Anthropology - Butler University

fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae, and followed this by external fungus culturing. Results show
that having mites decreased the amount of M. anisopliae on the cockroach's surface and
increased the lifespan of the cockroach by 65%. The major findings are that reducing the
amount of food (dry pet chow) available to the cockroach also decreases body surface mold and
synergizes with having mites to reduce amount of cockroach-associated molds even further and
also shifts the production of molds to ones that are less medically-significant. Increase in
cockroach survival in the presence of mites implies that this is a mutualistic relationship, one that
is conducive for eliminating fungal pathogens for this cockroach that resides in soil in its native
rainforest habitat. A note for keeping these cockroaches in captivity, not removing mites off
cockroaches, feeding the cockroach less frequently, cleaning cages regularly, and hand washing
will reduce the risk of cockroach mold allergy and associated asthma for those who handle them.
Suitability for Release and Establishment of the Red Velvet Mite to Control Aphids and
Scale Insects in a New Geographic Application Based on Short-term Heat Shock Response
Patrick Tomko, Brian Hedges & Andrew Rosselot, Faculty Sponsor: Jay Yoder, Wittenberg
University
Landscaping projects and associated areas become infested with large numbers of red velvet
mites, Balaustium sp. nr. putmani, between early-spring and mid-summer throughout the
Midwestern United States. These predatory mites feed on plant pests, making them ideal for use
as biological control agents. The distinctive observation about these mites is that they
preferentially assemble in areas of direct sunlight and are extremely dry-adapted. To determine a
range of temperatures that may be most effective for this mite to function properly, larvae,
deutonymphs, and adults (active instars) were exposed to one-hour heat shocks of 2°C
increments from 40-54°C at constant relative humidity, followed by behavioral observations to
determine injury after one and 24 hours. Maximum heat shock survival for all stages was quite
high, implying a heightened resistance to heat stress. Major decrease in survival occurred at
42 o C for larvae, 50 o C for deutonymphs, and 52 o C for adults. High temperature exposure caused
trauma and injury to the mites, but deutonymphs and adults were able to recover from this injury
and survive. In contrast, larvae at these temperatures lacked the ability to recover from heatinduced
injury and subsequently died, and larval death rates increased with increasing heat. The
success of red mites in the Midwest is attributed to a cooler spring that permits establishment of
larvae, followed by a period of heat and drought during summer, which is conducive to
adults. We conclude that red velvet mites could potentially be imported into hot, dry climates for
classical biological control programs for plant pests.
Beneficial Fungal Associates of Bee (Apis mellifera) Hives Exhibit Varied Response to
Fungicide Treatment: Implications for Increased Occurrence of Chalkbrood and
Stonebrood Infestation
Patrick Tomko, Andrew Jajack & Brian Hedges, Faculty Sponsor: Jay Yoder, Wittenberg
University
Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies rely on fungal associates that reside inside the comb to
process stored pollen into the usable protein source for developing larvae, bee bread. Several of
these fungal associates exhibit antimycotic properties, and thus may also serve a defensive role
against fungal pathogen, chalkbrood (Ascophaera apis) and stonebrood (Aspergillus flavus). To