Light Polarization by Biological Nanocoatings.

Light plays paramount functions for living beings in nature. In addition to color, the polarization of light is used by many animals for navigation and communication. In this study, we describe the light polarizing role of special nanostructures coating cuticular surfaces of diverse arthropods.

Evaluation of Larval Medium in the Controlled Current Toxicity Test.

The Controlled Current Toxicity Test (CCTT) is a protocol used by the University of Georgia Black Fly Rearing and Bioassay Laboratory to evaluate the efficacy of larvicides based on subsp. () against larvae. A standard CCTT provides a larval medium with suspended organic nutrients, a sustained current, and a clean surface for black fly larval attachment in each exposure vessel.

The dilemma of pest suppression in the conservation of endangered species.

In the conservation of endangered species, suppression of a population of one native species to benefit another poses challenges. Examples include predator control and nest parasite reduction. Less obvious is the control of blood-feeding arthropods.

Trophic Strategies Influence Metal Bioaccumulation in Detritus-Based, Aquatic Food Webs.

Metal accumulation in aquatic food webs is mediated by physiochemical parameters of the environment and organismal traits. Trophic strategies influence an organisms' exposure to metal pollution, but links between trophic ecology and exposure to divalent metals are relatively understudied. While organically bound metals are typically considered unavailable for uptake, organisms directly consuming dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and bacteria-via the microbial loop-must also be consuming organically bound metals.

Mortality Patterns of Simulium vittatum Larvae (Diptera: Simuliidae) Following Exposure to Insecticidal Proteins Produced by Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis.

Products containing insecticidal crystalline proteins (ICPs) produced by Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti ICPs) are used to suppress vector and nuisance populations of black flies. The efficacy of an application of these products is often determined by a posttreatment evaluation of larval mortality.

[Economic losses during an outbreak of Simulium (Wilhelmia) species (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the Cappadocia region of Turkey].

Objective: The aim of this study was to calculate the economic losses during an outbreak of Simulium (Wilhelmia) spp. in the Cappadocia Region of Turkey.

Methods: The economic costs associated with a 2006-2007 outbreak of Simulium (Wilhelmia) spp.

ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF FUNGICIDES ON NONTARGET GUT FUNGI (TRICHOMYCETES) AND THEIR ASSOCIATED LARVAL BLACK FLY HOSTS.

Fungicides are moderately hydrophobic and have been detected in water and sediment, particularly in agricultural watersheds, but typically are not included in routine water quality monitoring efforts. This is despite their widespread use and frequent application to combat fungal pathogens. Whereas the efficacy of these compounds on fungal pathogens is well documented, little is known about their effects on nontarget fungi.

Novel aquatic silk genes Simulium (Psilozia) vittatum (Zett) Diptera: Simuliidae.

The silks of arthropods have an elementary role in the natural history of the organisms that spin them, yet they are coded by rapidly evolving genes leading some authors to speculate that silk proteins are non-homologous proteins co-opted multiple times independently for similar functions. However, some general structural patterns are emerging. In this work we identified three major silk gland proteins using a combined biochemical, proteomic, next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic approach.

Chironomus calligraphus (Diptera: Chironomidae), a new pest species in Georgia.

Chironomid midges are ubiquitous and ecologically important aquatic insects. However, some species can become pests when they occur in extremely high numbers, particularly those that colonize man-made habitats. Chironomus calligraphus is a Neotropical, pan-American species that has recently been found in the Nearctic region.

Host predilection and transmissibility of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus strains in domestic cattle (Bos taurus) and swine (Sus scrofa).

Background: Epidemiologic data collected during epidemics in the western United States combined with limited experimental studies involving swine and cattle suggest that host predilection of epidemic vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) strains results in variations in clinical response, extent and duration of virus shedding and transmissibility following infection in different hosts. Laboratory challenge of livestock with heterologous VSNJV strains to investigate potential viral predilections for these hosts has not been thoroughly investigated. In separate trials, homologous VSNJV strains (NJ82COB and NJ82AZB), and heterologous strains (NJ06WYE and NJOSF [Ossabaw Island, sand fly]) were inoculated into cattle via infected black fly bite.

The lack of effect of low temperature and high turbidity on operational Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis activity against larval black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae).

