Aubrey Moore

Automated identification of optically sensed aphid (Homoptera: Aphidae) wingbeat waveforms.

Abstract An optical sensor was used to make digital recordings of wingbeat waveforms for the five most common aphids found on Guam: Aphis craccivora Koch, A. gossypii Glover, A. nerii Fonscolombe, Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel, and Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy). Wingbeat frequencies for each species overlapped all other species. However, mean wingbeat frequencies were significantly different for all species. Wingbeat frequencies and harmonic patterns were extracted from the recordings and submitted to cluster analysis, which failed to separate species completely. Several nearest neighbor and probabilistic neural network classifiers were built using time series, frequency spectra, wingbeat frequencies, and harmonic patterns as input variables. These classifiers were evaluated by having them identify wingbeat waveforms from aphids collected and recorded after their construction. The best performing classifier model was a probabilistic artificial neural network trained using 256-bin frequency spectra as input. Sixty-nine percent of the waveforms presented to this network were identified correctly. This study demonstrates the feasibility of developing an insect flight monitor that automatically counts and identifies individual flying insects. Essential components of the monitoring system are a photosensor, a multimedia personal computer, and software that identifies wingbeat frequency spectra using an artificial neural network.

Acoustic Detection of Oryctes rhinoceros (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) and Nasutitermes luzonicus (Isoptera: Termitidae) in Palm Trees in Urban Guam

ABSTRACT Adult and larval Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) were acoustically detected in live and dead palm trees and logs in recently invaded areas of Guam, along with Nasutitermes luzonicus Oshima (Isoptera: Termitidae), and other small, sound-producing invertebrates and invertebrates. The low-frequency, long-duration sound-impulse trains produced by large, active O. rhinoceros and the higher frequency, shorter impulse trains produced by feeding N. luzonicus had distinctive spectral and temporal patterns that facilitated their identification and discrimination from background noise, as well as from roaches, earwigs, and other small sound-producing organisms present in the trees and logs The distinctiveness of the O. rhinoceros sounds enables current usage of acoustic detection as a tactic in Guams ongoing O. rhinoceros eradication program.

Acoustic characteristics of dynastid beetle stridulations

ABSTRACT Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) causes economically important damage to ornamental and commercial coconut palm trees in the western Pacific region that could be mitigated significantly by early detection and treatment. Adults are difficult to detect visually because they attack the crowns of the trees and feed internally before mating and dispersing to new hosts. Visual inspection is nevertheless the most widely used detection method, augmented with pheromone traps. This species is an ideal candidate for acoustic detection because the adults are large, active borers that produce stridulations during courtship and mating. The stridulations have distinct, easily recognized temporal patterns. Larvae and pupae also produce stridulations. To assist in development of new detection methods, acoustic characteristics of the adult and larval stridulations have been quantified and compared with stridulations produced by larvae of other dynastids recorded in the western Pacific region.

Judas Beetles: Discovering Cryptic Breeding Sites by Radio-Tracking Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles, Oryctes rhinoceros (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Abstract The coconut rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros L., is a serious pest of coconut and other palms throughout Southeast Asia and on several Pacific Islands. Adults damage and sometimes kill palms when they bore into the crown to feed. In contrast, larvae feed only on dead plant material at breeding sites. Typically, coconut rhinoceros beetle populations are controlled with a combination of biocontrol, pheromone traps, and breeding site removal. A field trial was performed at two locations on Guam to test the feasibility of using the Judas technique, releasing radio-tagged adults to discover cryptic breeding sites, for potential coconut rhinoceros beetle control. Of 33 radio-tagged beetles that were released, 19 were successfully tracked to landing sites, 11 of which were considered to be active or potential breeding sites, in five different microhabitats. The remaining 14 beetles were lost when they flew beyond the range of receivers. Only one of the radio-tagged beetles was caught in the numerous pheromone traps present at the release sites. Percent emergence weight (%EW, ratio of current/ emergence weight) varied significantly by the microhabitat to which coconut rhinoceros beetles were tracked. When microhabitats were further grouped, the difference in mean %EW between the arboreal (74 ± 2%) and the soil-associated (82 ± 3%) groups were found to be highly significant. The %EW for coconut rhinoceros beetles that were successfully located (78 ± 2%) and those that were lost (72 ± 2%) also differed significantly. Radio-tracking coconut rhinoceros beetles shows promise as a method to identify cryptic breeding sites, which could then be treated, removed, or destroyed.

Two new species of Selitrichodes (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae) inducing galls on Casuarina (Casuarinaceae)

Two new species of gall-inducing wasps, Selitrichodes casuarinae Fisher & La Salle sp. n. and Selitrichodes utilis Fisher & La Salle sp. n., are described from Micronesia (Guam, Rota and Palau Islands) and Australia respectively. These species induce galls on Casuarina and can cause extensive damage to the trees. Their status as pest or beneficial species is discussed.

Application of game theory to the interface between militarization and environmental stewardship in the Mariana Islands.

We recently described threats to the terrestrial biological resources on the Mariana islands of Guam and Tinian resulting from the large-scale buildup of military operations. Attitudes that view these military buildup plans in a zero sum context whereby the positives of greater security and improved local economy can be attained only with corresponding negatives of environmental destruction are prevalent. We argue these attitudes oversimplify the complicated interactions between military operations and environmental damage. Here we discuss aspects of our case study that would benefit from application of game theory. Declines in ecosystem health are not unavoidable forms of collateral damage of peace-time military operations. We repeat, conservation of environmental resources is not ancillary to national security, it is integral.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Develop in Arboreal Breeding Sites in Guam

Summary Coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB; Oryctes rhinoceros [L.]; Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) grubs feed only on decaying vegetation and usually are found in dead standing coconut trees and decaying coconut debris on the ground. However, in Guam, a significant proportion of the CRB population develops in detritus caught within the crowns of live coconut palms. This habitat extension may be due to almost total absence of predation by insectivorous birds and mammals as a result of heavy predation by the brown tree snake, Boiga irregularis (Bechsterin) (Squamata: Colubridae).

First record of Eggplant Mealybug, Coccidohystrix insolita (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), on Guam: Potentially a major pest

Abstract The eggplant mealybug, Coccidohystrix insolita (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is recorded from the island of Guam in the Mariana Islands for the first time. Factors indicating that this introduced mealybug has the potential to become a pest of economic importance for agriculture and horticulture on Guam are discussed.

First record of Doleschallia tongana (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) for Guam Island

A single specimen of the butterfly, Doleshallia tongana Hopkins 1927, was collected on Guam Island on October 23, 2017 (13.430478°N, 144.800419°E). This is a new species record for Guam and Micronesia, indicating a geographical range expansion for D. tongana.