Abundance Factors

Alyokhin, A., F. A. Drummond, and G. Sewell. 2005. Density-dependent regulation in populations of potato-colonizing aphids. Population Ecology 47: 257-266.

Scarcity of long-term (over 30 years) data series represents a major challenge for an accurate estimation of the role of density-dependent processes in population regulation. We analyzed population densities of the wingless parthenogenic morphs of buckthorn aphid (BA), Aphis nasturtii Kaltenbach, potato aphid (PA), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), and green peach aphid (GPA), Myzus persicae (Sulzer) from 1949 to 2003 for signs […]

Alyokhin, A., F. A. Drummond, and G. Sewell. 2005. Density-dependent regulation in populations of potato-colonizing aphids. Population Ecology 47: 257-266. Read More »

Alyokhin, A. and R. Atlihan. 2005. Reduced fitness of the Colorado potato beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on potato plants grown in manure-amended soil.Environmental Entomology 34: 963-968. 

Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is the most important insect defoliator of potatoes worldwide. In this study, we conducted a series of no-choice assays comparing Colorado potato beetle reproduction and development on potato plants grown in manure-amended and synthetically fertilized soils. Manure-amended soil received annual applications of raw cow manure since 1991, and additional applications of

Alyokhin, A. and R. Atlihan. 2005. Reduced fitness of the Colorado potato beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on potato plants grown in manure-amended soil.Environmental Entomology 34: 963-968.  Read More »

Alyokhin, A., G. Porter, E. Groden, and F. Drummond. 2005. Colorado potato beetle response to soil amendments: a case in support of the mineral balance hypothesis? Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment 109: 234-244. 

The mineral balance hypothesis [Phelan, L.P., Norris, K.H., Mason, J.F., 1996. Soil management history and host preference by Ostrinia nubilalis: evidence for plant mineral balance mediating insect-plant interactions. Environ. Entomol. 25, 1329-1336] suggests that the organic matter and microbial activity associated with organically managed soils afford a buffering capability to maintain nutrient balance in plants. An

Alyokhin, A., G. Porter, E. Groden, and F. Drummond. 2005. Colorado potato beetle response to soil amendments: a case in support of the mineral balance hypothesis? Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment 109: 234-244.  Read More »

Alyokhin, A. and G. Sewell. 2004. Changes in a lady beetle community following the establishment of three alien species. Biological Invasions 6: 463-471.

A number of recent studies indicated that establishment of exotic lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) may have adverse affects on native lady beetle species. In the present study, we analyzed changes in coccinellid community inhabiting potato crops in northern Maine over the past 31 years. Prior to 1980, lady beetle communities were comprised almost exclusively of

Alyokhin, A. and G. Sewell. 2004. Changes in a lady beetle community following the establishment of three alien species. Biological Invasions 6: 463-471. Read More »

Alyokhin, A. V., P. Yang, and R. H. Messing. 2004. Oviposition of the invasive two-spotted leafhopper on an endemic tree: Effects of an alien weed, foliar pubescence, and habitat humidity. 7pp. Journal of Insect Science, 4:13, Available online: insectscience.org/4.13.

The two-spotted leafhopper, Sophonia rufofascia (Kuoh and Kuoh), is an exotic pest from South-East Asia that attacks a wide variety of plant species in Hawaii. Myrica faya Aiton is an aggressive exotic weed that displaces and excludes native plants in Hawaiian forests. It has been argued that because of the high nutritional quality of its foliage, M. faya might facilitate leafhopper

Alyokhin, A. V., P. Yang, and R. H. Messing. 2004. Oviposition of the invasive two-spotted leafhopper on an endemic tree: Effects of an alien weed, foliar pubescence, and habitat humidity. 7pp. Journal of Insect Science, 4:13, Available online: insectscience.org/4.13. Read More »

Messing, R., A. Alyokhin, L. Quan, C. Yiqun, and F. Xiongxi. 2003. Parasitoids of Sophonia leafhoppers in Southern China. Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 36: 111-114.