Black fly suppression programs are conducted across a wide range of environmental conditions, targeting a variety of pest species with diverse life histories. Operational applications of Vectobac 12AS (Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis) were conducted during times characterized by water temperature and turbidity extremes.

The effect of seston on mortality of Simulium vittatum (Diptera: Simuliidae) from insecticidal proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis.

Water was collected from a site on the Susquehanna River in eastern Pennsylvania, where less-than-optimal black fly larval mortality had been occasionally observed after treatment with Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis de Barjac insecticidal crystalline proteins (Bti ICPs). A series of experiments was conducted with Simulium vittatum Zetterstedt larvae to determine the water related factors responsible for the impaired response to Bti ICPs (Vectobac 12S, strain AM 65-52).

Field evaluation of bactimos pt against chironomid midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) larvae in residential ponds.

We evaluated Bactimos PT (Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis [Bti]) against larval populations of Glyptotendipes paripes at 30 kg/ha in man-made lakes on Hilton Head Island, SC. Three treatments were "whole-pond" treatments, while the 4th consisted of treating a "band" along the edge of a pond where significant larval populations had been observed.

Comparison of morning and evening larvicide applications on black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) mortality.

The downstream movement, or drift, of larval black flies as well as many other aquatic insects has been well documented. This phenomenon has most often been associated with the dusk-to-overnight time frame. Operationally, larvicide applications targeting black flies are typically initiated early in the day and can extend until near sunset.

Influence of selected antibiotics on the response of black fly (Simulium vittatum) larvae to insecticidal proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis.

A controlled current toxicity test (CCTT) was developed to evaluate the response of black fly (Simulium vittatum) larvae to insecticidal proteins following exposure to various antibiotics. The bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti), produces proteins that are toxic to Nemotoceran Diptera, such as black flies and mosquitoes, when ingested.

Mechanical transmission of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus by Simulium vittatum (Diptera: Simuliidae) to domestic swine (Sus scrofa).

Biting flies have been suggested as mechanical vectors of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey Virus (family Rhabdoviridae, genus Vesiculovirus, VSNJV) in livestock populations during epidemic outbreaks in the western United States. We conducted a proof-of-concept study to determine whether biting flies could mechanically transmit VSNJV to livestock by using a black fly, Simulium vittatum Zetterstedt (Diptera: Simuliidae), domestic swine, Sus scrofa L., model.

Mitigating the effects of the green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda on the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis against larval black flies.

The green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda has been shown to decrease the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) to black fly larvae in laboratory experiments. In this study, 2 approaches to mitigating the effects of S.

Ochlerotatus japonicus japonicus (Theobald) in Georgia and North Carolina.

Although the 1st published record of Ochlerotatus japonicus japonicus in Georgia (Rabun County) occurred in 2004, we report here a 2002 collection and identification in Fulton County, Georgia (metro Atlanta). The finding of Oc. j.

Black fly involvement in the epidemic transmission of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (Rhabdoviridae: Vesiculovirus).

The transmission routes of Vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV), a causative agent of vesicular stomatitis, an Office International des Epizooties List-A disease, are not completely understood. Epidemiological and entomological studies conducted during the sporadic epidemics in the western United States have identified potential virus transmission routes involving insect vectors and animal-to-animal contact. In the present study we experimentally tested the previously proposed transmission routes which were primarily based on field observations.

Effects of algae on the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis against larval black flies.

Personnel from several black fly control programs have reported that the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelesis (Bti) is reduced during periods when algal concentrations are high in the waterways. Although the reduction in Bti-induced mortality in black fly larvae is presumed to be related to the presence of algae, no scientific data support this theory.

Biological transmission of vesicular stomatitis virus (New Jersey serotype) by Simulium vittatum (Diptera: Simuliidae) to domestic swine (Sus scrofa).

The role of hematophagous arthropods in vesicular stomatitis virus (New Jersey serotype; VSV-NJ) transmission during epizootics has remained unclear for decades in part because it has never been shown that clinical or subclinical disease in a livestock host results from the bite of an infected insect. In this study, we investigated the ability of VSV-NJ-infected black flies (Simulium vittatum Zetterstedt) to transmit the virus to domestic swine, Sus scrofa L. Experimental evidence presented here clearly demonstrates that VSV-NJ was transmitted from black flies to the swine.