Department of Biological Sciences > Faculty & Staff > Ecology and Evolution > Bethia H. King

Publications

View my Publications - Including abstracts and links to full text articles.

Other Areas of Interest

Evolution versus Creation Science/Intelligent Design:
Summary; Exercises
Human Gender Issues in Science
Kids' Science Books, Videos, Software, Kits
Jewel wasp (Nasonia vitripennis) in teaching

My graduate students' research:

• Mating signals in the parasitoid wasp Urolepis rufipes.
• Chemical basis of mating behavior reactions in the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius and relatives
• 2009. Variation in male attraction to females in the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius: its causes and consequences
• 2003. Mating behavior of the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius.
• 2002. Got wasps? : a natural survey of parasitoid wasps on a northern Ilinois dairy farm.
• 2002. Associative learning in male Nasonia vitripennis, a parasitoid wasp (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae).
• 2001. Mating effects on behavior in two parasitoid wasps.
• 1998. The associative learning capabilities of the parasitoid wasp,Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae).
• 1998. Offspring sex ratio in response to host size in the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius.
• 1994. Larval aggregations in the imported willow leaf beetle Plagiodera versicolora: mechanisms of aggregation and adaptive significance.
• 1994. Kin recognition in the guinea baboon Papio papio.
• 1992. Sex ratio manipulation by the parasitoid wasp Muscidifurax raptor in response to host size and female wasp density.

Their post graduate degree pursuits:

• Exhibit Programs Coordinator at Chicago Academy of Sciences, then Shedd Aquarium volunteer coordinator
• Outreach Specialist at Maryland Science Center, then Law School,
• High school teacher, IL
• Prof. at Coastal Carolina Univ, then Director of the Center for Undergraduate Research at Xavier Univ, LA
• Avian Propagation Center at San Diego Zoo then Lincoln Park Zoo, IL
• Primate Center at Univ Wisconsin

 

Research Interests

My research
is with parasitoid wasps that lay their eggs in the pupal stage of pest flies. The wasps are 2-3 mm long and do not sting.

• mating systems and behavior
• maternal manipulation of offspring sex
• thanatosis = "playing dead" 
• activity levels
• learning

My undergraduate departmental honors students' research:

• 2001. Locomotor activity and mating behavior in parasitic wasps.
• 1998. The effect of familiar and unfamiliar environments on Nasonia vitripennis activity levels.
• 1997. Factors influencing activity levels in Nasonia vitripennis.
• 1994. Heritability of sex ratio manipulation in response to host size in the parasitoid wasp Muscidifurax raptor.

Their post undergraduate degree pursuits:

• Vet School, University of Illinois
• Optometry School, FL
• MD-PhD, University of Illinois