Soybean aphid found on buckthorn.

Soybean aphids were found in high numbers on buckthorn a couple of days ago in central Illinois. Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) is the primary host for soybean aphid. Aphids go through a sexual phase of reproduction and deposit eggs nears the buds, which is how this pest overwinters. Even though it's not attacking soybean at this point in the season, is it still relevant to soybean aphid management? How could we use this information for the upcoming field season? Two points to anyone who can tell me how many aphids are on this ONE leaf! According to Dr. Dave Voegtlin, the researcher who took the above image, all the buckthorn leaves at this particular field site were covered with winged soybean aphids. For another extreme example of a dispersal flight, search Google images for "Aphids in Toronto".

Week 4: Sampling green stink bug.

Here are some videos and photos from today. Videos were posted to YouTube, so you can use or share these as you need them. Again, if you wish not to have these posted, please let me know. Also, feel free to use any of the content for your own blogs! I apologize if I didn't get to you this time (or you're welcome depending on your perspective!).

Week 3: getting to know your webtools.

Considering all the questions you had regarding the webtools last week (which also saved you from counting thousands of aphids!) and the time we spent in lab going over these programs, you should all be familiar with how these programs work. If not, then you're in luck! As you recall, your blogbook for this week was to familiarize yourself with these tools. To help you with this, below is a list of activities that I would like you to complete within each of the programs:

1) Twitter: Post something about the reading for this week. Examples would be a term defined in your own words or other limitations or factors influencing the adoption of IPM in field crops.

2) Diigo: The lecture reading was short for this week. However, I would like you to bookmark an additional web resource to the entom612 group using Diigo. In addition to just posting the page, I want you to comment on it. Why did you find this page useful? Or not useful? Was the content organized in a logical way? How could the page be improved? Was it written in terms that were easy to understand or did you need to look up additional items?

3) Wetpaint: Even though we didn't discuss this tool in class, I still want you to explore the site. One way is to update your profile information within wetpaint. Add a photo, your major, why you're taking the class, what you hope to get out of the class by the end of the semester, etc.

4) YouTube: Find a video and post it to the entom612 working group which can be found at www.youtube.com/group/entom612. If you're not a member, then join the group! Recall from last week that I've sent out my "final" invites. It's up to you to accept my invite or request to be part of the group. You can also add this link to your blogbook for this week.

5) Blogspot: Note, you're not creating a new address for this week. You're simply posting a new entry to an existing blog. If you're not exactly sure how to do this, please let me know. However, we did go over this in lab last week so hopefully this info is still somewhere in your memory bank. The intro for your blog entry this week should be self-explanatory, but I do want you to put it into your own words. The results and discussion section can simply be your experience with the programs listed above. Issues you found? How valuable the "help" sections were or things that could be added or improved? Other things you liked or disliked the tools?

Assuming the weather cooperates this week, we'll be heading to the field.

Thanks!

Extra credit: What order does the insect in the top photo belong to? First one to Tweet the order gets a point towards their blogbooks (or two points if you can get it to family!). Note, only general postings to Twitter will qualify; no direct messages please.

Week 2: insect structures, what's in the bag?

There have been a few questions and concerns regarding the Blogbook assignment for this week. I've decided to post an example blog for today's activities, which was heavily focused on the sweep net samples from the alfalfa and soybean fields. Note, most of the items that should be addressed are located on the outline for the lab, which was handed out at the beginning of class. I will also post all handouts from today under the course content section of K-State Online. For this posting or any other posting for that matter, you're not restricted to the criteria that I give you. The idea here is to make these entries as "dynamic" as possible. Therefore, if you find supportive websites that help you understand key insect structures and/or function, then feel free to include it. Also remember to write most of your text in another word-editing program before pasting it into your blog posting. This will ensure that you don't lose your work as you compile your postings.

If you're not sure how to setup your blogbook, you can choose a more traditional route, which is to you have a brief introduction followed by materials and methods and a brief discussion (see below). This will be relevant or applicable for some lab exercises, but not all.

-----------------------EXAMPLE---------------------

Clever and/or identifiable title.

Results.

The number of feeding types found in each crop evaluated. The number of unique individuals or species found within each feeding group observed. Scanned image of insect selected for drawing (or turn it in if not comfortable with publishing your prized artwork!), images from your phone (assuming you took them), etc.

Insect from alfalfa field:

Discussion.

The purpose of the lab in your own words, your accomplishments, your experience with the exercise that you were given, challenges with the materials or concepts presented, etc.

What does this tell you about the type of damage you would expect to see in the fields sampled? Discuss the most challenging aspects of sorting specimens or this lab in general. Based on your experience, what are some potential limitations associated with sorting and identifying insects or other arthropods in the field? Other points you care to discuss.

Supplemental information.

Video or two of insect feeding, preferably of the ones you observed today. Diagrams or images of other insects with similar structures (mouth parts, antennae, legs, wings, etc.) that support your findings or observations from today. In short, use this posting as an opportunity to use the tools associated with your blogbook.

Filiform antennae examples that were similar to my drawings:

Images can be found at www.insectimages.org

Other cool images of insects that I found, including this luna moth that has plumose antennae:


Image can be found at www.insectimages.org

I found this great site that covers the topics and structure that we discussed in lab. It has some great antenna examples as well as mouth parts, both drawings and actual insect images. Here's the link.