Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Corn Rootworms in First Year Corn

• Intense crop rotation in this part of the state may have selected for western corn rootworms that lay eggs in soybean fields
• Western corn rootworm injury to first-year corn following soybeans has been increasing in severity for several years in east-central Illinois
  

Dispersal of Rotation Resistant Western Corn Rootworms

• Since the initial reports, the incidence of WCR injury to first-year corn following soybeans has been increasing in east-central Illinois
  
• WCR continue to be present at low or undetectable levels in soybean fields west of the Illinois River and south of Interstate 70
  

Movement and Dispersal of Agriculturally Important Biota

Introduction to Insect Pathogens

Ecological Database of the World's Insect Pathogens

Microsporidia

Viral Pathogens

Viral Diseases of Insects in the Literature

Fungal Pathogens

Protozoan Pathogens

Nematodes

West Nile Virus

• The emergence of west nile virus during a large outbreak in Illinois in 2002

Mosquitoes of Illinois

• There are nearly 60 to 70 species of mosquitoes in Illinois

• First Illinois record of Aedes japonicus japonicus

Systematics and Molecular Genetics

• Using morphology and molecular techniques to identify males of the Culex pipiens complex
  

Culex species

• Culex population dynamics and West Nile Virus Transmission in East Central Illinois

Vector species

Vector ecology and behavior

Vector-host interactions

Bloodmeal analysis

Serology of avian hosts

Culex-passerine bird interactions

Arbovirus transmission

• Fundamental issues in mosquito surveillance for arboviral transmission

Diagnostics/ Detection

• Using the American Crow as for detection of West Nile Virus

• The role of roosting behavior in birds and West Nile Virus Transmission is unexplored

Risk analysis

Asian Tiger Mosquito

• Corn cob granules effective against the Asian Tiger Mosquito

Purple Loosestrife

Midwest Institute of Biological Control

Parasites

Pathogens

Predators

Weed Feeders

Theories & Models

Invasive Species Surveys

Soybean Aphid

• Pest Alert: Soybean Aphid
  
• Soybean Aphid Trapping Network
  
• Soybean Aphid in Illinois
  

Ecological Monitoring for Illinois Soils

• One important soil function is the harboring of a diverse community of organisms
  

Predators & Parasites of Earthworms

• A variety of parasites and pathogens have been shown to infect earthworms
  

Earthworms as Indicators of Soil Health

• Earthworms have the ability to redistribute large amounts of soil and organic matter, consequently shaping the soil community