcutt, Stephen Biles and Roy Parker spoke about the status of the sugercane borer. Most of the discussion focused on options to control the pest in crops, economic threshold and susceptibility to Bt corn. Dr. Chilcutt then spoke about the effects of borer damage on corn crop yields.
On the Urban/Ornamentals side, Janet Hurley took a look at the Texas School IPM program and its future and Bart Drees discussed physical barriers for controlling fire ants. Roger Gold updated audience members on various household/structural pests, including the Asian cockroach, bedbugs and Formosan termites.
Scott Ludwig discussed two new pests in Texas in ornamentals including the pink hibiscus mealybug and the chili thrips. Boris Castro also updated the group on the sudden emergence of the cycad scale as a pest on sago palms. The session ended with Carlos Bogràn summarizing work on urban and ornamentals research and extension needs.
After the sessions, members were treated to a night of festivities at the Veranda, hosted by department head Dr. Kevin Heinz. The evening included games, karaoke, and door prizes.
The final day focused on mostly on insects and sorghum and small grains, including rice and soybeans. The series of discussions began with a speech about the effects of temperature on the corn leaf aphid on sorghum by Shivakumara Bheemappa, Bonnie Pendleton, and Jerry Michaels. Greg Cronholm then wrapped up the morning with a review of economic thresholds for sorghum midge, corn earworm and rice stinkbugs. The last few minutes of the session were used to discuss any guide changes and future research needs.
Stephen Biles informed audience members about the scouting techniques of stink bugs while M.O. Way spoke about new ways to use insecticides for stinkbugs on soybean crops. The session concluded with Luis Espino discussing methodologies for sampling rice stinkbugs and Dr. Sansone providing the closing comments.
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