Leafhoppers and their parasitoids in Fuzhou, China, were sampled from 1998 to 2001 in order to find their natural enemies with potential for biological control of Sophonia rufofascia in Hawaii. Eleven parasitoid species were found, of which Chaetomymar sp. (Mymaridae) were the most abundant, accounting for 65.8% of total parasitism. Parasitism of leafhopper eggs in guava orchards averaged 61.9%

Messing, R., A. Alyokhin, L. Quan, C. Yiqun, and F. Xiongxi. 2003. Parasitoids of Sophonia leafhoppers in Southern China. Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 36: 111-114. Read More »

Alyokhin, A. and G. Sewell. 2003. On-soil movement and plant colonization by walking wingless morphs of three aphid species (Homoptera: Aphididae) in greenhouse arenas. Environmental Entomology. 32: 1393-1398.

Potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas)), green peach aphid (Myzus persicae (Sulzer)), and buckthorn aphid (Aphis nasturtii Kaltenbach) are polyphagous herbivores that commonly colonize potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Northeastern U.S. and Canada. Their movement influences spatial and temporal patterns of viral spread within potato fields. We investigated aphid movement between potato plants early in the season, with a

Alyokhin, A. and G. Sewell. 2003. On-soil movement and plant colonization by walking wingless morphs of three aphid species (Homoptera: Aphididae) in greenhouse arenas. Environmental Entomology. 32: 1393-1398. Read More »

Alyokhin, A. V. and R.H. Messing. 2003. Parasitism of Hawaiian non-frugivorous fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) by an exotic parasitoid Eurytoma tephritidis Fullaway (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae). Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 36: 29-37.

Eurytoma tephritidis Fullaway (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) is an exotic solitary larval endoparasitoid that has been recorded to parasitize gall-forming tephritids in Hawaii. We surveyed E. tephritidis parasitism of Tetreuaresta obscuriventris (Loew.), Ensina sonchi (L.), Acinia picturata (Snow), Procecidochares utilis Stone, P. alani Steyskal, Trupanea sp. nr. cratericola, and T. dubautiae (Bryan) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on four major Hawaiian islands. No wasps emerged from T. obscuriventris and E. sonchi. Among other species, percent parasitism ranged from less than 1%

Alyokhin, A. V. and R.H. Messing. 2003. Parasitism of Hawaiian non-frugivorous fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) by an exotic parasitoid Eurytoma tephritidis Fullaway (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae). Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 36: 29-37. Read More »

Alyokhin, A. V. , R.H. Messing, and and J. J. Duan. 2002. Infestation of Elephantopus mollis (Asteraceae) flowerheads by Tetreuaresta obscuriventris (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Kauai, Hawaiian Islands. Entomological News 113: 247-252.

Populations of successfully established exotic organisms rarely reach noticeable densities in their new environment, and little information is currently available on the population dynamics of the exotic insects released on the Hawaiian islands. In the present study, we surveyed present incidence of a tephritid fly of New World origin, Tetreuaresta obscuriventris (Loew.), on the island of Kauai.

Alyokhin, A. V. , R.H. Messing, and and J. J. Duan. 2002. Infestation of Elephantopus mollis (Asteraceae) flowerheads by Tetreuaresta obscuriventris (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Kauai, Hawaiian Islands. Entomological News 113: 247-252. Read More »

Alyokhin, A., G. Sewell, and E. Groden. 2002. Aphid abundance and potato virus Y transmission in imidacloprid-treated potatoes. American Journal of Potato Research 79: 255-262.

Imidacloprid is a commonly used insecticide that is highly effective in controlling insect pests of potato. The relatively high cost of imidacloprid provides commercial growers with a strong incentive to reduce field application rates. In the present study, we investigated the impact of reduced imidacloprid rates on aphid abundance and potato virus Y transmission within

Alyokhin, A., G. Sewell, and E. Groden. 2002. Aphid abundance and potato virus Y transmission in imidacloprid-treated potatoes. American Journal of Potato Research 79: 255-262. Read More »