Talking Bugs – Details, episodes & analysis

Dr. Messelink is a Special Professor in Biological Pest Control in Greenhouse Production Systems and Senior Research Entomologist at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He has an extensive background in conducting research using predators and parasitic wasps to manage common pests in greenhouse production.

We discuss one of his recent publications looking at using a generalist predator to manage two key pests (whiteflies and thrips) on gerberas.

Leman et al. (2020). The omnivorous predator Macrolophus pygmaeus, a good candidate for the control of both greenhouse whitefly and poinsettia thrips on gerbera plants. Insect Science, 27: 510 - 518.

Dr. Helms investigates questions regarding chemical cues between predators, herbivores, and their plants, and how their interact both below and above-ground. In this interview, we learn more about a specific study that looked at how chemical cues from a below-ground predator could potentially 'prime' plant defenses against above-ground herbivores.

For the full study, check out:

Helms, A. M., S. Ray, N. L. Matulis, M. C. Kuzemchak, W. Grisales, J. F. Tooker, and J. G. Ali. 2019. Chemical cues linked to risk: Cues from below-ground natural enemies enhance plant defences and influence herbivore behaviour and performance. Funct. Ecol. 33: 798–808.

Dr. Juliana Rangel is an Associate Professor at Texas A&M University. Her research lab focuses their work on honey bee health, studying subjects such as bee viruses, pesticide residues in bee wax, and honey bee nutrition.

For the full research article:

Payne, A. N., T. F. Shepherd, and J. Rangel. 2020. The detection of honey bee (Apis mellifera)-associated viruses in ants. Sci. Rep. 10: 1–8.

Dr. Rydzak currently works for the F.B.I. He made his way there through studying plant viruses that are vectored by insects. In this episode, we learn about what motivated Dr. Rydzak, how he learned about opportunities to work for the F.B.I., and his recent research that used a combination of multiplex PCR and high-resolution melting to discriminate between several viruses found in cereals.

Watch the full interview at: https://youtu.be/XzcbryqQuSs

Research Publication:

Rydzak, P., Ochoa Corona, F.M., Whitfield, A.E., Wayadande, A.C., 2020. Combining multiplex PCR and high-resolution melting for the detection and discrimination of arthropod transmitted viruses of cereals. J. Virol. Methods 278, 113823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.113823

Dr. Astri Wayadande is known for her work in our understanding of insect feeding. Using a technique referred to as electrical penetration graph or electropenetrography, sucking insects are integrated into a low-voltage circuit. Upon feeding, the insect completes the circuit and different electrical signal patterns indicate different types of feeding behavior.

Watch the full interview at: https://youtu.be/1DiA9pUOr-Q

Research article:

Wayadande, A.C., E.A. Backus, B.H. Noden, T. Ebert and J. Hillyer. 2020. Waveforms from Stylet Probing of the Mosquito Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Measured by AC-DC Electropenetrography. J. Med. Entomol. 57:353–368.

In this second part, we learn about a recent publication exploring a new potential organism for studying freeze tolerance. Dr. Brent Sinclair is known for his research in low and high temperature tolerance of arthropods, such as fruit flies and crickets. Some insects can tolerate being completely frozen and thawing out alive, whereas others cannot. This is the second part of a two-part episode with Dr. Sinclair.

Watch the video interview at: https://youtu.be/tfX570tQooE

Toxopeus, J., A.H. McKinnon, T. Štětina, K.F. Turnbull and B.J. Sinclair. 2019. Laboratory acclimation to autumn-like conditions induces freeze tolerance in the spring field cricket Gryllus veletis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). J. Insect Physiol. 113:9–16. 

Dr. Brent Sinclair is known for his research in low and high temperature tolerance of arthropods, such as fruit flies and crickets. Some insects can tolerate being completely frozen and thawing out alive, whereas others cannot. Dr. Sinclair shares some of his stories during his early career as a graduate student and postdoc. This is the first part of a two-part episode with Dr. Sinclair.

Watch the video interview at: https://youtu.be/vnoyovW-nXw

Dr. Jenny Cory is a Professor and Thelma Finlayson Chair in Biological Control at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. She is also the Director of the Masters in Pest Management Program; a research-based masters that has slightly more numerous and focused coursework in the area of integrated pest management.

We have an interesting conversation about insect viruses and how they may relate to the current global pandemic (SARS-CoV-2).

Citation for the scientific paper discussed:

Redman, E.M., K. Wilson and J.S. Cory. 2016. Trade-offs and mixed infections in an obligate-killing insect pathogen. J. Anim. Ecol. 85:1200–1209.

Insects are some of the most important organisms impacting humans every day; from the deadliest animals (mosquitoes) to those eating our agricultural crops. They also have several incredibly fascinating characteristics that we can learn from, such as freeze tolerance and swarm intelligence.

Every episode, I will interview a new entomologist to learn about how they became entomologists and discuss some of their most recent research. Episodes will be released every two weeks through all major podcast distributors and videocasts pushed to YouTube at this playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCYwYzl9aZxrkNsFf2yGPXx50Jv1unWFp